ICYMI: This month, we announced the six recipients of the 2020 Women Photograph Grants! You can read more about their incredible projects here. We asked the jurors for any general feedback they’d want to pass along to all applicants, and these were some of their suggestions:
1. Read the instructions.
Even if you have a stellar application, not following instructions might make your submission significantly harder to process or chance disqualifying you completely, if the grant administrators are sticklers. Don’t take that risk — make sure that you’ve properly named your files, you’ve resized photos as necessary, you’ve added embedded captions if necessary [if you’re not sure how to do that, check out this video from Diversify Photo co-founder Brent Lewis], and you’ve satisfied any other logistical grant requirements. And that includes making sure you can meet the submission deadline — don’t risk needing to ask for an extension, not every organization will be able to grant you one!
2. You do not need to submit the maximum number of images required for a submission.
If an application calls for a maximum of 25 images in a submission portfolio and you have 19 very strong photos, that’s okay — just submit 19 images! Stick to your strongest possible edit, and don’t try to pad your submission because you think you need to accommodate the upper limit. Remember: your application portfolio is only as strong as your weakest image. Prioritize a tight edit that shows off your strength and versatility as a photography, and ditch the rest.
3. Submit 1-2 stories rather than a portfolio of singles.
For open calls like this year’s Women Photograph + Getty Images Scholarship that request general portfolios (not necessarily related to a specific project proposal, for instance) — judges usually express a preference for seeing one or two stories rather than a selection of single images. Stories allow juries to see what kind of work you’ve dedicated time to, what you care about, and it’s an opportunity to demonstrate the depth (rather than breadth) of your work.
4. Seek out feedback from colleagues.
Use your fellow photographer friends as a sounding board for your grant applications: Does it make sense? Does it feel cohesive? Does the photo edit support the proposal in the best way possible? Have you done a spelling + grammar check? If you’re not a native speaker to the language you have to submit your application in, do you know someone who could give your proposal a quick read for clarity? If you can, try to get a second pair of eyes on your applications to make sure you’re expressing your ideas clearly.
5. Is your point of view clear?
Judges expressed a strong preference for applications where the voice and perspective of the photographer was present and clear. Why is this project important to you? What is your relationship to the story? What is some of the broader historical and cultural context that might be relevant? In other terms: why are YOU the best person to be working on this project? Make sure we understand your personal connection, your expertise, or your existing dedication to this idea.