Frequently Asked Questions

People tend to have a lot of questions about the contest.  See the answers we've worked hard to provide so you understand what the contest is all about, how the photo submission works and what we consider are the requirements and guidelines for submitting photos.

Have another question that you think should be answered on this page that isn't? Let us know at photo@photooftheyear.net.

About the Contest  

• Shouldn't the people that organize the event be barred from entering photos?
  
  We do not allow event organizers and judges to enter photos.
  
  It is true that John Waller, who co-founded the event in 2002, has taken some winning photos. And one of his photos did in fact win first place during the event's second year in which there was a $200 cash prize. This was, however, before we decided to run this as a charity event. A little known fact is that after John won he announced that the money would go to Outdoor School, an organization he had been a part of for a long time. It was shortly after this happened that John and POTY's other co-founder, Brian Crumrine, had a lightbulb moment and decided to do two things. First, we decided that we (and others involved in the event) should not enter photos in the contest. And two, we decided this event really should be something that benefits a worthy charity. Frankly, we started the event as a fun thing among friends, and we wanted our photos to be a part of the event as much as we wanted our friends involved. But the event quickly grew, and with cash prizes and sponsors involved, we clearly needed to become more sophisticated in how we ran things.
  
  All events since 2004 have directly benefited the Friends of Outdoor School, and event organizers, as well as judges, are not allowed to enter photos.

Photo Submission

• I have a side-business shooting wedding photos. And my friend sells his nature photos through his web site. Are we allowed to enter?
  
  As a general guide, we have in the past considered those who appear to be making, or attempting to make, a living taking photos to be professionals. A person with a side-business taking wedding photos would likely be considered a professional. Your photos should be entered into the Professional category if you are making at least 30% of your income through your photography business. We ask that you give yourself an honest self-assessment. Do you think someone would consider you a pro? Then enter your photos into the professional category. POTY is an amateur photo contest, so give the amateurs a fair chance.

• I don't consider myself a professional, but I'm pretty handy with Photoshop and enjoy utilizing advanced digital tools (like HDR technology) to create photos. Am I allowed to enter the contest?
  
  For the purposes of our contest, we would consider someone like you to be a professional. If you would like enter photos into the contest, please enter them into the Professional category. Edits allowed in the amateur categories include cropping and global adjustments like brightness, contrast, and filters applied to the entire photograph equally (all changes that hypothetically could have been achieved by applying the appropriate filters to your camera directly, and skipping the Photoshop step). Other edits such as HDR, removal of unwanted elements, selective color change, and edits to parts of photographs are only allowed in the professional category, even if you are not technically a professional photographer.

• How do I submit photos?
  
  Photo submission requires that you pay the submission fee and then upload your photos via our web site. Start the process by clicking on Submit a Photo.
  
  
• When I submit photos, do I need to tell you what categories I am submitting them for?
  
  Only if you would like to submit to a specific category in addition to the Top 100. All photos, other than those submitted by professionals, will be entered into the Top 100 category, and all photos submitted by youth photographers using our coupon code will be automatically entered into the Youth category. So, for example, if you are a youth photographer and you have a great photo for the "Outdoor School" category, select the Outdoor School option during the upload process. Your photo will then be considered for the Youth category, the Top 100 category and the Outdoor School category.
  
  
• Uploading my photos is taking a long time. Is there another way to submit them?
  
  We realize that uploading a 4MB photo file can take time. However, it is the most efficient method we've come up with, both for submitters such as yourself, as well as for our team (keeping track of photos submitted via mail is not always an easy task).
  
  However, if you have a significant problem using the upload system, you can put your photos on a CD and mail them to:
  
  POTY Photo Submissions
  PO Box 20728
  Portland, Oregon 97294-0728
  
  
NOTE: Please include (in a text file or printed letter) all the photo details that are asked for on the Photo Upload page (including your Approval Code).


• I paid my $15 and went back to your site from Google Wallet, but now I can't find the page where I upload my photos. How do I get to this page?
  
  When you completed payment at Google Wallet, the payment confirmation page has a link to the Upload Photos page. If you have already closed this page, look for the email receipt sent to you from Google Wallet. On this receipt there is a link that says "Get up to date information about order #..." - click this link and the resulting page will contain the link to the Upload Photos page.



• How may my photos be used by Photo of the Year?
  
  Take a look at item #6 on our Rules and Regulations page. We will only use your photos in the promotion of Photo of the Year and Friends of Outdoor School. Our intention is to promote and raise money for our beneficiary - Friends of Outdoor School - and we reserve the right to use your photos as a tool in this cause. Because of this, you must have permission from all recognizable persons in your photographs to be used in this way. All persons under 18 in photographs must have parental consent for their likeness to be used in this contest. All submitting photographers retain the copyright to their photos, and we will include the photographer's name as often as we can in all promotions, web site and related event materials. If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please email us at photo@photooftheyear.net.