Official Rules 2026

Read below to understand the full rules and regulations for Photo Prize 2026. It includes details that may answer some of your burning questions about what’s required to compete and what Prize Foundation commits to on our end.

If you have questions, contact Jenn Wasserman: jenn@prize.foundation.

Photo Prize 2026 Official Rules and Regulations

Submission Eligibility

  • The contest is open to all photographers, both amateur and professional.
  • Participants must be at least 16 years old.
  • Photography must be generated during the dates of Wednesday, April 1 thru Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
  • Photographs must be original works created by the entrant.
  • Entrants may not be contracted to work for Prize Foundation during Prize Fest 2026, even if the photographs are taken on their own time.
  • Entrants are responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions for photographing individuals, private property, or copyrighted material.

Geographic Eligibility

  • Photography must be taken in Caddo or Bossier Parish.
  • Photographs must provide verifiable information to prove the date and time of the image entry.
  • Post-processing may take place anywhere in the world.

Qualifying Evidence

  • Images that do not include original, embedded EXIF data containing date/time/location are required qualifying evidence. Examples might be:
    • Photos taken without a camera capable of capturing date/time/location information.
    • Photographs captured using film or historic processes.
    • Composite images.

 

  • Qualifying Evidence with the required date/time/location information can be provided separately by documenting your shoot.

    • Take photos of your shoot with a GPS enabled smartphone — selfies with your camera at the location of the photo during the shoot are a great way to do this.
    • Open your documentation photos on your smartphone and tap to reveal the location information. Then screenshot this information to include with your submission —

 

Submission Data

  1. Submit up to two (2) image files.
  2. Accepted file types are TIFF or JPEG.
  3. Image files MUST be titled with the title of the work only.
  4. Each image must have a minimum resolution of 20 inches or 6000 pixels on the shortest side at 300ppi. Selected images will be printed and mounted for the exhibition.
  5. Files should either include original metadata (date/time) in the file – OR – should include supporting evidence that the photo was taken in the eligible geography and during the competition window. Entries without supporting metadata or evidence will not be eligible for the prize.

AI Content and Manipulation Techniques

  • The use of AI generation tools or techniques to create photographs is strictly prohibited.
  • Composite images are allowed provided that all elements are taken following the competition rules.

Copyright and Usage Rights

  • Entrants retain copyright and ownership of their photographs.
  • By entering the competition, entrants grant the Prize Foundation a non-exclusive license to reproduce, publish, and display the submitted photographs for promotional and educational purposes, with proper attribution to the photographer.
  • The Prize Foundation reserves the right to use the images for promotional purposes, including but not limited to, online and offline marketing materials, social media, and press releases, while giving proper credit to the photographer.
  • The contest organizers will not sell or use the photographs for commercial gain without the photographer’s consent.

Your License Agreement with Prize Foundation

License Agreement

This AGREEMENT is entered into this day between THE PHOTOGRAPHER whose electronic signature to this AGREEMENT is on the Registration Form (at https://prizefest.com/photo/#register) and FILM PRIZE FOUNDATION, INC herein the “Photo Prize”, signed below.

AGREEMENT OVERVIEW

  1. The Photographer owns the copyright of the photo(s) and/or work products submitted on prizefest.com (hereinafter “Photo(s)”).
  2. Photo Prize desires to obtain the rights to incorporate all or portions of the Photos into “Works” including exhibition, mechanical reproduction, and synchronization (see below for details). Now, therefore, inconsideration of the promises, conditions, covenants, and warranties herein contained, the parties agree as follows.

1. Rights Granted

The Photographer hereby grants to Photo Prize, its successors and assigns, a non-exclusive right, license, and privilege worldwide (the “Territory”) to:

  • a. Performance (or “Exhibition”) of the Photo in its entirety through means of Mechanical Reproduction (creating prints both digital and physical) during the Photo Prize competition, partner exhibitions, promotions, and tour dates including allowing others to utilize the Photo(s) in accordance with this agreement.
  • b. Mechanical Reproduction: The ability to create digital or physical media reproductions of the Photos in their entirety with the intended goal of sale of the Works of which the Photo may be a part.
  • c. Synchronization: Use of the Photo(s) in video or audio commercials, promotional clips, advertisements, and printed materials to promote the Photo Prize, partner film festivals, sale of mechanical reproductions, and tours.

