FREQUeNTLY ASKED QUESTIONs
LEVELS OF EXPERTISE:
Q: Who is considered a professional photographer?
A: We consider professional photographers those who earn, or have earned, the majority of their income from photography, and who sell or publish their work regularly, and belong to professional photography organizations.
Q: Are only photography students eligible for the student discount?
A: All students are eligible for the student discount, regardless of the concentration or major in which they are studying.
IMAGE SUBMISSION:
Q: How many photographs can I enter into the same series?
A: A series consists of at least 2 and no more than 5 photographs, sharing a common theme or concept and a single title. Series will be judged as whole. Please be sure that the photographs work together as a body of work.
Q: What is considered a 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. Please ensure that your images work together as a whole, as they will not be judged individually when entered as a series.
Q: How will I know if my submission is complete, and what do I do if it's not?
A: If, at the time of the competition's close, a submission is incomplete (e.g. the submission has not been paid, or the images have not been uploaded correctly), it will not be eligible for juried consideration. Though we make every effort to make contact and to ensure completion of submissions, we are not responsible for incomplete entries and are unable to offer a refund, should an entry be incomplete at the time of the competition's close. However, you may check on your entry status at any time by logging into the Member Section and clicking on Entry History. For a guide on how to view this feature, please click here.
Q: My image(s) didn't upload correctly, what do I do?
A: This is probably occurring because the file is either not in RGB, 72 DPI, or a JPG file. It may also be due to characters that are not letters in the titles of your files. Please try to upload once again after following these directions. You may also try to refresh your main submission page after you upload the images.
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 online. All entries are required to submit digitally or mail in digital files.
Q: Is it possible to enter digital photos over the Internet for the competition?
A: Yes, it is. You may upload your digital photos once you have completed the online submission form concerning the details of your entry.
Q: What size should the digital files be?
A: Digital submissions must be saved as jpg and not exceed 1000 Pixels in either height or width. Please remember also to keep your files in RGB format, no greater than 4MB per image.
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.
Q: Is there a limit to the number of entries I can submit?
A: No, you may submit as many entries, in as many categories, as you see fit.
Q: Is there a time limit within which the photographs should have been taken?
A: Yes. All photographs should be no older than 5 years old.
Q: Can I submit a photograph that has won an award, or has been entered in a previous IPA competition? Can I submit a photograph that has won an award, or has been entered in another competition?
A: Yes, you may submit work that has been previously submitted, or that has won an award. However, in an effort to promote the creation of new work and maintain fresh flow of ideas, we encourage you to submit new work.
Q: What is the Book category?
A: The book category is reserved for photographers who have published a body of work. Submissions to this category must be in the form of a series. After submitting via the online process, a hard copy must be mailed to our offices, bearing a postmark no later than the prescribed deadline. Books must clearly bear the Entry ID obtained during the online submission process. Entries will not be considered if a hard copy of the book is not received by the deadline. No refunds will be issued for incomplete entries. Unless return arrangements are made by the submitting party on or before the date that the hard copy is received by our offices, any submitted books will become property of IPA. If you are interested in the return of your book, please indicate this while filling out the online entry form.
Q: Can I make changes to my entry after I have paid?
A: No, after payment has been made, entries cannot be altered. Please review your work carefully before finalizing payment.
Q: What is the "Entry History" feature of the Member Section and how do I use it?
A: The Entry History feature allows you to view the status of your submissions, to verify that images have been uploaded correctly, to print receipts, and to make payments. For a guide on how to view the Entry History feature, please click here.
Q: How do I know if you received my entry?
A: You should receive a confirmation email shortly after you submit and pay for your work. If you do not receive an email, please verify that your email is correct in our records by logging into the Member Section and selecting "Edit Profile." In addition, if you are using spam-blocking software, please add "photoawards.com" to your list of recipients. If, after doing both of these, you do not receive an email, please log into the Member Section, and click on "Entry History" to view your submission status and to make payments for any unpaid entries.
MAIL-IN SUBMISSIONS:
Q: What is a Summary Form and what is a Category Form?
A: This question applies only for mailed in entries or traditional print submission. Digital submissions please disregard:
a)
A Summary Form is where you write your personal information, and the total amount of photographs you are submitting, how many additional categories you would like per entry, your payment options, and so forth.
b)
A Category Form is a small form that you attach to the back of each photograph to identify the title, date, and category (and additional categories should you choose to enter in to more than one) per submission.
C)
If you are mailing in a CD with a a Summary Form, you must still attach one category form per entry so that we will be able to identify the title, date, and categories in which you wish to be considered.
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.
PAYMENT:
Q: How can I pay for the photographs that I submit?
A: There are a number of ways to pay for your submissions:
a) Online: You may pay for your entry after you submit your photographs through Google check out, PayPal, and credit card.
b) Credit Card: You may fill out the credit card portion of the printable entry form and mail it to IPA's headquarters.
c) Check or International Money Order: Please make your check or international money order payable to International Photography Awards.
IPA's Headquarters:
International Photography Awards
550 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90004
310.659.0122
info@photoawards.com
** Once a submission fee has been paid, there are no refunds provided. If you have been wrongly charged for any reason, we will be happy to credit the amount that is due.
Q: Are all the fees on your website in USD?
A: Yes, At this time we only accept US currency.
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.
Q: Do I need to send a return handling fee for each photograph I want to be returned?
A: There is only a one-time fee of $30.00USD, regardless of the number of photographs you want returned. Please be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped or FedEx mailer along with your entry, as we do not supply the packaging material. If materials are to be mailed to multiple locations, the fee is $30.00 USD per destination address.
USE OF IMAGES:
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.
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, among many others. The destination and promotion of your work is endless. By placing in the competition, you are agreeing to be included in the annual IPA publication that showcases the full collection of winning images.
Q: Will I be compensated for the use of my images?
A: There is no monetary remuneration 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.
Q: If my print is selected to take part in the Best of Show, what will happen to it once the show is done traveling?
A: The exhibition will be archived at the IPA Headquarters for safe storage and POSSIBLE inclusion in the "Best Of" annual 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". Should someone be interested in purchasing your work, we will contact you and pass forth the details.
WINNERS:
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 Ceremony. Winners of the sixteen main categories will receive two complimentary tickets to attend the Lucie Awards.
Q: How do I know if I've won an award?
A: Though we do notify award winners by email, sometimes notifications get caught in server filters. Fortunately, you can always check to see if you've won any awards by logging into the Member Section and clicking on Winner Services.
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