FAQs
- 1) LOOP
- 2) Registration
- 3) Your Profile
- 4) Upload photos
- 5) Using LOOP on your mobile phone
- 6) Tags
- 7) Competitions
1) LOOP
What is LOOP?
LOOP is a website for sharing your favorite photos - taken with your camera or camera phone. Enter your photos into our Pro v Joe competitions and see how they measure up against your friends or our pro photographers images! Get everyone voting for your photos and you stand a chance of winning some great prizes.
What is Pro V Joe?
What is Pro V Joe? Pro V Joe is the face of LOOP competitions. It simply means you - Joe public versus our pro photographers. The pros photos will be anonymously uploaded to the site, so the aim is to upload great shots and beat the pros with more public votes!
2) Registration
How do I register on LOOP?
Click on the link at the top of the LOOP or any competition homepage and enter a few personal details. You will need a valid email address to register.
How do I validate my email address?
Once you have submitted your registration form, you will be sent an email to the address you registered with. You will need to open this email and click the link provided to activate your LOOP profile fully. This ensures us you are using your own email address.
I didn't receive my validation email
If you have registered on LOOP and not received your validation email, please attempt to log-in to LOOP and we will send you a new validation email to the email address originally given.
Why do I need a username?
The username is the unique name that identifies your profile and you as a user on LOOP. Some users may not want their full name on the website - so a username enables you to apply any identity you like.
Why do you ask for a mobile number as an optional field?
We know not everyone likes to give away their mobile number details. LOOP will not display this information to other users, but if you provide us with your mobile number, we are able to contact you quicker if you win a competition. You are also able to upload photos conveniently via MMS from your mobile, so by providing your number we are able to recognize that mobile number associated with your profile.
Why do you ask for a profile photo as an optional field upon registration?
When you complete the registration process you are able to enter the 'edit my profile' section of LOOP and add some more details to your personal profile. You then have the option to make your details public so other users can see it when they view your photos, if you choose to keep your profile private other users will just see your username.
3) Your Profile
How do I edit my profile?
Once you are logged-in the 'register' link at the top of each page now appears as 'edit profile'. Click this link to edit you profile information and change your email or password.
What parts of my profile can be edited?
All aspects of your profile can be edited including your email address and password and username - although this may be a little confusing for friends that know you as a certain username already.
How do I change my password?
In 'edit profile' click on the change password link and simply enter your new password then verify it.
How do I change my email address?
In 'edit profile' simply enter a new email address and click 'save edits'. You will then be sent an email to the new address you chose, asking you to click a link to verify that email address. Once you have done this, your email address will be updated.
Is my profile public?
When you first register on the site you do not need to enter all the details featured in your personal profile. Once registered you are able to enter some extra information and opt-in to reveal these to other users. If this opt-in box is not selected then all details apart from your username will remain private to other users.
What personal details can other users see?
If you opt-in to make your personal details public then other users are able to see your username, age, location and question answers.
How do I delete my profile from LOOP?
There is an option to delete your profile in the 'edit profile' section once you are logged-in. You will need to confirm your choice to delete your profile, but once deleted you will no longer be registered on LOOP and all your photos will be permanently deleted.
Do I have to create a full profile?
No, not if you don't want to. You might have noticed when clicking 'register' that the only information we require from you is your name, email address, username, password and date of birth. Other than that, nothing is mandatory. However, if you do pad out your profile a little, you'll increase the chance of finding other people who share your interests, if that's what you're into.
Can I point my friends towards a page that's mine in LOOP?
If your friends visit the LOOP site they are able to search for your username to view all your photos as search results. They can do this by using the 'quicksearch' field at the top of each page or by clicking 'search images' in the main menu and typing your name in the keyword field.
4) Upload photos
How do I upload my photos?
You can upload photos directly from your computer or mobile phone. For mobile uploading please see the 5) Using LOOP on your mobile phone section.
How do I upload photos directly from my computer?
Once registered, you are able to upload as many photos as you like into as many competitions as are running at one time. Log-in and click 'upload photos' in the main menu. Make sure the photo(s) you want to upload are on your computer and browse for them using the button on the upload page. Once uploaded you will need to select the competition you are entering the photo into and then ideally give it a title, description and tags. It is only compulsory to select the competition, the other fields are optional. Although the more you write about your photo and tag it - the more chance other users have of finding it and voting it as a winner!
How many photos can I upload?
You can upload as many photos as you wish, although at the moment you are only able to do this one by one. (Watch out for multiple uploads coming soon!) Are there limits on file sizes or file types for upload? The file size limit is 14MB - so this is plenty for one very high quality photo! The site will accept all jpeg, png and gif photos.
Can anybody comment on my photos?
Any registered user can comment on a photo. You do have to be registered and logged-in to make comments. All comments are moderated and will be removed if they violate LOOP terms and conditions.
What does the 'Flag as inappropriate' link on a photo page do?
