Rules and Regulations

An unlimited number of entries will be accepted by NAPCP for consideration in the final gallery. Please note: this is NOT a digital competition. Should an entry be accepted into the final 100 gallery images, entrant must send a matted print meeting the guidelines and deadlines listed below to be scored by our judges the day of the Inspired Gallery Event. You do not have to be present to win. Please see information below regarding the option of using our partner, Musea Lab, for fulfillment and shipping.

Entry Guidelines:

1. An unlimited amount of entries will be accepted by NAPCP for consideration in this exclusive Gallery Event, however, only 100 images will be included in the Final Round for live viewing and judging at the Gallery Event in Atlanta, Georgia. All entrants may submit an unlimited amount of entries, provided that each entry is different than the other (see guidelines below). The entrant has sole discretion to choose the the creative category that best suits the image being entered. Each entry will be judged based on the category in which it is submitted.
2. Entries must be the complete and original photographic work of the entrant. This includes overall concept, posing, capture, exposure, and all post processing. Third party presets and actions may be used by entrant to enhance the quality of an image (color, contrast, skin tone, etc) as long as they do not add elements that did not exist in the original image. Purchased texture screens are allowed as long as entering the image in the competition doesn’t violate the copyright of the artist who created the texture. Images that are a result of a workshop, seminar, or under the guidance of an instructor are not eligible for competition. Any eligible image may be entered with the exception of images that have previously placed or merited in any previous NAPCP Image Competition.
3. If any entry submitted is a result of multiple images to create a final composite image, all images used must be the original work of the entrant. No purchased elements or stock images that are not of the entrant’s original creation (including skies, trees, buildings, or other objects) should be used by the entrant to create the final image (refer to #2 for additional details). All original image layers used for composite may be requested by NAPCP. Failure to submit all original images in a timely manner will result in immediate disqualification of the entrant’s submission. No refunds will be given.
4. All entries must be unique compared to your other submissions. No two entries should resemble each other (with the same subject or scene, with a similar pose, location, lighting).
5. Images that violate copyright, trademark, or other applicable laws will be disqualified.
6. Entrant must have a model release for any recognizable person in submitted entries and submit said release to NAPCP upon request.
7. Mat Size Guidelines: Final print submissions must be presented in a mat measuring 16×20 inches (measured on the outside edge of the mat). The mat should be bright white or similar in color. The outer edge of the Mat must fit the 16×20 inch guidelines, no exceptions.
8. Print Size Guidelines: The final size of all entries must be 16×20 inches INCLUDING the mat. All prints should measure AT LEAST 8 inches on the shortest side. For example, an 8×12 print in a 16×20 mat would be acceptable, but 7×9 image would not. Also, an 8×8 printed image in a 16×20 mat would fit the guidelines, but a 5×10 image would not. Prints may be displayed in the mat however an entrant would like to creatively display them, as long as the mat fits the measurement guidelines (#8 above) and all layers of the mat are white in color. The depth of the final submission including all materials, should not exceed one half inch. Frames are not allowed.
9. Submissions should be saved in JPEG format. The longest side of your image may not exceed 3000 pixels and the shortest side must be a minimum of 2000 pixels. Maximum size is 4 MB and resolution should be set to 72 DPI. Any size image in this range will qualify. If selected for the inclusion in the top 100 Final Images in the Inspired Gallery Event, it is the entrant’s responsibility to submit the MATCHING matted print to NAPCP by the print deadline. No refunds will be given if a submission is paid for online, and the subsequent matted print does not arrive by the deadline given for the event.
10. Initial Digital Submissions should be titled: CATEGORY_CurrentYear_Title_YourName. For example: BLUE_2024_SimpleThings_AlicePark.jpg.  Judges WILL NOT see the artist names when judging.

Deadlines & Fees

1. Digital Submissions will be due no later than 11:59pm EST on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
2. Submission pricing is $10 USD per entry July 7, 2025 – July 13, 2025 for MEMBERS ONLY. Fees increase to $25 July 14, 2025 – July 20, 2025 and submissions are OPEN TO ALL. Entry fees must be paid in full at time of submission. If selected for the final 100 images in the judged Gallery Event and Print Competition, the Matting and printing of the image(s) is the responsibility of the entrant and is not included in the submission price above. NAPCP will not be printing or matting images. Please see below for information about our partner, Musea Lab, for your matting and printing service. Entrants will also have the option to have their physical images shipped back to them for a fee. Entrants that attend the event may take their printed submissions home after the gallery event is complete.
3. Deadline for entries shall be published on the NAPCP website and listed above. Late entries will not be accepted.
4. The 100 Finalist Images will be displayed in the Inspired Gallery and scored by our judges in person prior to the Gallery Reception and announcement of winners. Judging is not open to the public and scores will not be published.

