VLPA2026 TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. GENERAL RULES
1.1 Competition Overview The Virginia Living Photography Awards (“Competition”) is organized by Virginia Living Magazine (“Sponsor”). By entering the Competition, entrants agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.
1.2 Competition Timeline
- Submission Period: September 1, 2025 (9:00 AM EST) – October 31, 2025 (11:59 PM EST)
- Public Voting Period: November 1-30, 2025
- Judging Period: November 3-28, 2025
- Winners Announcement: January 2026
2. ELIGIBILITY
2.1 Geographic/Age Requirements
- Open to legal residents of USA
- Entrants must be 18 years of age or older as of September 1, 2025
- Entrants under 18 may participate with written parental consent
2.2 Excluded Parties The following are NOT eligible to enter:
- Employees of Cape Fear publishing and their immediate family members
- Competition judges and their immediate family members
- Employees of sponsor organizations and their immediate family members
2.3 Professional vs. Amateur Status
- Professional Division: Anyone who derives any income from photography, holds a photography business license, or has received payment for photography services in the past 24 months
- Amateur Division: Photography enthusiasts who do not meet professional criteria
- Entrants must self-select appropriate division; misrepresentation will result in disqualification
3. CATEGORIES
Entrants may submit images in the following categories:
3.1 People & Lifestyle Portraits, architecture, home, garden, food, dining, sports, hunting, fishing, nostalgia, and lifestyle photography
3.2 Nature & Wildlife Landscapes, seascapes, flora, fauna, weather phenomena, and natural Virginia
3.3 Documentary Single images documenting real events, social issues, or cultural stories
3.4 Experimental Images pushing creative boundaries through technique, post-processing, or conceptual approaches
3.5 AI-Generated Images created or enhanced using artificial intelligence tools (must disclose all AI tools and prompt used)
4. ENTRY FEES
4.1 Fee Structure
- Professional Division: $45 per image
- Amateur Division: $35 per image
- Early Bird Discount: 15% off (September 1-14, 2025)
4.2 Payment
- All fees must be paid via debit/credit card at time of submission
- Entry fees are non-refundable, even if the submission is rejected or disqualified
- Entries without payment will not be considered
5. IMAGE REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Technical Specifications
- JPEG format required
- Minimum 3000 pixels on longest side and no less than 300dpi at its size
- Maximum file size: 20MB
- sRGB color space
- No watermarks, signatures, or identifying marks
5.2 Capture Requirements
For ALL categories EXCEPT AI-Generated:
- Images must be produced by a photographic device (including mobile devices) that captures light
- Color and/or black & white images accepted
- Applicants may enhance images and apply filters
- AI computer-generated images will NOT be accepted in categories 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4 herein.
- Collages are not accepted
- Experimental photographic processes welcome
- There is no time restriction on when an image was made
- If requested, applicants must provide original RAW files to Virginia Living to verify image authenticity
- Basic adjustments allowed (exposure, contrast, color correction, cropping)
- Heavy manipulation must be entered in Experimental category
For AI-Generated Art category only:
- Images may be fully AI-generated or AI-enhanced
- Color and/or black & white images accepted
- Must disclose all AI platform/tools and the prompt used
- No requirement for photographic device capture
5.3 Submission Limits
- One participant can enter multiple categories with different photos
- Each image may only be submitted to ONE category. Duplicate submissions across multiple categories will result in disqualification of all instances of that image
6. ETHICAL AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
6.1 Authenticity
- Images must accurately reflect the subject matter
- No deceptive practices or misrepresentation
- Wildlife images must not harm or distress animals
6.2 Model Releases
- Entrant must obtain written model releases for people and personally identifiable private spaces photography.
- Entrant assumes all responsibility for securing permissions
6.3 Content Restrictions Images will be disqualified if they contain:
- Nudity or sexually explicit content
- Graphic violence or disturbing content
- Hate speech or discriminatory content
- Copyright or trademark infringement
- Any submission or image in sole and absolute discretion of Sponsor that is not suitable for publication on any of its publications or platforms
- Illegal activities
7. RIGHTS AND OWNERSHIP
7.1 License Grant By submitting photograph(s) for entry, entrant grants Virginia Living Magazine and/or Cape Fear Publishing, and its assignees including, a non-revocable and non-exclusive license to use the submitted photograph(s) on any Virginia Living platform without any notice and for any business purpose of Virginia Living Magazine and/or Cape Fear Publishing.
