You know what might impress your Instagram followers could make judges cringe. Small editing choices can mean the difference between "honorable mention" and "first place."
The photo editing step is really important. Yet, many photographers stumble in this crucial stage.
I've also experienced this. But after submitting dozens of carefully edited images to competitions over the years, I've learned the hard way what works and what spectacularly fails.
So, in this guide, we'll walk through everything from understanding what judges secretly look for to the technical details that separate amateurs from professionals.
If you're entering your first local competition or even aiming for international recognition, these editing principles will dramatically improve your chances.
Understand Competition Requirements Before You Edit
The first rule of photo competitions: know what you're getting into. Editing without understanding the specific requirements is like baking without checking if you need a cake or cookies—you might create something delicious, but it won't be what they asked for.
How to Properly Read and Interpret Competition Guidelines
Competition guidelines are your roadmap to success. Here's a breakdown of what to look for:
Editing boundaries: Some competitions allow extensive manipulation, while others permit only basic adjustments like exposure and contrast.
Required formats: Pay attention to specific pixel dimensions, file formats, and size limits. I once spent hours perfecting an edit only to realize the competition required square crops only!
Theme interpretation: Guidelines often include theme descriptions that hint at what the judges envision. Read between the lines—if a competition theme is "Urban Solitude," they're looking for more than just empty city streets.
Take notes while reading the guidelines. Create a simple checklist of technical requirements and editing boundaries for each competition you enter. This single step will put you ahead of roughly 30% of entrants who get disqualified for basic rule violations.
[If you're new to photo competitions, start with more accessible opportunities that allow you to practice these editing principles with less pressure. Many of the best photography contests for beginners have clearer guidelines and more straightforward requirements, making them perfect for honing your competition editing skills before tackling more prestigious events.]
Common Category-Specific Editing Expectations
Different categories come with unwritten expectations about editing approaches:
Landscape photography: Typically allows more saturation and contrast than photojournalism, but judges expect natural-looking skies and water. That means no sky replacements or overly dramatic HDR effects.
Portrait entries: Skin retouching should be subtle. Judges can spot excessive skin smoothing from a mile away, and it's an instant turn-off. The goal is enhancement, not plastic surgery.
Street photography: Authenticity rules here. High-contrast black and white editing is common, but manipulating the scene's content or removing key elements often violates both rules and ethics.
Wildlife photography: Natural color processing is crucial. Oversaturated animal portraits scream amateur and raise ethical questions about scene manipulation.
(For those focusing on wildlife submissions, explore our guide to the best wildlife photography competitions that appreciate authentic natural processing.)
Each category has evolved its own standards. Study past winners in your target category, noting their editing style. Don't copy them directly—just understand the acceptable boundaries.
The Importance of Staying True to Competition Themes While Editing
A brilliant edit on the wrong subject is still the wrong subject. Your editing choices should enhance the competition theme rather than distract from it.
Consider a "Climate Change" themed competition. Heavy vignetting and dramatic color grading might look cool but could undermine the documentary nature expected for such a serious topic.
Your editing should serve the story, not overwhelm it. Ask yourself: "Does this processing decision enhance my message or distract from it?"
Remember that themed competitions are judging concept execution as much as technical skill. Let the theme guide your editing decisions from the start.
Essential Editing Tools and Software for Competition Photos
The tools you use matter, but not as much as how you use them. Let's clear up what you actually need (and what you don't) to create competition-worthy edits.
Professional-Grade Software Options
The industry standards exist for good reasons, but each has distinct strengths:
Adobe Lightroom: Excels at catalog management and global adjustments. Its non-destructive workflow is perfect for methodical editors who may need to revisit and refine their work—a common need for competition entries.
Adobe Photoshop: Unmatched for precise local adjustments and complex compositing (when allowed). Its layers and masks provide surgical precision for issues like complex object removal or targeted sharpening.
Capture One: Known for superior color rendering and tethered shooting capabilities. Many portrait and fashion photographers prefer its color tools and customizable interface for fine-tuning skin tones.
I use Lightroom for 80% of my editing, turning to Photoshop only when I need pixel-level control for competition entries. This combination works for most serious competitors.
Monthly subscriptions for these programs range from $10 to $20, a reasonable investment if you're serious about competition photography.
If you’re not ready to commit to subscription software, budget-friendly alternatives also exist that deliver quality results. Consider using Affinity Photo, DxO PhotoLab, RawTherapee, or Darktable, according to your needs.
Must-Have Plugins and Presets for Competition-Worthy Edits
Plugins can address specific challenges in competition editing:
Nik Collection: Still the gold standard for creative control. Silver Efex Pro creates black and white conversions that regularly win monochrome categories.
Topaz DeNoise AI: When shooting in challenging conditions, this noise-reduction plugin can save otherwise unusable high-ISO images without making them look artificial.
Luminar Neo: Their sky enhancement tools are ideal for landscape competitions that allow this level of manipulation.
Hardware Considerations for Accurate Editing (Calibrated Monitors, etc.)
