Dear Reader,

Here’s this week’s photo tip, with September’s Photo Challenge Theme...    September is your last month to enter the Photo Challenge before we open up the voting for the $2,000 Grand Prize winner in October.

Each monthly first-place winner gets a $30 gift certificate to the AWAI E-bookstore. And every monthly winner -- first, second, and third place AND honorable mentions -- get included in the Hall of Fame, and stand a chance of winning the $2,000 Grand Prize.

Enter in September for your last chance to win this year... You could make an extra $2,000 just in time for holiday shopping season. 

-- Lori

Lori Allen Director, AWAI's Travel Division

P.S. The AWAI Photo Challenge is free to enter and free to win. Details about entering are below in this month’s theme. 

Whether this is your first time submitting to the Photo Challenge, or you’re a veteran contestant, you’ll find portable pro-tips for taking first-place photos every time you go out to shoot with our AWAI-Exclusive Photo Tip Cards.

I keep a set in my camera bag at all times, so I don’t have to get out my manual or test out different camera settings. The cards tell me exactly what to do, wherever I happen to be. If it’s raining, I flip to the Rain card. If I’m photographing my friends and family, I flip to the Pets and People card. And my camera settings are right there. With 24 cards in all, we’ve covered just about every situation... from sporting events, to fireworks... even under water. Grab a set for yourself here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/tip/getstarted

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August 26, 2009
The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip 
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SEPTEMBER’S PHOTO CHALLENGE THEME: TICKLED PINK
By Shelly Perry in Portland, OR 

Lori is due to have her baby in September -- or really any day now. We’re so excited to have a brand new little girl in the office that we’re going to go with a color theme this month to celebrate her arrival -- “Tickled Pink.”

So think “pink” and think of ideas that go with pink.  Photo subjects for this challenge can be anything colored pink, from flowers or pink cupcakes to little girls in pink tutus OR can be anything that "tickled pink" represents, like laughter, happiness, or glee. 

Here are some ideas to get you started ... 

** Pink piglets:

** Pink drinks:

** Pink sweets and treats:

-- OR --
 
Get more creative and think conceptually -- what does “tickled pink” mean?

How about people who are "tickled pink," such as families laughing and playing together.  Someone giving someone else a gift and getting that "tickled" reaction. Or maybe people giggling... 

** Giggling baby: 

** Surprise gift

However you decide to interpret "tickled pink" be sure to also include a good strong title and description. There are times when this makes all the difference for the winning shots, giving them that extra leg up to put them above the others.

It’s especially important to give your image a title and description when you shoot conceptually, as it may not be readily evident to the viewer what you’re trying to convey.  Keep in mind the various tips for composition and lighting you’ve learned so far through these weekly photo tips.

I encourage you to go back through our archives at http://www.thephotographerslife.com/archives/eletters and read some of the critiques of previous months' entries before you enter this month. You'll gain some useful insights about what it takes to create a winning photo.  Cute snapshots aren’t going to cut it. For this theme, you need a big WOW factor -- something a little unusual.

Submit your best shot. This is your last chance to get into the Hall of Fame and compete for the $2,000 Grand Prize in October.  Submissions for September’s challenge are due by 8:00 a.m. EST on Monday, September 28. You can submit your photos by clicking on the "Enter to Win" tab on our website, here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com. Look for a list of August winners in next week's Photo Tip.  

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To meet Shelly Perry in person, visit: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/phw/santafe09

Shelly makes a good chunk of her income selling her photos as stock. She sets them up and they sell over and over -- even while she sleeps. Find out how she does it, and how you can follow in her footsteps this October 16-18 at the Ultimate Stock Photography Workshop in Santa Fe, here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/phw/santafe09

But don’t think about this one too much... if you’d like to come, you should sign up soon, because only six seats remain... and we’re sure to sell out before the Early Bird Discount expires on September 18.

Reserve your seat today, before they’re gone, here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/santafe09]

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