Q. How can I lead a Photo Walk?

A. You can apply to be a Photo Walk Leader right here. It’s really easy to to setup your Photo Walk and you’ll get instructions once you’ve been approved.

Q. I was a Photo Walk leader before, but now I can’t log into my account. Why not?

A. Each year we reset the leader accounts. You should have gotten an email with a link to set up a new account (make sure you check your spam filter if you didn’t). If for some reason that email didn’t show up, you’ll need to submit a new leader application so you can set up a new account.

Q. Does everyone get accepted as a Photo Walk leader?

A. We’re looking for people who have experience leading groups, so if you’re the president of your local camera club, or a college teacher, or photography instructor, or you run a local camera store, or you’ve lead PhotoWalks in your area before, etc., you’re more likely to get accepted to be a leader. We ask for your qualifications on the leader application, and that’s the type of experience we’re looking for. Last year, we had some people put, “Well, nobody else signed up from our city, so I guess I’ll do it.” That’s doesn’t instill a lot of confidence in you as a leader.

Q. I sent in my application to be a Photo Walk Leader but haven’t heard back. Where can I find out the status of my application?

A. You can check your application status right here. Keep in mind that we receive hundreds of applications each week, so we appreciate your patience in waiting for a response.

Q. What if my city already has a Photo Walk, but I want to lead a walk, too?

A. Some big cities can accommodate more than one walk, and so as soon as one starts to fill up, we add a second city walk if we have a leader apply. Or, if the walks are held geographically far from each other but technically in the same major city, we usually add those, too. (Cities like Paris, New York, London, Tokyo all can have multiple walks and draw from totally different population groups)

Q: Do I have to hold my walk during the day?

A. Nope. There are plenty of walks scheduled during sunrise/sunset. The only stipulation is that your walk takes place on October 13

Q. Can I hold my walk at a location that charges admission, like a park or zoo?

A. You absolutely can! Just be sure to post the admission fee on your walk page so everyone who signs up is aware of it. Walk leaders will not be allowed to collect the admission fee.

Q. What do I get for being a Photo Walk leader?

A. You’ll receive a digital copy of The Lightroom 4 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby. Once you’ve completed all your leaderly duties, you’ll get an email on how to retrieve your copy.

Q. Can I enter my best photo into the competition?

A. On top of getting a free digital copy of one of Scott Kelby’s The Lightroom 4 Book for Digital Photographers, we will also hold a competition just for Photo Walk leaders! This will take place after the walker competition. More info to come on this.

Q. What can I do to get the word out about my Photo Walk?

A. We’re currently working on putting together a press kit for leaders. When we have everything ready, there will be a link to download it on your Leader Dashboard.

Q. I set up my walk, but I don’t see it on the map. Why not?

A. Once you’ve set up your walk, the last step is to click the blue “Publish” button on the right side of the page. Once you do that, your walk should show up on the map.

Q. Where are the “Join Walk” button, “Leave Walk” button or “Contact Leader” link on my location page?

A. Leaders won’t see these when you’re signed in. You won’t see the green “Join/Leave Walk” button above the map because you can’t do either, and instead of “Contact Leader” you’ll see a link that says “Contact Walkers.” Everyone else will see the “Join/Leave Walk” button depending on if they’re part of your walk or not, and the “Contact Leader” link next to your name.

Q: We have a really large photography group that wants to participate, can we add more than 50 people to our walk?

A. Unfortunately, we can not allow our walks to exceed the max number of 50 walkers per location. However, please feel free to have another member of your photo group submit a leader application in the same area and have him/her specify that they are working in conjunction with you. If your walk in that location is full we will approve his/her application to host a walk near yours. Besides, if you plan to lead more than 50 people, you should have helpers anyway. =)

Q: Is there an age restriction? Can I allow children to participate?

A. We do not have an age restriction. Since each walk is different (location, time of day, etc.) we thought it should be up to each walk leader to decide whether they want to have children on their walk or not. If you are a walk leader that decides to allow children on your walk, please consider posting specific rules regarding supervision! We strongly suggest you only allow children if they are accompanied by a parent/guardian. As always, we want everyone to be safe during the WWPW but we also do not want to see a walk leader be held liable if anything happens to someone’s child during a walk!

