The Competition - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Q: How can I pay for the photographs that I submit?
A: There are a number of ways for you to pay for the photographs you enter:
a) You may pay online.
b) You may fill out the credit card portion of the entry form and mail it to IPA's headquarters.
c) You may send a check to IPA's headquarters. Please make your check payable to International Photography Awards.

IPA's Headquarters:
International Photography Awards
550 N. Larchmont Blvd. Ste. 100
Los Angeles, CA 90004
310.659.0122
info@photoawards.com

2. Q: How many photographs can I enter into the same series?
A: A series consists of at least two and no more than five photographs, sharing a common theme or concept and a single title. Series will be judge as whole. Make sure every image in the series is equally great.

3. Q: Do I need to fill out a separate Category Form for each photograph?
A: Yes. Even if you are submitting the same photograph into multiple categories, each copy of the image needs to have its own Category Form attached to the back. However, you only need to fill out one Summary Form, regardless of how many images you submit into the contest.

4. Q: Where can I obtain an entry form?
A: You may obtain an entry form by any of the following ways:
a) Download a printable .pdf of the entry form.
b) Contact our office to request an entry form by mail.

5. Q: Can I enter digital photographs into the contest?
A: Yes, you may send digital files on a CD or DVD by traditional mail or enter on line.

6. Q: Is it possible to enter digital photos over the Internet for the competition?
A: Yes, it is. You may upload your digital photos to our website once you have completed the online submission form.

7. Q: What size should the digital files be?
A: Digital submissions must be saved as jpg and not exceed 800 Pixel in height or width.

8. Q: Who is considered a professional photographer?
A: Those who earn, or have earned, the majority of their income from photography.

9. Q: Which photography school students are eligible for the student discount?
A: All students are eligible for the student discount.

10. Q: What is considered a series?
A: Two or more photographs (but no more than five) that share the same theme or concept and same title. Make sure all your images in a series are strong. Your work will be judge as whole not individually.

11. Q: Are all the fees on your website in US$?
A: Yes, At this time we only accept US currency.

12. Q: Can I mail the entry form, my photographs and the check in one envelope?
A: Yes, you may include everything required to enter our contest in the same envelope.

13. Q: Do I need to send a return handling fee for each photograph I want to be returned?
A: No, there is only a one-time fee of $25 regardless of the number of photographs you want returned. Please be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped or FedEx mailer.

14. Q: Can I enter one photograph into multiple categories?
A: Yes, you may enter the same photograph into as many categories as you see fit. In fact, doing so may increase your chances of winning. There is an additional fee for each category: $25 for professionals, $15 for non-professionals and $10 for students.

15. Q: Do the category winners receive an award or certificate at the Lucie Awards Ceremony?
A: No. Only the winners of the International Photographer of the Year™ Discovery of the Year Award and the Deeper Perspective Photographer of the Year, will receive a Lucie and a cash prize at the Lucie Awards. Winners of the sixteen main categories will receive two free tickets each to the Lucie Awards Ceremony.

16. Q: Is there a time limit within which the photographs should have been taken?
A: No. You may submit any photograph regardless of the date it was taken.

17. Q: How will my images be used?
A: You will be contacted each time we identify an image for usage - and briefed on what the usage will be. Your images are NEVER used for any purpose other than the promotion of the International Photography Awards. All photographers thus far have been extremely grateful and happy with the manner in which their images have been used and promoted globally.

18. Q: Where will my image(s) be used/shown?
A: One of the great things about this competition is its global reach. Depending on what your image is chosen for (The Best of Show, a magazine ad for the IPA, a Postcard for the IPA etc), your image will be viewed with your full credit all around the world. From galleries in Italy, Poland, England, the US, Cambodia, France, Canada, Germany etc, to magazine ads printed in all the top photographic journals in India, Russia, Greece, Japan etc – the destination and promotion of your work is endless. On top of this, the IPA publishes a stunning coffee table book of all the competition winning images that are a great collectors pieces.

19. Q: Will I get compensated for the use of my images?
A: There is no monetary payment for the use of your image, however in the case that it is being used for something other than the promotion of the competition, you will be contacted and given the option to decline the use of your work. If you choose to participate, monetary compensation will be discussed and a contract drawn up.

20. Q: Can/Will Pilsner Urquell use my images on bottles of beer?
A: Definitely NOT – the only manner in which Pilsner has the right to use one of your images in if it is in direct promotion of the International Photography Awards competition. Your images will NOT appear on beer bottles and such. They are our partner to promote photography worldwide and have supported our mission to "promote the appreciation of photography worldwide" by utilising their international reach to do so.

21. Q: What benefits do I get for entering the competition?
A: In addition to winning a cash prizes (10,000 provided by atEDGE for Photographer of the Year, and 5,000 for the Discovery of the Year) and products, and the highly-coveted LUCIE statue, as the Photographer of the Year (you will be invited to travel to Plzen, Czech Republic to be featured in and shoot a portion of the Pilsner Urquell documercial, which features IPA Photographer of the Year winner. In addition, Pilsner Urquell provides a commission fee to produce and be featured in this documercial.

22. Q: If my print is in the Best of Show, what will happen to it once the show is done travelling?

A: The exhibition will be archived at the IPA Headquarters for safe storage and POSSIBLE inclusion in the "best of" retrospective exhibitions for IPA. On the back of each print there is stamp that reads: "not for sale, do not duplicate, return to IPA Headquarters".