Even perfect software skills can't overcome hardware limitations:
Monitor calibration: This is non-negotiable for serious competition work. A calibrated monitor ensures that what you see is what judges see. The DataColor SpyderX Pro or X-Rite i1Display Pro are worthy investments.
Color-accurate monitor: You don't need to spend thousands, but your display should cover at least 95% of sRGB color space. The BenQ SW240 is popular among competition photographers on a budget.
Graphics tablet: For precise local adjustments, nothing beats a pen tablet. The Wacom Intuos Small is sufficient for most editing needs.
Adequate RAM: 16GB is the minimum for comfortable editing of high-resolution competition files.
If you can only afford one hardware upgrade, choose monitor calibration. Even a perfectly edited photo will fail if it appears drastically different to judges than it did on your screen.
Fundamental Editing Techniques for Competition Success
Mastering these core techniques will establish a solid foundation for your competition entries. This isn't about flashy effects—it's about the fundamentals that judges notice immediately.
RAW Processing Fundamentals
Always shoot in RAW for competitions. This non-negotiable first step gives you the highest possible image quality and editing flexibility.
Start your workflow with these critical RAW processing decisions:
White balance: Correct this first, as it affects all subsequent color decisions. Competition judges quickly spot the greenish or magenta casts of incorrect white balance.
Camera profile selection: Adobe Standard, Camera Neutral, or Portrait—your starting profile significantly impacts color rendition. Test different profiles on key images to find the best foundation.
Lens corrections: Enable profile corrections to address distortion and vignetting. Judges notice uncorrected wide-angle distortion immediately.
Chromatic aberration removal: Those purple or green fringes along high-contrast edges? They scream "amateur" to competition judges.
The goal in this initial stage is clinical correction, not creative interpretation. Build from a technically perfect foundation before adding your artistic vision.
(Understanding concepts like depth of field in photography during shooting will give you better RAW files to work with during the editing stage)
Proper Exposure and Dynamic Range Adjustments
Competition images demand perfect exposure across all important elements. Here's how to achieve it:
Histogram analysis: Learn to read your histogram as an exposure map. For most competition entries, avoid hitting the extreme edges, which indicate lost detail.
Highlight recovery: Use your editor's highlights slider to gently pull back detail in bright areas. Blown-out clouds are a common reason landscape entries get eliminated.
Shadow recovery: Lift shadows carefully, watching for noise introduction. Shadow detail should be visible but not artificially bright.
Midtone contrast: After handling extremes, add punch to your image by targeting the middle tones with a slight contrast boost.
A well-balanced exposure creates what judges call "presence"—that feeling that you could step into the photograph. Aim for natural-looking exposure that doesn't immediately reveal it was manipulated.
Color Correction and Color Grading Techniques
Color work happens in two distinct phases:
Color correction is technical—fixing what's wrong:
Remove color casts in shadows and highlights
Balance skin tones to appear natural
Correct problem colors (like oversaturated reds or muddy greens)
Color grading is artistic—enhancing what's right:
Create color harmony through complementary or analogous relationships
Establish mood through subtle temperature shifts
Enhance important elements through selective color adjustments
Most competition photographers go too heavy on grading before mastering correction. Master the technical fixes first, then apply subtle grading that enhances rather than overwhelms.
Try the "walk away test"—edit your image, then step away for 24 hours. When you return, if the color is the first thing you notice (rather than the subject), you've gone too far.
(For monochrome submissions, review our detailed guide on how to edit black and white photos for competition-worthy results.)
Sharpening and Noise Reduction Best Practices
Different output formats demand different approaches:
For digital submissions:
Apply moderate sharpening visible at 100% zoom
Use targeted noise reduction only where needed (shadows, sky areas)
Check for artifacts at multiple zoom levels
View on different devices if possible
For print submissions:
Apply slightly stronger sharpening (prints typically need more)
Size your image to the exact print dimensions plus bleed
Soft-proof using your printer's color profile
Consider making a test print at a smaller size
A pro trick: Apply sharpening with masks that target only the important areas. Over-sharpened backgrounds with visible noise is a common mistake in competition entries.
Competition judges view images differently based on submission format. Digital entries are often first judged on standard monitors in thumbnail view, making clean, crisp processing crucial for advancing to final rounds.
When shooting landscapes, use the best camera settings for landscape photography to minimize the need for excessive noise reduction later.
Major Editing Mistakes That Will Disqualify Your Entry
I've witnessed thousands of great photos eliminated from competitions due to editing errors. Let's ensure your work doesn't suffer the same fate.
1. Over-Processing Your Images
The most common fatal flaw in competition entries is heavy-handed editing that screams, "Look what I can do!" rather than "Look at this compelling image."
Watch for these telltale indicators that you've gone too far:
Halos around high-contrast edges
Unnatural skin tones in portraits
The "HDR look" with flat contrast and radioactive colors
Skies that look implausibly blue or dramatic
Texture that looks artificial rather than enhanced
When you find yourself saying "just a bit more," that's often your cue to step back.
2. Improper Cropping and Composition Adjustments
Even brilliant photographs can be undermined by poor cropping decisions.