Q. What happens if I have to cancel my walk?

A. We strongly recommend that you have a backup leader in place as part of your planning for the walk. This way they can step in and lead the walk in case something comes up at the last minute, and all of the people who signed up won’t be disappointed.

Q. How do I change my password/email/name?

A. Log in to your account, go to your Leader admin area, and go to your Profile page. All your info is right there.

Q. How do I get a profile picture to show up next to my name?

A. You can sign up for a Gravatar using the same email address you used to sign up here, and that will give you a profile picture.

Q. Where can I reset my password or change my email/street address?

A. No problem! You can access all of your account settings right here.

Q. Is there a place I can see all of the dates and deadlines for everything?

A. You can see the full schedule of important dates for the Photo Walk right here.

Q. How do I select the winning photo for my walk?

A. After image submissions have closed, Photo Walk Leaders will select a winning image from their Photo Walk. To do so, you’ll simply log in at WorldwidePhotoWalk.com, go to your walk page, and click the button below the image you wish to choose as the winning photo. Confirm your selection, and that’s it!

Q. How do leaders submit their photos to the leader contest?

A. After the walkers’ contest is complete, we’ll be sending out info on the leaders’ contest.

Q. I have a question or issue that isn’t addressed here. How can I contact you?

A. You can email us at photowalk@kelbymediagroup.com, and we’ll help you out as quickly as we can. Remember though, we are helping thousands of people around the world, so please be patient in waiting for a response. Also, please make sure you send your email from the email address you used to register. This will make it much easier to find your account and help you out

Q. What is a Photo Walk?

A. It’s a social photography event where photographers get together (usually in a downtown area or trendy section of town) to walk around, shoot photos, and generally have fun with other photographers.

Q. When is the 5th Annual Worldwide Photo Walk?

A. This year’s Worldwide Photo Walk will take place on Saturday, October 13, at whatever time your leader designates.

Q. How do I sign up to participate in a Photo Walk?

A. Go to the Find A Walk page, and search for the location where you’d like to participate in a Photo Walk. Click on the Photo Walk you’d like to sign up for, and you should be taken to its location page. Once you’re here, you should see information about the leader and the walk, including a map showing the exact location. Just above this map will be a button that says “Join This Walk.” Just click that, follow the instructions, and you should be all set! If you don’t see any Photo Walks happening in your area, keep checking back. New ones are being added every day!

Q. Is there a fee to participate this year?

A. Once again it’s free there is no fee to join this year’s Photo Walk just come and have a ball!

Q. How do I submit my best photo to the contest?

A. You’ll be able to do this after your Photo Walk occurs. When you log in at WorldwidePhotoWalk.com and go to your walk page, you’ll see instructions in a big yellow box on how to submit your single best image from your walk to the contest.

Q. What size/dimensions/resolution should my photo be?

A. The maximum file size for images is 1MB. We suggest it to be 1000px on the longest side at 72dpi.

Q. I just found out I’m not going to be able to participate in this year’s Photo Walk. How do I un-register?

A. Make sure you’re logged in, then click “Your Walk” at the top of the page. Once you’re at your walk page, scroll down to the map on the page, and just above it you should see button that says “Leave This Walk.” Click that button, and you’ll be un-registered for the walk.

Q. How many cities participated last year, and how many photographers did the Photo Walk that day?

A. We had over 1000 Photo Walks and over 28,000 people who participated around the world last year! That’s a HUGE leap from the 236 locations and 8,324 people we had the first year.

Q. What happens when a walk fills up?

A. It’s full =)

Q. How many is full?

A. Photo Walks are limited to 50 photographers. If that doesn’t sound like a lot, you haven’t seen 50 photographers coming down the sidewalk at the same time, and later all converging at once on a restaurant or pub. It’s more like a scary bike gang (except without the bikes, or gang, or scariness).

Q: Is there an age restriction? Are children allowed to participate?

A. While we do not have an age restriction, we thought it should be up to each walk leader to decide whether they want to allow children on their walk or not. Check with your leader to see if children will be allowed on their walk.

