Official Rules & Eligibility

Eligibility

To be eligible, participants must:

• Be at least 18 years old or have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
• Submit an original photograph captured at Buena Vista Studio.
• Own all rights to the submitted photograph.
• Have permission from any recognizable individuals appearing in the image.
• Submit a photograph captured within 60 days of the submission date.
• Submit a photograph that has not previously won Buena Vista Studio’s Photo of the Month.
• Complete all required submission fields before the monthly deadline.

Submission requirements

Each submission must include:

• Photographer’s full name
• Email address
• Instagram handle
• Photograph title
• Date the photograph was captured
• Artist description
• High-resolution image upload
• Website or social media link, if desired

Image requirements

Accepted file types are JPG, JPEG, and PNG. Images should be unwatermarked, at least 4,000 pixels on the shortest side, accurate representations of the submitted photographs, and suitable for exhibition-quality printing.

Finalists or the winning photographer may be asked for the original high-resolution image suitable for printing at 24 × 36 inches. Images that cannot be reproduced at exhibition quality may be deemed ineligible.

Monthly timeline

Submissions received after the deadline will be considered for the following month.

Finalist selection

After submissions close, Buena Vista Studio selects 10 finalist photographs based on creativity, storytelling, technical quality, composition, and overall impact. The selected finalists advance to the final voting round.

Voting process

The winning photograph is determined through a three-part voting process:

Buena Vista Studio owner

The owner evaluates finalists based on creativity, storytelling, technical quality, and overall impact.

Buena Vista Studio members

Active Buena Vista Studio members vote for the finalist they believe deserves to be featured.

Public vote

The 10 finalists are showcased on Buena Vista Studio’s Instagram. Community members may vote through the voting method stated on that month’s finalist post or Story. Each person receives one public vote; duplicate votes from the same person will not be counted more than once.

Voting takes place from the 21st through the 23rd. The combined owner, member, and public results determine the monthly winner, who is announced on the 25th.

Winner recognition

The selected photographer receives:

• A professionally printed 24 × 36 exhibition print.
• A month-long gallery display outside Buena Vista Studio.
• An artist description displayed alongside the artwork.
• Contact information and an optional QR code linking to their website or social media.
• A feature on the Buena Vista Studio website.
• A dedicated photographer spotlight on the Buena Vista Studio blog.
• Recognition across Buena Vista Studio’s social media platforms.
• Two complimentary studio hours.
• The featured 24 × 36 print to take home after the display period ends and the following month’s winner has been announced.

Prizes are nontransferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.

Copyright and image usage

Photographers retain full copyright ownership of their submitted photographs.

By submitting an image, participants grant Buena Vista Studio a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to:

• Display the submitted photograph inside and outside Buena Vista Studio as part of Photo of the Month.
• Produce one 24 × 36 exhibition print for display purposes.
• Feature the image on the Buena Vista Studio website.
• Include the photograph in blog articles related to the program.
• Share the photograph across Buena Vista Studio’s social media platforms.
• Use the image in promotional materials related to Photo of the Month.

Buena Vista Studio will not sell submitted photographs or produce additional prints for resale. Whenever reasonably possible, photographers will be credited by name and, if provided, their website or social media link will appear alongside their work.

Content guidelines

Submitted photographs may not:

• Infringe another person’s copyright or intellectual property.
• Contain visible watermarks, logos, or branding.
• Include offensive, discriminatory, or illegal content.
• Violate another person’s privacy.
• Misrepresent AI-generated artwork as original photography.

Buena Vista Studio may remove or disqualify submissions that do not meet these guidelines.

General conditions

Buena Vista Studio may verify participant eligibility, request original image files, disqualify incomplete or inaccurate submissions, modify the timeline when necessary, or cancel or suspend the program because of unforeseen circumstances.

Decisions about eligibility, finalist selection, voting, and winners are final.

Privacy

Personal information collected through submissions is used to administer Photo of the Month and communicate with participants. Finalist photographs, titles, photographer names or provided Instagram handles may be shared for voting and program promotion. If selected as the winner, the photographer’s authorized artist description and optional website or social media link may also be displayed publicly.

For more information about how Buena Vista Studio handles personal information, read our Privacy Policy.

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