General Rules

Welcome to Grid Photo Gallery’s photography contests. These General Rules apply to every competition we run. By submitting, you agree to abide by all rules herein and any additional guidelines posted on individual contest pages.

1. Eligibility

  • Entrants must be at least 18 years old.
  • Open to photographers worldwide.

2. Entry Fee

  • Contests may require an entry fee to help maintain and improve our services.
  • Any applicable fee will be indicated on the contest’s info page and is non-refundable.

3. Themes

  • Each contest has its own theme.
  • Submissions must adhere strictly to the stated theme to be eligible.

4. Submission Period

  • Submission windows typically run for approximately 45 days, though exact dates vary by contest.
  • All deadlines are listed on each contest page (always in UTC).

5. Submission Guidelines

  • Submissions are made through an external online platform; you must register to participate.
  • The link to the submission form is provided on the contest page.
  • You may continue adding photographs while the submission period is open; however, once the period has closed, submissions cannot be changed.

6. Technical Specifications

  • Color space: sRGB or Adobe RGB 1998.
  • Minimum dimension: 2,500 px on the longest side.
  • Format: JPEG (.jpg).
  • Maximum file size: 100 MB.
  • No watermarks, borders, logos, or copyright notices on images.
  • Upon request, Grid Photo Gallery may require the original unedited file (RAW or JPEG with intact metadata) to verify ownership or for jury review.

7. Jury & Selection Process

  • A panel of Grid Photo Gallery members will judge all entries.
  • External jurors (experts) may also participate; their names and affiliations will be listed on the contest page.
  • Criteria include: relevance to theme, creativity, technical quality and originality.

8. Prizes & Recognition

Unless otherwise stated, the prizes for each contest are as follows:

1st Place (“Photographer of the Month”)

  • Featured prominently in our virtual exhibition
  • Profile interview published on Grid Photo Gallery
  • Priority placement on promotional banners and posters

2nd & 3rd Places

  • Highlighted in the virtual exhibition

All Selected Entries

  • Displayed in our main-page exhibition for at least one month, then kept online permanently
  • Promoted via our social-media channels
  • Digital certificate of participation
  • Personal profile page on our platform, including a link to your website

The top three photographs from each contest will be eligible for the title “Photography of the Year”

Additionally, we may periodically publish a printed catalogue featuring winners, interviews, and highlights; schedule and availability will be announced separately.

9. Exhibition Format

  • All exhibitions are online only, hosted on gridphotogallery.com.
  • No physical prints will be produced unless otherwise noted in a special call.

10. Rights & Licensing

  • Entrants retain full copyright of their images.
  • By submitting, you grant Grid Photo Gallery a non-exclusive, perpetual license to:
    • Display and promote your work in online exhibitions and promotional materials
    • Print and distribute our catalogue (for sale or distribution)
  • You may continue to license or sell your images elsewhere without restriction.

11. Content Restrictions

All content is permitted as long as it has artistic or documentary value within the contest’s scope; however, special attention will be given to—and submissions may be removed if they contain—the following elements:

  • Illegal, defamatory, harassing, threatening or abusive content
  • Hate speech or discriminatory language
  • Sexually explicit or pornographic material
  • Graphic violence or gore
  • Content that infringes on any third-party rights (trademarks, copyrights, privacy)

12. Notifications & Communication

  • After the contest ends, Grid Photo Gallery will contact selected photographers to request profile information and the winner to arrange the interview.
  • This communication will be sent via email shortly after the contest closing date.
  • Photographers will have 5 days to submit the requested information or may be disqualified.
  • Final results will be published on the website and in the Grid Photo Gallery newsletter.
  • It is your responsibility to keep your contact information up to date.

13. Contact & Support

For any questions not covered here, email us at hello@gridphotogallery.com.