Print Submission Dates & Deadlines

1. Entries open for submission for MEMBERS ONLY July 7, 2025 through July 13, 2025 for $10/entry
2. Entries open to ALL on July 14, 2025 for $25/entry and close at 11:59pm EST on July 20, 2025.
3. Top 100 finalists will be announced the week of August 11th
4. All Musea Lab orders must be submitted by December 22, 2025 for on-time arrival to NAPCP (see below for more info)
5. For entrants printing, matting, shipping his/her own prints, these must arrive to NAPCP by January 21, 2026.
6. Inspired Gallery Event and announcement of winners – January 28, 2026.

Matting & Printing Gallery Event Submissions

If chosen as a Top 100 finalist, it is the responsibility of the entrant to print, mat and ship entries to NAPCP for this event. As a benefit and convenience to our members (International and Domestic), Musea Lab is offering a 20% discount on matting and printing services for the NAPCP Inspired Gallery Event (use the code GALLERY2025 at checkout). If your image is submitted to Musea Lab by December 22, 2025 and payment is made in full to Musea, it will be produced and shipped for on-time arrival to NAPCP for this event. The cost of printing, matting, and shipping gallery entries is NOT included with the entry fee. ** Please note that Musea is closed for the holidays from December 23, 2025 until January 4, 2026 so please plan accordingly and place your orders early. **

Matting with Musea

Musea Lab is offering a generous 20% discount (use the code GALLERY2025 at checkout) for the 2025 Inspired Gallery Event Printing. Please refer to the guidelines above regarding print and matte requirements.

2025 Submission Categories are Red, Connection, and Small Worlds.

. This is a creative competition, and the subject matter is at the sole discretion of the entrant.

First, Second, and Third place will be awarded for each category based on the highest scoring image for each category above. Honorable mentions may be awarded for up to three images in each category. Winners will be revealed and announced at the Inspired Gallery Reception. In the event of a tie, scores of all placed images in that category will be weighted for recalculation. Score of 5 will be weighted more than 4 (etc) for a new total calculation to determine the top three winners for each category. Any further tie will be decided at the sole discretion of the judges and NAPCP.

Winners will be featured in NAPCP’s Inspired Magazine; winners will also receive a digital Winning Badge for their website, blog posts and additional social media promotion by NAPCP and sponsors.

Prizes and Awards

NAPCP Members will earn points towards Photographer of the Year for each image that places or merits in this competition. Our 2025 Photographer of the Year will receive an additional prize package along with a $1500 award.

Photographer of the Year (NAPCP Members only)

This prestigious designation will be awarded based on a point system that is cumulative from both the International Digital Image Competition and the Inspired Gallery Event & Print Competition. Entrants are awarded points based on the following criteria. All scoring for Photographer of the Year is done by NAPCP and awarded at its sole discretion.

Criteria Below is listed in order of scoring importance to be considered for Photographer of the Year:

1. (75%) Weighted points for all placed images and merit images (First place is weighted more than second place, etc). Points are also given for images that are awarded entry into the Inspired Gallery Event & Print Competition (more points are awarded for placed and honorable mention images).
2. Sharing Knowledge with NAPCP Community (Marketing Monday, Video Interviews, Blog Contributions)
3. NAPCP community involvement (includes Member Facebook Group, Ambassador Program, Survey Participation, etc).
4. Consistent portfolio of work and professional online presence. This includes Entrant’s professional website and updated NAPCP Member Directory Profile.

Additional Details and Information

The 2025 Finalist Print Submission Deadline is January 21, 2026. 

Shipping via FedEx or United States Postal Service (USPS):
Park Studios / NAPCP
690 Miami Circle NE
Suite #600
Atlanta, GA 30324

Shipping via UPS:
NAPCP
1119 Reeder Circle NE
Atlanta, GA 30306

Late print entries will not be accepted and no refunds will be given for entries not received in print by the entrant by the published deadline. NAPCP will not print or mat images for this event. NAPCP will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged prints during shipping. It is recommended to use a trackable shipping service or our partner, Musea Lab..

Image Release and Use

Legal Disclaimer: Entrants agree that any entered photograph may be used by the National Association of Portrait and Child Photographers (NAPCP), in any of its publications, printed materials or electronic media, such as but not limited to, any of its websites or its affiliates’ websites. Model releases must be available for all recognizable individuals in submitted photos. Do not submit these releases unless requested.

Winning entries may be used in connection with the Gallery Event and by NAPCP for promotion in the future. Thus, winners grant a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, limited license to use, publish, reproduce, display, distribute, use for promotional purposes and cross-promotional purposes. Photographer retains all copyright for the images.