Rules

  • The contest is open to all photographers in all countries.
  • Any work submitted in Photography categories must be shot by the entrant and not by a third party.
  • For Artificial Intelligence Image Developing & Creating category, images developed or created using any AI tools are accepted. Tools used should be added in the description. In the case of the use of a real photograph, the source should be added in the description.
  • Entrants must be over 18 years.
  • Images entering commercial categories must be no more than 3 years old.
  • Each submission must be a single image. Single submissions that include more than one image will not be considered.
  • Entry fees are $35 for the first submission and €25 for each subsequent entry. The currency of entry fees is associated with the country the images are submitted from.
  • Entry deadline: 18th July 2023
  • Category shortlists will be publicly announced from the 21st of August 2023.
  • Grand Prize Winner and the Category winners will be announced on 20th of September 2023.
  • All entry submissions are final and entry fees are non-refundable.
  • An entrant must hold all rights to the photographs submitted.
  • Images submitted should be in sRGB JPG files with a recommended minimum size of 1600px width.
  • All jury decisions are final. For more information please read our terms and conditions

FAQs

  • How many categories and photos can I enter?
    • You may enter as many professional categories/photos as you wish. Please make sure you double-check the category your image is being submitted in to make sure it will be judged in the right category.
  • Can I enter a single image into various categories?
    • Yes, when the image you are entering is appropriate to that category.
  • What format should I upload?
    • Your image file should be sRGB and we recommend JPG files with a minimum size of 1600px width.
  • Are there any rules about the age of the image?
    • Images should have been taken within the past three years.
  • What happens to my images after I submit them?
    • Images will be verified to see if they fulfill the technical recommendations and that they are category appropriate. No refunds will be given for images that are in the wrong categories or do not meet technical requirements. Images will then be submitted for judging.
  • Is it important to add a title and description to my entry?
    • The title is compulsory. The description is optional, but an explanation of the imagery in English is very important and will help the judges to decide on the shortlisted entries and the winners.
  • Do I retain copyright of my images after submitting them?
    • Yes, of course. All entrants grant Production Paradise the right to reproduce work selected in the Spotlight Awards on the Production Paradise website and in materials used to promote the competition and/or future Spotlight Awards related promotions, but the copyright is yours.
  • What currency can I pay with?
    • The payment system will allow you to, in most cases, pay in your local currency. If you are not in a region that is detected by our system you will be required to pay in Euros.
  • How are the submissions judged?
    • Shortlist nominees will be made public in September. Category specialist judges will select the Category winner and all judges will select the Grand Prize winner from the category winners.
  • Can I change my photo submission after I finalize the entry?
    • All entries are considered final and cannot be changed after submission or refunded.
  • What kind of work can I enter?
    • All types of photos are accepted, either commissioned or personal work.
  • How do I use a promo code?
    • If you have received a promo code you can insert it at the point of finalizing your entry. Only one promo code can be used per completed submission.
  • Should there be a watermark/copyright information added to the images entered into the competition?
    • No. Please do not include any watermarks or copyright information on the image itself. If you would like to include additional information, you can add it into the text field for the image description when uploading your image submission.
  • I’m an agent. Can I upload photos on behalf of photographers I represent?
    • Absolutely! Please add their name/s into the image description/s. Payment must be made by the agent submitting the image/s.
    • Please send any additional queries to [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as we can with answers to your queries.