I've been on MM a long time but have never looked at the contests. I am an amateur photographer and only enter one contest a year. It is open to the public and I enter it because I like the people that put it on. Maybe the MM contest folks will review this idea and see if theres a way to improve participation. See, " I like the contest sponsors"
I've never looked at or voted on them, just doesn't interest me. I found out my makeup won one only after the photographer who shot it was kind enough to message me and tell me, ha ha!
I've been on since 2008 and worked with many different models and met different photogs, developed good recommendations, but over the last couple of years I'm not getting any traction here. Limited comments, requests, really nothing occurring. I'm in a fairly big market maybe this has something to do with it.
Click on "Max" below the chart and you will see something like:
In the past month there has been a small recovery in the traffic statistics, the decline has stopped, and the traffic has stabilized with the monthly average alexa ranking at 1691 (as of Nov 12), but still well down on the peak ranking of 850 in mid-2011.
However, you'd think this traffic is mostly from non-members. There are no public statistics for member-related traffic. The demographic is "visited more frequently by males who are in the age range 25-34, have no children". How to turn this fact into something rewarding for members?
In the past month there has been a small recovery in the traffic statistics, the decline has stopped, and the traffic has stabilized with the monthly average alexa ranking at 1691 (as of Nov 12), but still well down on the peak ranking of 850 in mid-2011.
However, you'd think this traffic is mostly from non-members. There are no public statistics for member-related traffic. The demographic is "visited more frequently by males who are in the age range 25-34, have no children". How to turn this fact into something rewarding for members?
Given that demographic data, the answer is obvious: PORN!
William Kious wrote: The contests became utterly pointless. When you see an absolute crap shot with more votes simply because there's pussy or cock, well, it makes the exercise of having a contest a complete joke.
..wait, there ARE photos in the "contest" that win?
...still looking for those who have won with a real photo.
...also not interested in submitting any photo to a contest, that relies on popular vote to win. Reminds of those contests on FaceBook where the winner is always the one with the most "friends" and an ability to spam for votes via messaging helps.
Maybe contests are fun... I don't think that I have ever entered one!
I guess I also saw that most contest winners are masters of photoshop and retouching and with that, people used to judge based not so much on the story that the photo tells, but how flawlessly it was edited.
Hence, I personally never saw a chance to measure up and didn't enter.
But... I have my market, I have the people that enjoy what I do and people hire me to do my thing... so, in the course of the years, that's where I get my validation from...
I think its rigged ... I get emails from people who submit asking me to vote for their image ... cheating I guess ... but its the only time I even bother to go there For me I don't have time to solicited votes for a great photo to ensure it does get beat by something less IMO
udor wrote: Maybe contests are fun... I don't think that I have ever entered one!
I guess I also saw that most contest winners are masters of photoshop and retouching and with that, people used to judge based not so much on the story that the photo tells, but how flawlessly it was edited.
Hence, I personally never saw a chance to measure up and didn't enter.
But... I have my market, I have the people that enjoy what I do and people hire me to do my thing... so, in the course of the years, that's where I get my validation from...
You pretty much expressed how I feel. The contests simply don't interest me. It's not why I am here using this website. I think traffic in general has slowed some to this site.
The problem with the contests is that the same small group of people tend to participate in the contests. The winning entry often is not a great photo in a broad sense, but a reflection of how well youve catered to the voters tastes. If i was unsure of my photography and in need to approval from a peer group, i might care about the contests.
c_h_r_i_s
Posts: 13,360
Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom
I'd think general enthusiasm is down snapping pic's due to the current state of the world economy. People have other more important priorities rather than throwing money at a hobby.
MM and other sites will see a decrease in numbers which may go on for sometime. In turn will effect the various site competitions.
Patrick Walberg wrote: You pretty much expressed how I feel. The contests simply don't interest me. It's not why I am here using this website. I think traffic in general has slowed some to this site.
Yeah... and, in addition to this, I am not sure what the value of MM recognition is for my career... I mean, if I'd win a contest by some renowned photomagazine, or some international, juried photo contest... that would be something else..., but as much I am part of MM, and support its value and community... I am doubtful about the MM photo contest.
c_h_r_i_s
Posts: 13,360
Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom
Apart from the recession there maybe other reasons why numbers are down.
Ports that the gate keepers have passed with baby pic's, weddings from photographers are not going to encourage models or models with mobile phone pic's are not going to encourage photographers.
Those types of images belong on social sites such as FB.
I understand people have to start from somewhere but there has to be a starting line which has some standard.
But I suspect people have their own opinions why this is happening in regards to standards.
This has given rise to the forming of groups on other dedicated sites with like minded model and photographers with the bonus being they don't need to be on a Google ranking system or make revenue.
Ljs Photography wrote: Hello MMers, I have recently noticed while viewing contests that the vote counts are really down, even for the winners. Is Model Mayhem on a decline in viewers and subscribers?
There are a lot of people giving up photography and/or modelling, it maybe isn't what they thought it would be, mainly people tend to think they are going to get commissions (photographers) and lot of models are either quitting because of personal reasons or not getting the money they thought they would get
Digitoxin wrote: These forum feel much slower than, say, 2 years ago.
Agreed. Threads stay on the first page for a surprising length of time with no increase in posters, meaning that no new threads are started to displace the old ones.
Digitoxin wrote: These forum feel much slower than, say, 2 years ago.
Managing Light wrote: Agreed. Threads stay on the first page for a surprising length of time with no increase in posters, meaning that no new threads are started to displace the old ones.
Maybe that "No response, is a response" is catching up with MM's forums and contests too.
For me I don't have time to solicited votes for a great photo to ensure it does get beat by something less IMO 
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