Because we love mamas and Mama's Day is just around the corner, we decided it's time for another MAMA FOCUS photo contest—complete with wonderful prizes!

The MAMA FOCUS photo contest is all about putting the FOCUS on MAMA. Submit self portraits, have your kids snap a photo, or take photos of your own mama or mama friends. It's not important how you get the photo, as long as YOU (or another MAMA) are THE FOCUS (technical focus is optional).

We are looking for photos with a fresh, unique perspective or that capture a moment, convey a feeling, or tell a story. We want interesting and unexpected shots that give us a peek at the whole woman or into real mamahood.

The MAMA FOCUS photo contest is hosted by mamazine.com and the fabulous Shutter Sisters. The contest kicks off Sunday, April 27, 2008, and ends Saturday, May 31, 2008. Winners will be announced Sunday, June 8, 2008.

We have four judges: the amazing Tracey Clark of Shutter Sisters, the super-awesome Andrea of hula seventy, Sheri Reed of happinest, today is pretty, and mamazine.com, and Amy Anderson, also of mamazine.com. Tracey is a talented professional photographer and Andrea is a gifted photographer in training; however, Sheri and Amy are not trained in photography whatsoever. Overall, the judges will select the photos that strike us most, for whatever reason.

• Upload the highest possible quality image of your picture to the MAMA FOCUS Flickr group photo pool. You will have to join the group, and then follow Flickr's instructions for posting a picture to a photo pool.
• In the description field, enter your name (and the photographer's name, if she's not you). The entrant does not need to have taken the photo, but the photographer must be aware of the submission.
• In the tags, enter "MAMA FOCUS" on all submissions.

• MAMA-FOCUSED ENTRIES ONLY! Please do not enter photos of your kids. Kids can be depicted in the photos; however, the mama should be the MAIN FOCUS of the photograph.
• Limit: TWO *new* submissions per person (Already have two photos in the pool? It's okay to enter two more for the contest. No need to delete older photos from the pool).
• We will consider ALL photos in the pool, regardless of the date submitted (so, no need to resubmit photos already in the pool).
• Each entrant is only eligible for a single award.
• Photos thought to be outside of the above criteria may be removed from consideration without the entrant being notified.
• Sample submission.

And last but definitely not least—fabulous prizes from our generous sponsors.

Plus, now through Saturday, May 31st, mamazine.com readers get 10% OFF ON ALL PURCHASES at Give Simple.

Enter code MAMAZINE at checkout.

Download Blurb's free BookSmart software for your PC or Mac at Blurb.com to get started. Select from lots of design layouts and tools to customize your book. Books start at $12.95 for a 7x7" softcover and range to $54.95 for a 13x11" hardcover book.

Looking for inspiration? Browse the Blurb bookstore and check out some of the amazing books others have published.

And whether you win the grand prize or not, be sure to look into Photography.Book.Now, an international photography book competition Blurb is presenting to recognize the finest self-published photography books. Anyone can enter through July 14. The grand prize is $25,000.

Contest Questions? Please ask your questions in the 2008 Contest Questions thread on the MAMA FOCUS Flickr group so everyone can benefit from the answers.