Avoid these frequent cropping errors:
Cutting off limbs or key elements awkwardly
Creating uncomfortable negative space
Forcing an image into a required aspect ratio when it doesn't work
Cropping so aggressively that image quality suffers
Forgetting to check the edges of the frame for distractions
When cropping, follow the principle of "crop for strength, not to remove weakness." Focus on what should remain in the frame rather than what should be eliminated.
3. Unrealistic Color Saturation
The saturation slider tempts many photographers into the danger zone of unreality.
Photographers boost saturation because:
It makes images initially "pop" on screen
It can compensate for dull lighting conditions
It's an easy way to add visual impact
But judges quickly spot oversaturation:
Impossibly vibrant skies
Fluorescent-looking vegetation
Skin tones that appear sunburned
Colors that clip in one or more channels
Loss of subtle color variations
4. Heavy-Handed Noise Reduction
Noise reduction technology has improved dramatically, but it remains one of the most misused editing tools.
Aggressive noise reduction comes with serious costs:
Loss of fine texture details (like skin pores, fabric texture, or foliage)
Plastic-looking, artificial surfaces
Smeared appearance, especially in shadow areas
Loss of micro-contrast that gives images depth
Judges often view images at 100% zoom, making these artifacts immediately apparent.
Prepare Your Edited Photos for Different Submission Formats
Learn what not to do by reviewing the most common photography contest mistakes that photographers make when submitting their work.
File Format Requirements and Quality Settings
Different competitions demand different file formats:
JPEG submissions:
Use Quality settings of 10-12 in Photoshop or 80-100 in Lightroom
Check file size against maximum upload limits (typically 3-10MB)
Inspect for compression artifacts in detailed areas
Save from your editing software, not screenshot or export from viewers
TIFF submissions:
Use LZW compression to reduce file size without quality loss
Check if the competition requires flattened or layered files
Ensure proper bit depth (typically 8-bit for competitions, 16-bit if specified)
Include alpha channels only if explicitly permitted
Most competitions now require JPEG submissions for initial judging, with TIFF files requested from finalists. Keep both versions prepared to avoid last-minute rush.
Color Space Considerations
The wrong color space can ruin your carefully edited colors:
sRGB: This is the safest choice for most competitions, especially those with digital display rounds. Use this unless otherwise specified.
Adobe RGB: This offers a wider gamut but requires proper color management throughout the chain. Some print competitions prefer this format.
ProPhoto RGB: Rarely requested for competitions, typically too wide a gamut for most purposes.
A critical mistake is editing in Adobe RGB but failing to convert to sRGB for submission. This creates flat, desaturated images on judges' standard monitors. Check your export settings carefully.
Metadata and File Naming Conventions
Proper documentation completes your submission:
Essential metadata:
Copyright information
Basic EXIF data (camera, lens, exposure settings)
Caption/description if required
Keywords (if specified in guidelines)
File naming protocols:
Follow exact competition formatting requirements
Avoid spaces or special characters
Include category codes if specified
Use consistent naming for multiple entries
Many competitions use automated systems that sort entries based on file names. One wrong character can send your masterpiece to the wrong category or reject it entirely.
Final Checklist Before Submission
The last review is your safety net against common mistakes.
Technical Requirements Verification
Before clicking submit:
Image dimensions match competition requirements
File format is correct (typically JPEG)
File size is within limits
Color space matches requirements (usually sRGB)
Required metadata is included
File naming follows competition guidelines
No watermarks or borders (unless specifically allowed)
Create a competition-specific checklist for each contest you enter. You can follow our comprehensive checklist for entering photography competitions as well.
Visual Assessment at Different Sizes and on Different Screens
Test your image's impact:
View at thumbnail size to check immediate impact
View at competition display size
Check on multiple devices if possible
Look at your image in a gallery of other images
View in black and white to assess tonal relationships
Check without color to assess composition strength
Getting Valuable Feedback Before Finalizing Your Entry
Seek input strategically:
Join photography critique groups online
Request feedback from photographers whose work you respect
Consider professional portfolio reviews
Use blind testing methods (showing multiple options without indicating your preference)
Be specific about what feedback you're seeking
Remember, though, that all feedback is subjective—the final decisions must align with your vision.
Conclusion
The journey from capture to competition winner involves both technical precision and artistic vision. Your editing process should enhance the story your photograph tells, not distract from it.
Remember that competition judges see hundreds of entries. Technical flaws eliminate most photos in the first round of judging, while subtle, thoughtful editing elevates the remaining contenders.
As you develop your competition editing workflow, focus first on eliminating mistakes before adding creative flourishes. Perfect the fundamentals before attempting advanced techniques. And always, always read the rules before you begin editing.
With practice, patience, and the techniques outlined in this guide, your competition entries will stand out for all the right reasons.
For more strategies on creating winning submissions, read our guide on how to stand out in photography contests.
Every competition entry is a learning opportunity. Whether you win or not, use the experience to refine your approach for next time. Over time, you'll develop an intuitive sense for competition-worthy editing that becomes second nature.
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