8 ways to pick a winning image for #bha2015 with paul stafford

It's not too late to get your British Hairdressing Awards entry in - but if you're struggling to pick which images to enter from a full day of shooting, we're here to help. Paul Stafford is in HJ's British Hairdressing Awards Hall of Fame for winning Northern Irish Hairdresser of the Year three times - here she shares his tips for picking the right photos to make you a winner. "Everyone who has ever done a collection for the British Hairdressing Awards will know the feeling," says Paul. "You’ve put everything you have into that shoot but finally it’s over. The shoot went unbelievably smoothly and your photographer pulled every trick he know out of the bag. "But it’s not over. You may have a great collection, but that only makes the next part worse," he continues. You have to choose four. Just four! That brief moment of relief has passed as you enter possibly the most emotional part of the whole experience. The sleepless nights return as you spend hours in front of the computer. You find yourself having endless conversations with photographers, colleagues and even random strangers about which are best. Should I go with the mood shot or the one where the angle shows off my creative genius? "Even though I entered the Hall of Fame years ago, I still go through the same emotional turmoil when I do a collection, but I’ve learned a few things that I keep in mind. And judging the British Hairdressing Awards year after year has confirmed those essential points."

How To Choose a Winning Image

1. This near to the closing date, you should have completed any digital processing needed. This means you should have decided on which image for each of the individual looks you created works best. 2. Your collection will be one of hundreds of entries, so it has to stand out. The best way to do that is to have a cohesive collection that tells a story, rather just the best pictures. 3. Never enter a picture in the first round that you aren't entirely happy with. It may seem obvious, but a lot of hairdressers hold back the best thinking they can impress in the second round - except they don’t get shortlisted. 4. There may be a great shot that you absolutely love, but is it the best hair shot? Maybe it would work better in the final eight, where it will look like a great hero shot. In the first four, what you need is diversity to showcase your skill and creativity, your interesting ideas and your variety. 5. Remember that the judges will be looking for something new. If you've been inspired by last year’s winners, pick those pictures that demonstrate how you have been inspired by them to push your own creativity, not copy them. 6. If you have an abundance of processed images to choose from, print them all out so you can lay them out side by side and see which work best together. 7. If you have time, leave them alone for a couple of days before making your final decision. You’ll be surprised what effect looking at them with fresh eyes can have on your choices. 8. A hairdresser once told me that picking the images for round one was like trying to choose a favourite child. Think of it as choosing the strongest child even if it sometimes isn't the prettiest! The strength of the image may catch the attention of the judges, which, in turn, will intrigue them and get them to look deeper.