7.2 Copyright Retention Entrant retains copyright ownership of their submitted images. The license granted to Virginia Living Magazine is non-exclusive, meaning entrants may continue to use their images for any purpose.
7.3 Usage Rights Virginia Living Magazine may use submitted images for:
- Publication in print and digital formats
- Marketing and promotional materials
- Images on retail products sold by Virginia Living Magazine
- Social media, website, newsletter, or any digital content
- Exhibition and display
- Contest-related communications
- Any other business purpose
7.4 Credit When Virginia Living Magazine uses submitted images, reasonable efforts will be made to provide photo credit to the photographer. The name provided at time of entry will be used for all credits. Entrants are responsible for ensuring accuracy of their name at submission. Virginia Living is not responsible for incorrect credits due to entrant error, and credits cannot be changed after submission.
7.5 Duration The license granted to Virginia Living Magazine is perpetual and irrevocable, surviving the competition period.
8. JUDGING PROCESS
8.1 Public Voting (Readers’ Choice)
- Round 1 Qualifiers: November 1-14, 2025
- Round 2 Semi-Finals: November 17-23, 2025
- Round 3 Grand Finals: November 25-30, 2025
- One free vote per person per day
- Additional votes: Starting at $2.50 for 5 votes
8.2 Professional Judging Panel
- 15 distinguished judges from Virginia Living photographers, university professors, museums & gallery professionals, ad agencies creative directors, and Virginia Living leadership.
- Judges’ deliberations are confidential and Judges’ decisions are final
9. PRIZES
9.1 Prize Categories
- Judges’ Choice Winners: 20 Total Winners
- 1st place per category for professionals
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd place per category for amateurs
- Readers’ Choice Winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd per category/division): 30 Total Winners
9.2 Prize Details Complete prize packages detailed at VirginiaLiving.com – Prizes are non-transferable and may not be exchanged or redeemed for cash value.
10. WINNER NOTIFICATION
10.1 Notification Process
- Winners notified via email by mid December 2025
- Winners must respond within 7 days
- Failure to respond may result in prize forfeiture
10.2 Verification
- Winners may be required to provide additional documentation for ownership and authenticity of submission at discretion of Virginia Living.
11. PROMOTION
11.1 Competition Promotion Virginia Living promotes the Awards through various channels at no extra cost to participants
11.2 Winner Announcement Restrictions Winners and finalists will not be announced before the official announcement date (January 2026)
11.3 Pre-Announcement Restrictions Winners and finalists agree not to make public or promote winning/selected images before the official announcement by Virginia Living.
11.4 Self-Promotion Winners and finalists may promote themselves as winners/finalists only after Virginia Living confirms their status by public announcement of all contest winners.
11.5 Promotional License All entrants grant Virginia Living a non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license to reproduce and publish submitted images at no charge for promotional purposes
12. PRIVACY
12.1 Information Collection Sponsor collects personal information for competition administration and marketing
12.2 Information Usage By entering, entrants agree to receive competition-related communications and Virginia Living marketing
13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
13.1 Release Entrants release Virginia Living from all liability related to participation in the Competition
13.2 Indemnification Entrants agree to indemnify Virginia Living against all claims arising from their submissions
14. GENERAL CONDITIONS
14.1 Modification Rights Virginia Living reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the Competition
14.2 Governing Law These Terms & Conditions governed by Virginia law and venue and jurisdiction of any disputes or enforcement action is in the state and federal courts located in City of Richmond, Virginia or Henrico County, Virginia.
14.3 Entry Accuracy All information provided during submission, including entrant name for credits, must be accurate and complete. No changes to entry information will be permitted after submission.
15. CHARITY BENEFICIARY
A portion of voting proceeds will benefit Wildlife Center in Virginia, a nonprofit organization
16. CONTACT INFORMATION
Virginia Living Magazine
109 East Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Email: [email protected]
By submitting an entry, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.
Last Updated: September 2025
Submissions are OPEN!
Early Bird Ends on Sept. 14