If you feel a photo or its comments contain inappropriate language or are offensive then as a registered user you may flag the photo as inappropriate. The photo or comment will NOT be removed immediately, but reviewed by LOOP moderators. If the moderator feels the photo or comment violates the terms and conditions of LOOP, then it will be removed and a message sent to the user whom wrote or uploaded it. Repeat offenders will have their profiles blocked. If content is flagged but not found to be inappropriate it will remain on the site and all flags removed.
Can I rearrange the photos in the 'my images' page?
Your photos can be rearranged by 'newest or 'most votes' - so you can see how your photos are doing in the competitions!
Can I delete photos from 'my images'?
Yes, you can click delete and confirm to delete your own photos. Note that once confirmed these will be permanently deleted from LOOP. Once deleted photos will be removed from competitions.
Can I edit my photos?
Yes, you are able to edit each photo by clicking on the edit button on the photo in your 'my images' section. You are able to change the title, description, tags and crop of your photos, but not the competition.
How do I change the competition my photo is entered in to?
You are not able to change the competition once your photo has been entered into it. If you wish to do so, you will need to delete the photo and upload again, adding it to the desired competition.
How do I get the URL of a photo?
When you are viewing a photo you will find its url next to 'link this' in the photo information box on the right side of the page.
Where can I see other user's photos?
To view photos, perform a search on LOOP. Either enter a keyword in the 'quick search' field at the top right of any LOOP page or click on 'search photos' in the main menu. From here you can view all photos or perform a keyword or competition search. Hover over the photos to see more information about them. You are able to click a users name to view all that users photos and profile details (if they have set their profile as public).
Can I see ALL users' profiles?
When a user first registers on the site they do not need to enter all details featured in their personal profile. Once registered, a user is able to enter some extra details and opt-in to reveal these to other users. If this opt-in box is not selected then all details apart from username will remain private.
How do I send an photo to a friend?
When you are viewing a photo, there is always a link to 'send to a friend'. You will need to enter your friends email and your name and a message is optional. Your friend will receive your message and a link to the photo via the email address you entered.
How do I download a photo?
When you are viewing a photo, there is always a link to 'download photo'. Click this link and the photo will download automatically in a new window. You can then save this photo wherever you like.
Are my photos ever deleted?
Your photos are never deleted, unless you violate the rules of the website (stated in Terms and Conditions), we reserve the right to block your profile, so you have no access to your photos and all comments you have made on LOOP will be removed.
5) Using LOOP on your mobile phones
How can I upload a photo to LOOP from my mobile device?
To upload a photo directly from your mobile phone, text the photo via a MMS to 80880. Once we receive your photo, you will in turn receive a SMS message back with a link to the mobile LOOP site. You will need to follow a different process if you are already registered on LOOP to if you are not.
I am registered on LOOP, how do I upload a photo directly from my mobile?
If you are already registered on LOOP, please make sure your mobile number is entered in your profile. This enables LOOP to recognize your mobile number and associate it with your personal profile. When you send a photo as a MMS message from your phone, the photo will be attached to your LOOP profile and saved in your 'my images' as status 'pending'. We will send you an SMS message upon receipt of your uploaded photo asking you to visit the mobile LOOP website or go to LOOP online to title, describe, tag and add your photo to a competition. Note you do not need to add all details initially, except for the competition selection - but you can revisit your account at any time and edit your images.
I am NOT registered on LOOP, how do I upload a photo directly from my mobile?
If you are not registered on the LOOP site, send a photo via MMS from your mobile phone to 80880. Once LOOP receives your photo, you will in turn receive an SMS asking you to visit the mobile LOOP site or LOOP online to register your details. Upon registration enter your mobile number, so LOOP is able to attach the uploaded photo to your new profile. LOOP will be able to retrieve your photo as it will recognize your mobile number.
6) Tags
What are tags?
Tags are like keywords or labels that you add to a photo to make it easier to find. You can tag a photo with phrases like 'skiing winter snow sun'. Later if you look for pictures of snow, you can just click that tag and get all photos that have been tagged that way.
Is there a limit on the number of tags I can add to a photo?
There is a limit of 150 characters for all your tags per photo.
Do I have to tag my photos?
No, you do not – but the more relevant tags you apply, the easier it will be for your friend and other users to find your photos and vote for them to win!
7) Competitions
How do I find out what competitions are running?
Each competition will have an information section and link to its homepage on the main LOOP homepage. From here you will be able to access all competitions running at once and also see what is coming soon. From individual competition homepages there will always be a section and link for other competitions so you can switch between them and check out them all!
Where are the competitions terms and conditions?
On each competition homepage there is a link to the terms and conditions of that particular competition.
Where can I find out about the competitions or Pro V Joe?
Select the 'What’s it about' link on the main menu for all information and see terms and conditions for further details.
What prizes can I win?
The prizes for each competition are different. Please refer to individual competition homepages and terms and conditions for prize details.
How do I see winner’s photos?
When a competition ends the top ten winning photos will be displayed on a 'previous competitions' page. Please look out for this link in the main menu once the first competitions end!