Photo Contest Rules

These rules pertain to images entered as digital files created by any photographic process.

General Rules

  1. Registration opens February 6, 2026 and ends March 31, 2026 at 5pm CT ($40).
  2. Entrants are required to upload a digital file for each image entered.
  3. No changes to your entry are permitted once the entry deadline has passed. No refunds will be issued after the entry fee is paid.
  4. Entrant team members must live within a 200 mile radius of St. Louis, MO.
  5. Contest  jurors, and their spouses, are not eligible to enter.

 

Eligibility

  1. All images must have been created using photographic processes.
  2. All photographic elements must have been created by the maker.
  3. All processing, manipulation, and rendering must be done by the entrant or under their direct supervision.
  4. The entrant has obtained and has access to all necessary releases (model or property) and agrees to hold FGI harmless against all claims and liabilities arising out of FGI's display, publication, and promotion or other use of each image submitted to FGI.
  5. The entrant's name shall not appear anywhere in or on the entry.
  6. No entry will be eligible if it has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment. All images submitted must be self-directed. Images created in an educational environment under direct supervision from an instructor are ineligible.
  7. Any entry that has been created from an existing photograph, portrait, graphic or any other artwork produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules.
  8. No Stock images are allowed. No whole or partial generative AI, or images generated with text-to-image-prompted AI, will be allowed.

 

Digital Image Entries Specs

  1. All files must be at least 300dpi and 12000 pixels on the longest side, have an embedded color profile of either sRGB or Adobe RGB1998, and be saved at a JPEG quality setting of 12.
  2. Both EXIF and IPCT Metadata must be in the uploaded file to satisfy the registration and verification process. (No AI is allowed)

 

Third Party Images and Software

No third-party imagery or stock photography is allowed.

Non-photographic filters and actions produced by third parties that enhance characteristics of an image but do not add elements to an image like DxO Film Pack, Nik Collection, Portrait Pro, Topaz Labs, ON1, etc., are permitted.

 

Disqualification

FGI has the right to disqualify any image if it violates these rules.