I need a bit of help

[private]

I want to start a photography contest to drive traffic to my site. And I am having trouble coming up with something simple. I was thinking having 1st, second and third place. Or have three categories with three grand prizes...

I do child photography. I may want some kind of voting (so I can collect email addresses ).

I've seen some where people enter their own photos, but not sure I want to do that but might be the easiest. Has anyone seen a good/easy contest or have any ideas. I am TAPPED out!

[Jim Poor]

Who is going to judge? I'm not sure you're established to the point to be trying to judge a contest. This has absolutely nothing to do with your talent or the quality of your work. You need the perception of authority.

What about something "best kid's shoot idea" and the winner gets a free sitting while the runners up get discounts or print credits?

Also, just having a contest won't drive traffic. How will you get the word out? And agian, are you perceived by the world at large as credible, authoritative, etc/

[private]

Jim, you are right. I had no plans on being a judge.

I was thinking something along the lines of cute kid contest. No professional photographs allowed, taken by the parents. The people who entered the contest would tell their friends to vote for them so they could get______. It would be based on the number of votes. I just have to figure out how to tally the votes, w/o it being a total headache.

But, I LOVE your idea about the best kids shoot idea. And the winner get to do that shoot with some free prints, and the runner up gets a discount on a future session.

I think I would get more email addresses, with my idea - but I may get out of state ones..., but your idea is waay easier to pull off. I really like that idea. Maybe, I can do a holiday theme...

As far as the word getting out, right now I have about 250 email addresses and about 1,000 addresses (prob won't use those - it'll cost moolah ), plus my friends on FB and contacts with a few moms clubs in the area...

[Jim Poor]

Sounds cool. If you actually do it, I'll be glad to send out notice to my clients as well. Maybe you can return the favor in the pet world someday.

P.S. For some reason, I didn't get notified of this reply, so I'm late getting back to you . . .