Dan Francis: Preparing for Print Competition

Getting Ready for Print Competition
Lets get over the stomach twisting, negative thinking about Print competition and run towards it head on with confidence! We'll be discussing the begging stages of how to enter for teh first time, the life of a print in competition. We'll talk all about the 12 elements that the judges base their score on. There will be advice, tips, critiques and games to lighten this (at times) very emotional experience to put your work out there. Overall, we'll discuss why no matter what it scores, you will up your craft by entering and keeping an open mind!

1. Beginning print competition for the first time. (State/District/International)
2. Life of a print in competition
3. Going through the 12 elements of a print merit
4. Going through the rules of competition, and what they need
5. Advice and tips to new talents
6. Critique
7. Print or Digital? (the benefit of print)
8.Game: “What did it score?”

I’ll explain how personal projects can be beneficial to you and to your growth. I’ll explain 6 ways of storytelling and how to get hired doing what you love through your personal work.

-Bringing personal work into client work.
-Getting them to buy for sure that one piece of artwork you’ve created

Dan Francis M.Photog, CPP, Councilor
Dan Francis (Fargo, North Dakota) is a Master Photographer, Photographic Craftsman and a Certified Professional Photographer based out of Fargo, ND. He was a college instructor in Photography and Photoshop for eight years while still operating his small business. He specializes in Storytelling images, Architecture, Commercial spaces, as well as Professional Portraits.

He began his art in High School taking all eight classes of Art that were offered. He learned the rules of color, mood, patience and creative thinking. In College, be brought his art into the digital world by graduating with honors in Graphic Design. After graduating from college, worked at a photography studio for six years continuing his vision through the camera. Dan's work has been seen around the world through his website. He has owned his photography business, located downtown Fargo since 2008. He specializes in Fine-Art Photography and Photo Restoration.

He served as President of the Fargo-Moorhead Camera Club and vice-president of the North Dakota Professional Photographers Association. He has been named Gold Photographer of the year three times through professional Photographers of America along with being A GIA nominee. He's also a seven time Kodak Gallery Award recipient. He's passionately obsessive over his career and looks to grow his art and will always be a student of this craft.