Entering a photo contest with cash prizes is a great way to practice and improve your photography and have some fun in the process. One of the biggest confidence boosters a photographer can get is to win or even place in one.

Are you a professional photographer, wanting to become one, or a hobbyist? What ever your level of skill, entering a free photo contest can expose your talents to a wider audience and you may also be able to win those cash prizes! There are several professional photographers that have entered contests which got them started toward a successful career.

As photography is usually a lot of fun, a contest can help you get better as a photographer. Why? Your image will be seen by a group of judges and possibly even displayed along with other winners. Photography contests can be found in many places like the internet, magazines, newspapers and certain promotions.

Many contests have a theme or a specific subject they promote. Be as precise in interpreting the theme as best as possible. If it's a nature theme, then a tree, ocean, landscape shot, etc. should be in your image frame. You can go for a unique approach, which can win you a thumbs-up for originality, but be careful that the intent isn't lost. If you want to make your entry stand out by not just sticking to the theme, then tell a story with your shot.

There is a key factor to remember if your photo doesn't win - art is usually subjective. It can be difficult to know exactly what a judge will like or not like. Sometimes the interpretation an image receives will depend on a judge's personal tastes. This is why more people, usually three, is best for judging a contest. This eliminates the chance that personal taste was used instead an objective viewpoint. Also, take every opportunity to use your photo submissions as a learning experience. You can then apply any feedback received from the judges.

A common mistake is to take a picture from too far away that includes too much irrelevant background. This can distract and interrupt the purpose of the photo. If you're taking pictures of people, you don’t need to get your subject's entire body in the picture you can just focus on the face or hands, for example.

It's a good idea to use your strengths. For example, if you're good at shooting symmetrical photos and the theme is symmetry, enter your photos. Also, look for contest opportunities that are looking for what you do best.

If you are thinking of entering a free photo contest with cash prizes, watch our free "Top Gun Photo Tips" video. It will get you on the right track.

As a San Diego photographer who has entered (and sometimes won) national photo contests and who also judges them, there are some important tips I'll share with you that can help give you a winning edge in any contest.You’ll learn the top 7 winning strategies that the pros have used in our free video.