First Prize – Photographer of the Quarter | $1,000 Cash | 1st Pick of Product Prizes

Second Prize – $500 Cash | 2nd Pick of Product Prizes

Third Prize – $250 Cash | 3rd Pick of Product Prizes

Fourth Prize – $150 Cash | 4th Pick of Product Prizes

Fifth Prize – $100 Cash | 5th Pick of Product Prizes

Product Prizes will also be awarded to the top finishers depending on the number of prizes available

• Each participant must be an ISPWP member on the date of the contest deadline (January 11, 2012). If you are not an ISPWP member, apply for membership today!

• All ISPWP members may submit 4 free images per contest. Additional images are $10 USD each. A maximum of 25 images may be submitted per photographer per contest.
• Contest fees are non-refundable.
• There is no “pre-payment” for credits for contest entries. You will be directed to a payment form after you submit your entry.

• SUBMISSION DEADLINE: All payments and images must be submitted by 11:59pm, US Pacific Time, Wednesday, January 11, 2012.
• IMAGES MUST BE OF ACTUAL WEDDING CLIENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR WEDDING, ENGAGEMENT SESSION, BRIDAL SESSION, OR PORTRAIT SESSION.
• IMAGES TAKEN AT A WORKSHOP, SEMINAR, OR CONVENTION MAY NOT BE USED. IMAGES TAKEN FOR NON-WEDDING COMMERCIAL PURPOSES (Fashion shoots, Instructional DVDs, Workshops, Advertising, Stock, etc.) MAY NOT BE USED.
• Judges may change the assigned category of an image if they determine it was entered into the wrong category.
• Each image may be entered only once and only into one category.
• For studios that have multiple photographers, each photographer must enter the contest individually. Each individual photographer may enter 4 free entries up to a maximum of 25 images per photographer per contest. However, only the highest scoring member of that studio will count towards the studio’s local page ranking points.
• The judges’ decision on all matters relating to the competition is final.
• Please submit ONE contest entry form. Do not submit multiple entry forms for the same contest.

• IMAGE FILES MUST BE IN JPG FORMAT, NO MORE THAN 900 PIXELS WIDE OR 720 PIXELS HIGH, AND SMALLER THAN 200KB IN SIZE.

  

• PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THAT YOUR IMAGES ARE NO MORE THAN 900 PIXELS WIDE OR 720 PIXELS HIGH!
• PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THAT YOUR IMAGES ARE UNDER 200KB IN SIZE!
• Submitted images may have any filename as long as they are unique (no duplicate filenames).
• Images should have straight, unmodified borders. No strokes, keylines, frames, borders, torn edges, polaroid edges, or other modifications are allowed except for the “Pure Art” category.
• Images will be judged and displayed in the orientation they are submitted.
• Images judged to be pornographic, obscene, or containing graphic violence or any other content deemed inappropriate will be disqualified at the sole discretion of the judges.

These images may not be setup, directed, or prompted by the photographer. Minor Photoshop enhancements such as cropping, levels, curves, white balance adjustments and subtle vignetting are allowed. Color, B/W, and basic/subtle toned images are acceptable.

Judges will be instructed to give lower scores to shots that are obviously setup or directed by the photographer, or that use excessive Photoshop enhancements.

1. Getting Ready – Images that depict the preparations before the wedding

2. Ceremony Images – Images taken at the ceremony venue

3. First Dance – Images of the first dance at the reception

4. Reception – Images taken at the reception venue

5. Emotional Impact – Images that depict or evoke a strong emotional reaction

6. Humor – Images that make you smile

7. Kids Will Be Kids – Images of the kids acting like kids

8. Family Love – Images that show interaction, love, and togetherness of families

9. The Decisive Moment – Images where timing is everything. One second before or after would have missed the shot.

PORTRAIT CATEGORIES

These image may be setup, directed, or prompted by the photographer. Minor Photoshop enhancements such as skin retouching, cropping, levels, curves, white balance adjustments and subtle vignetting are allowed. Color, B/W, and toned images are acceptable. Judges will be instructed to penalize excessive Photoshop enhancements where the image becomes more graphic art than photograph. Those images are better suited for the Pure Art category. Images must be of actual wedding clients in the context of their wedding, engagement session, bridal session, or portrait session. Images of models posing as brides or images taken at a workshop, seminar, or convention may not be used.

10. Bride Portrait

11. Bride and Groom Portrait

12. Bridal Party Portrait

13. Engagement Portrait

ART CATEGORIES

These images have no restrictions on posing, direction, or Photoshop enhancements.

14. Venue/Location – Images showing the environments or buildings used for any part of the wedding day

15. Framing The Subject – Images using creative composition or environmental elements to frame the main subject in the photo

16. Movement and Motion – Images that convey motion with blur, panning, dragging the shutter or other techniques

17. All About Light – Images that are enhanced with outstanding or unique lighting

18. Wedding Details – Images of the cake, flowers, decorations, rings, etc.

19. The Wedding Dress – Images of the wedding gown, either hanging up before the wedding or worn by the bride

20. Pure Art – Images that showcase the artistic ability of the photographer. Creative Photoshop enhancements and experimental art is encouraged.