How To Win WPPI’s Print Comp

One of the most anticipated photography competitions of the year for wedding and portrait 
photographers is the annual WPPI Awards, encompassing the first and second half with the 16×20 Print, Album 
and Filmmaking Competition, which attracts an international crop of photographers. With all of the effort 
and subsequent rewards that are associated with the Print Comp, it’s only natural to ask how one wins—and 
who better to ask than a previous winner, a judge and the WPPI director himself, Jason Groupp?

HOW HE WON—JOHNSON WEE

With two third place finishes, a first place for Engagement, first place for Bride or Groom Alone: Non-Wedding Day (which, by the way, earned a perfect score from the judges), and 20 prints placing a score higher than 80, Johnson Wee unarguably had a great year.

“Through past entries, I have learned that photos with good storytelling and impact have the higher chance to score better amongst the judges, besides the importance of superb lighting, good use of color tone and interesting composition,” Wee says. “I chose the photos I submitted because the photos represent me and my shooting style.” 

Above: One of Johnson Wee’s Print Comp-winning images from this year;
this one got fourth place in the Creative Division for Bride & Groom Together (Non-Wedding Day).
Photo © JohnsonWee

Wee says that by learning the fundamentals of printing—paper quality, color calibration and printing methods—new entrants will have “a really good head start” when submitting their shots. “To learn the basics and fundamentals of printing, one will need to have some knowledge on the difference [between]photo printing and fine art printing, treatment of your prints, final output before printing, and choosing the right paper profile. This plays a very essential part as you must know what paper/profile suits your photos the most, and use them to your advantage. For me, I send my print to a trusted lab, but I monitor the whole process from beginning to end.”

HOW HE JUDGED–
RYAN SCHEMBRI

As a judge during last year’s and many past Print Competitions, Aussie photographer Ryan Schembri has an experienced eye when viewing entries. When asked what he looks for during
the judging process, Schembri says 
emotion always wins out: “An image that makes me feel something; good 
or bad, a great image will always 
evoke an emotion.” 

But—Schembri says—there are also deal breakers. “Print quality, and really well-printed blacks,” he says. “I can’t express how important it is to have the calibration between your screen and your printer. And choosing a printer you trust and getting the right paper choice for your print.”

Above: “Landscape Study” by Roberto Valenzuela won second place in the Beauty/Boudoir category in Print Comp 2014.
Schembri calls the print “simplistic and beautiful.” Photo © Roberto Valenzuela

For new entrants, Schembri stresses that photographers let the image speak for itself. “Never choose images based on the story; only you or the couple know about the image,” he says. “The image should always stand on its own without you needing to write an essay on it.”

An example of what Schembri looks for in an image can be found in Roberto Valenzuela’s second-place image from the Boudoir category this past year. “The image was simplistic and beautiful; it made you think of the human form in a different way,” Schembri says. “The lighting and print quality were outstanding, and it fit the category perfectly!”

WHAT HE OBSERVED—JASON GROUPP

As director of WPPI and the Print Comp, Jason Groupp has a unique view from both the judges’ and entrants’ perspective. “One thing that I notice is that photographers get caught up in their emotional feeling of the image,” Groupp says. “You need to look at everything: the lighting, the composition, are there any distractions in the image? Also, make sure you enter the proper category; this can be huge when judging time comes.” 

Groupp goes on to say that a winning competition image isn’t necessarily one that a client loves. “Ask anyone you can—friends, family or anyone who can give an unbiased opinion on the image,” he says. “Finally, in the wedding categories, when working with clients, work with them on their poses. Do something unique. Something that stands out and provokes thoughts.” 

Groupp stresses that a major aspect of Print Comp is to help photographers to improve as well as grow—with the first and second halves preparing them for the 16×20 Print Comp. “What makes us unique is that our competition is judged by photographers,” he says. “We do our best to give the best feedback. We really care about the growth in photographers over the course of the year during the competition.”