2. Photographer’s Rights and Obligations

  1. Photographer warrants and represents that it owns all rights, titles, and interests in and to the Photo(s) and can produce evidence of such on reasonable request from the Photo Prize.
  2. Photographer reserves unto itself all rights of every kind and nature except those specifically granted to Photo Prize in this document.
  3. Prior to the first public exhibition of the Photo(s) by Photo Prize, Photographer will disclose any licenses the Filmmaker has entered into with third parties concerning content of the Photo, and/or allocating any rights to the Photo, including rights of a similar nature as those defined in any of 1.a, 1.b. Should existing third party licenses or agreements change and/or any new licenses or agreements be entered into after this date, the Filmmaker must notify the Film Prize and disclose such licenses thereto within thirty (30) days.

3. Photo Prize’s Rights and Obligations

  1. Photo Prize will be solely responsible for providing all funding and technical expertise for the development and marketing of the Photo pursuant to exercising of the rights granted in 1.a, 1.b.
  2. Photo Prize will be the sole owner of the derivative Works it creates (ads, commercials, promos, etc.) and all proprietary rights in and to the Works; except, that ownership will not include the ownership of the copyright in and to the Photo(s) or any other rights to the Photo(s) not specifically granted in this Agreement.

4. Warranty and Indemnification

  1. The Photographer warrants and represents that it has the full right, power, and authority to enter this Agreement and to grant the rights granted herein; that any third parties which share license to the Photo(s) will be disclosed; and that the Photo Prize’s inclusion and use of the Photo will not violate anyone else’s rights. The Photographer will indemnify and hold harmless the Photo Prize, it’s successors, assigns, and licensees, and the representative officers, directors, agents, and employees, from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), arising out of or in any way connected with any breach of representation or warranty made by the Photographers herein.
  2. The Photo Prize will indemnify and hold harmless the Photographer, their successors, assigns, and licensees, and the representative officers, directors, agents, and employees, from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), arising out of or in any way connected with any claim that the Work infringes on any intellectual property rights or other rights of any third party, except to the extent such claims arises from a breach by the Licensee.

5. Term and Termination

  1. The term of this Agreement for the purposes of Performance (or “Exhibition”) of the Photo(s) as defined in 1.a will be for a period of ten (10) years from the first public exhibition of the Photo(s) by Photo Prize, unless terminated earlier pursuant to this section.
  2. The term of this Agreement for the purposes of Mechanical Reproduction of the Photo(s) as defined in 1.b will be for a period of five (5) years from the first public screening of the Photo(s) by Photo Prize, years from the date of execution of this document, unless terminated earlier pursuant to this section.
  3. The term of this Agreement for the purposes of Synchronization of the Photo(s) as defined in 1.c will be in perpetuity.
  4. This agreement will be subject to termination at the discretion of the Photographer, by written notice to the Photo Prize, where there has been a default in the due observance or performance of any material covenant, condition, or agreement herein by the Photo Prize, and such a default has continued for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice specifying the default.
  5. This agreement will be subject to termination at the discretion of the Photo Prize, by written notice to the Photographer, where there has been a default in the due observance or performance of any material, covenant, condition, or agreement herein by the Photographer and such default has continued for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice specifying the default.
  6. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, the Photo Prize will cease reproducing and distributing the Works as soon as is commercially feasible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Photo Prize has the right to fill existing orders and to sell off existing copies of the work then in stock, provided the sell-off period shall not exceed one (1) year from the date of termination. The Photographer will have the right to verify the existence and validity of the existing orders and existing copies of the Works then in stock upon reasonable notice to the Photo Prize.
  7. Termination or expiration of this Agreement will not extinguish any of the Photo Prize’s or the Photographer obligation under this agreement, which by their terms continues after the date of termination or expiration.

6. General Provisions

  1. Successors/Assigns: This Agreement is binding upon and will insure to the benefit of the respective successors and/or assigns of the parties in this document.
  2. Integration: This Agreement represents the entirety of the agreement between the Photographer and Photo Prize with respect to the subject matter of this document, and may not be modified or amended except by written agreement by both parties.
  3. Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Louisiana, applicable to agreements made and to be wholly performed as stated.
  4. Notice: The address of each party in this document as listed in the Registration Form shall be the appropriate address for the mailing of notices, checks, and statements. All notices shall be sent certified or registered mail and shall not be deemed received or effective unless and until actually received. Either party may change their mailing address by written notice to the other.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties execute this License Agreement to be executed on the day and year set forth, and as electronically signed by the PHOTOGRAPHER on the Registration Form (at https://prizefest.com/film/#register) and by the PHOTO PRIZE below:

/FILM PRIZE FOUNDATION, INC/
401 Market Street, Ste 860
Shreveport, La 71101