From Practice to Published: How to Improve Your Photography Score

Whether you're receiving feedback from MCC evaluations, photo competitions, or peer reviews, understanding what separates different tiers of photography helps you improve faster. This guide breaks down the key differences between practice-level, published-quality, and award-worthy photographs—and shows you how to level up.

Understanding the Tiers

Practice Tier (0-59)

Practice-level photographs show potential but have significant areas for improvement. They might suffer from:

• Technical issues (focus, exposure, noise)
• Weak composition that doesn't guide the viewer
• Lack of clear subject or story
• Distracting elements that weren't noticed
• Unremarkable light or timing

*The good news**: These are all fixable. Practice tier doesn't mean bad photographer—it means opportunities for growth.

Published Tier (60-79)

Published-quality photographs are technically sound and communicate effectively. They demonstrate:

• Proper exposure and focus
• Intentional composition that works
• Clear subject and visual hierarchy
• Good use of available light
• Minimal distracting elements

These images would look appropriate in a portfolio, blog, or publication—hence "published."

Awarded Tier (80-100)

Awarded photographs go beyond competence to excellence. They exhibit:

• Technical mastery serving creative vision
• Exceptional composition that feels inevitable
• Powerful emotional impact or storytelling
• Masterful use of light
• Unique perspective or interpretation
• The "it" factor that stops viewers in their tracks

Elevating Your Work

From Practice to Published

The jump from practice to published is largely about eliminating errors and developing consistency.

Fix Technical Fundamentals

Focus: Your subject's key elements (usually eyes in portraits) must be tack sharp. Use single-point autofocus and verify focus before moving on.

Exposure: Learn to read histograms. Avoid clipped highlights on important elements. Understand when to override your camera's meter.

Noise: Know your camera's acceptable ISO limits. Use proper technique to keep ISO as low as possible while maintaining adequate shutter speed.

White Balance: Ensure color looks natural unless you're making deliberate creative choices.

Strengthen Composition

Find Your Subject: Every strong photo has a clear subject. Before shooting, ask: what is this photograph about? If you can't answer, neither can your viewer.

Remove Distractions: Scan your entire frame before shooting. Check edges and background. If something doesn't add to the image, it subtracts.

Apply Guidelines Intentionally: Use the rule of thirds, leading lines, and other composition techniques consciously. Know why you're placing elements where you place them.

Create Visual Hierarchy: Guide viewers to your subject using light, focus, contrast, or positioning.

From Published to Awarded

The jump from published to awarded is harder—it's about transcending competence to create something special.

Master Light

Published photographers work with light; awarded photographers command it. Study how light creates mood, directs attention, and shapes subjects. Learn to wait for light, find light, and modify light.

Develop Vision

What do you see that others don't? Your unique perspective—shaped by your experiences, interests, and way of seeing—is your creative fingerprint. Cultivate it.

Pursue Emotional Impact

Technical excellence is table stakes at the awarded level. What elevates images further is emotional resonance—photographs that make viewers feel something.

Perfect Your Timing

The decisive moment separates good from great. Develop patience to wait for peak action, peak expression, peak light. Often, the difference between published and awarded is a fraction of a second.

Embrace Risk

Playing it safe produces predictable images. Awarded photographs often come from creative risks—unusual perspectives, challenging subjects, unconventional techniques.

Specific Improvements by Genre

Landscape Photography

Practice Level Issues:

• Shooting in midday light
• No clear focal point
• Centered, static horizons
• Including too much without purpose

Published Level Characteristics:

• Golden hour or blue hour timing
• Strong foreground interest
• Intentional horizon placement
• Simplified composition with clear subject

Awarded Level Qualities:

• Extraordinary light or weather
• Perfect moment with dynamic elements
• Emotional atmosphere
• Unique location or perspective

Portrait Photography

Practice Level Issues:

• Eyes not sharp
• Unflattering light (harsh shadows)
• Distracting backgrounds
• Awkward poses or expressions

Published Level Characteristics:

• Sharp eyes, proper focus
• Flattering, intentional light
• Clean background that doesn't compete
• Natural expression and pose

Awarded Level Qualities:

• Genuine emotional connection
• Light that reveals character
• Background that adds context
• Expression that tells a story

Street Photography

Practice Level Issues:

• No clear moment or subject
• Shooting from too far away
• Cluttered compositions
• Pedestrian perspectives

Published Level Characteristics:

• Clear decisive moment
• Getting close enough
• Simplified compositions
• Interesting light or contrast

Awarded Level Qualities:

• Perfect alignment of elements
• Human truth revealed
• Layers and complexity that reward viewing
• Images that transcend the specific moment

The Feedback Loop

Receiving Critique

When you receive feedback—whether from MCC evaluations, peers, or competitions—approach it constructively:

1. Set ego aside: Critique is about the image, not you
2. Look for patterns: Repeated feedback points to real issues
3. Ask why: Understanding reasoning helps more than simple corrections
4. Apply selectively: Not all feedback is equal; use judgment

Self-Critique

Develop your ability to evaluate your own work:

• Wait 24-48 hours before reviewing new images
• Compare to your best work and to work you admire
• Ask specific questions: Is the subject clear? Is light used well? Does it evoke emotion?
• Be honest but not harsh—identify issues without judgment

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Tier Analysis

Select one of your images you consider published-level. List three specific things that would need to improve for it to be awarded. Then photograph the same subject aiming specifically for those improvements.

Exercise 2: Intentional Iteration

Choose a subject and photograph it 50 times, each time trying to improve on the previous attempt. Review the series and identify which images are strongest and why.

Exercise 3: Study Excellence

Find 10 awarded-level photographs in your preferred genre. Analyze each one: What makes it exceptional? What can you apply to your own work?

The Long Game

Improving as a photographer is a marathon, not a sprint. Practice-level photographers become published-level photographers through consistent effort and intentional practice. Published photographers reach awarded status through years of refinement, countless hours of shooting, and relentless pursuit of their vision.

Every image you create is an opportunity to improve. Approach each photograph with intention, learn from every success and failure, and trust that progress comes with persistence.

Your best photograph hasn't been taken yet. Keep shooting.