Q. So are you going to try and work some angle so that Orphanage in Kenya gets something out of this?

A. Ahh, you know us too well. Last year Scott was trying to come up with a good tie-in, but luckily one of his blog readers, Rob from Towner Jones Photography, came up with a great idea: we created an official Worldwide PhotoWalk T-shirt. We’re doing it again this year, and 100% of the profits from the sale of any of these t-shirts will go to feeding the kids at the Springs of Hope, Kenya Orphanage. We think it’s a great idea, and we’re so grateful that Rob came up with it! The online store will be up very soon!

Q. What are the rules for pictures I can submit to the contest?

A. We’ve had a ton of questions each year about this. Most recently, we’ve had lots of questions about model shoots during the walk. Here’s how we feel about it: you can shoot models as long as it happens on the walk route, during the official 2-hour (approx.) walk time chosen by your walk leader. Also, you can use Adobe Photoshop to your heart’s content, as long as everything in your photo was taken during the official walk hours along on the walk route. You can’t go back at sunset and shoot it in better light, and so on. Also, you can’t add a better sky that you shot in that same location on some other day. Basically, whatever you submit, it has to be taken during the official walk you participated in. You can shoot panos, HDR, B&Ws, you can create collages, you can process them with Instagram on your iPhone. I don’t care; it just has to be all shot during your 2-hour walk. If you don’t agree with the rules, no sweat whatsoever… just don’t enter the competition portion of the walk.

Q. Is there a Grand Prize?

A. You betcha!! Details of the prize packages can be found in our Prizes page (Top prize is awarded by Scott to the single best overall photo taken that day, from all the Photo Walk locations around the world).

Q. Are there other prizes?

A. Scott will also pick photos for 10 Finalist prizes, and there will be one People’s Choice award that will be voted on by you! Whatever photo you all vote as your favorite will get a great prize! Plus the winner of each Photo Walk will receive a digital copy of The Lightroom 4 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby.

Q. Do I have to enter the prize competition?

A. Absolutely not. This is a totally separate part of the experience, and if you don’t want to enter your images, you absolutely don’t have to (it’s just to make the experience more fun). Some people freaked out last year thinking they were required to enter, but just know… you absolutely don’t have to enter your image; you can go and shoot for the day, and never let anyone see your photos. Ever. They can be your private “secret” photos.

Q. Did anyone complain last year about how the winners were chosen?

A. Absolutely. People get pretty cranked if they think their image deserved to be the winner and wasn’t chosen, but Scott’s been one of the Photoshop World Guru Awards judges for 10 years, along with judging other competitions over the years, so he’s kind of used to that response. Surprisingly, he didn’t get one single complaint about the picks from any of the winners.

Q. How do I get a profile picture to show up next to my name?

A. You can sign up for a Gravatar using the same email address you used to sign up here, and that will give you a profile picture here and anywhere else online you post comments.

Q. Where can I share more of my photos from the walk?

A. While you can only submit one image for the contest, you can upload up to five images per day at the Official G+ page for the Worldwide Photo Walk right here.

Q. I share an email address with someone who also wants to participate in the Photo Walk. How can we both register?

A.One of you will need to sign up for another email account to register. It’s free, quick, and easy to do with any number of services including GMail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, etc.

Q. Where can I reset my password or change my email/street address?

A. No problem! You can access all of your account settings right here.

Q. Is there a place I can see all of the dates and deadlines for everything?

A. You can see the full schedule of important dates for the Photo Walk right here.

Q. What has been best thing that came out of this whole Worldwide Photo Walk thing?

A. I think it was the fact that so many photographers have not only made new friends, but have gone on to form their own photo walks during the year. This is totally a social event, and that’s why makes it so much fun. Most of the people on my walk had never done a Photo Walk before, but everybody had so much fun, they all wanted to do one again right away. Photo Walks are infectious, because when you get that many creative people together, who all have the love of photography in common, you can’t help but have a great time.

Q. I have a question or issue that isn’t addressed here. How can I contact you?

A. You can email us at photowalk@kelbymediagroup.com, and we’ll help you out as quickly as we can. Remember though, we are helping thousands of people around the world, so please be patient in waiting for a response. Also, please make sure you send your email from the email address you used to register. This will make it much easier to find your account and help you out