COMPETITION RULES
Category Descriptions
Portrait
FAITHFUL EDITING RULES APPLY
Images must depict a portrait of a pet in the studio, on location or at home. Images may be candid or posed. Images that include humans may be better suited to the Pets and People category.
Action
FAITHFUL EDITING RULES APPLY
Images should depict a pet in action, running wild and free, playing or in some way conveying movement. Images taken at sporting events may be better suited to the documentary category.
Creative
CREATIVE EDITING RULES APPLY
Images can be created using the full array of post production and composite techniques available. All images and all additional elements must be photographic in origin and be captured by the entrant.
Pets and People
FAITHFUL EDITING RULES APPLY
Images should showcase the special relationship between humans and their pets. Images in this category must contain in full or in part, at least one person and one animal.
Documentary
DOCUMENTARY EDITING RULES APPLY
Images must be single-capture and portray or give context to an actual event or situation. They should be thought-provoking images of real life. Rescue work, humanitarian causes, working animals, dog sports and images that showcase stories of pets in their daily lives are suited to this category. Staged, contrived, or manipulated situations that deliberately alter the truth are not acceptable in this category.
Entry Information
Important 2023 Dates
May 18 - 31 - Earlybird entries open
June 1 - 30 - Entries open
July 15 - August 15 - Online judging takes place
September 1 - Finalists announced
September 7 - Awards Ceremony live at the Shutterhound Conference
September 10 - All scores, feedback and badges available for entrants in the online entry portal
Where and how is it judged?
The International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards will be judged online during July and August 2023. A selection of international specialist professional pet and animal photographers have been chosen for their extensive experience and photographic skill.
The judges assessment criteria includes visual impact, technical excellence and emotional response. As well as the level of originality, vision and creativity. Judges will also take into consideration the animals body language and behaviour displayed in the images.
Entrants will receive their image score/s and feedback by logging into the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards portal after September 10, 2023. The Awards Ceremony at the Shutterhound Conference will take place on September 7, 2023.
Each image will receive a score based on the following scoring ranges:
50-64 - Below Pro Standard
65-74 - Pro Standard
75-79 - Bronze
80-89 - Silver
90-94 - Gold
95-100 - Platinum
The top 10 highest scoring images in each category will be the category finalists. A panel of no less than five judges will vote to determine category winners.
The overall 2023 International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards winner will be determined through a closed judging via Zoom by a panel of no less than five judges. Overall “International Pet Photographer of the Year” finalists are 5 entrants with highest cumulative score from their top 5 entries from across any categories.
Feedback for Entrants
We believe that constructive feedback from peers is crucial to growing as a photographer. That’s why we are very excited to introduce feedback on all images entered into the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards. Every image will receive written constructive critique from two judges. This valuable critique is the personal opinion of the judge providing it and is always given with the intention of helping you improve your craft.
Entrants contacting judges directly to discuss or dispute their feedback is not permitted and may result in disqualification.
Feedback is included in the entry fee.
Entry Fees
Early Bird Entries (18-31 May)
Single Image $22
5 Images $90 ($18 each)
10 Images $160 ($16 each)
20 Images $280 ($14 each)
Regular Entries (1-30 June)
Single Image $25
5 Images $100 ($20 each)
10 Images $180 ($18 each)
20 Images $320 ($16 each)
All prices are in USD.
If you are a Premium Member of Unleashed Education you will receive one free entry. If you are a Lifetime Member of Unleashed Education, you will recieve two free entries. To find out more about membership options look here.
Entry Rules
The International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards are designed to celebrate the best in pet photography around the world.
The following general rules apply to all categories:
- All images must be captured by the entrant, including any elements in composite images, such as textures, overlays, sky replacements.
- All images must be photographic creations. AI or computer generated images, text or any other non-photographic elements are not permitted.
- All images, including all individual elements used to make up an entry, must have been captured on or after 30 June 2018. Each image entered must contain the original capture metadata, or in the case of a composite image, have the original metadata for each element available upon request.
- Outsourcing any editing/post production is not permitted. All editing work must be completed by the entrant.
- Images captured at a workshop, retreat or under direct instruction from a mentor/teacher are ineligible.
- RAW files or other types of original capture files must be provided on request. Failure to submit such files within 48 hours of a request being made will result in disqualification of the entry and forfeiture of any entry fees paid or prizes awarded.
- Photographs with any type of watermark, including your name, initials, logo or other words or symbols embossed or imprinted anywhere on your entry are not permitted.
- Except where presentation dictates it is necessary (eg triptychs), images that are digitally framed or have coloured borders are not permitted.
- Entrants are responsible for obtaining the appropriate model and/or property releases for their entries. These must be provided upon request. Failure to submit releases within 48 hours of a request being made will result in disqualification of the entry and forfeiture of any entry fees paid or prizes awarded.
- Images must include a domestic pet or pets as the main subject.
- Images of wild animals are not permitted.
- The pet must be discernible, even if the whole animal is not depicted
- Images that could be interpreted as cruel, harmful, non-respectful of the pet/animal’s well being or promoting unsafe practices, including, but not limited to; animals on train tracks or images taken using coloured powders, are not permitted.
- Images of the same subject may be entered, providing they look completely different.
- The use of stock photos, graphics, or computer-generated content (for example CGI and AI) is not permitted.
- Images must not infringe copyright, moral rights, property, person, or other third-party rights. The entrant will indemnify and keep indemnified any claim by a third party in relation to their work.
- In addition to competition general rules, images must comply with the Terms and Conditions of entry.
Editing Rules
All Categories
- All digital backgrounds, textures, and brushes must be derived from original photographs taken by the entrant. Default Photoshop brushes or purchased brushes may only be used for the purpose of masking, dodging or burning.
- Multiple images, presented as a diptych, triptych, etc. are permitted in all categories.
- Panoramic stitches and focus stacking techniques are permitted in all categories except the Documentary category.
- In-camera multiple exposures are permitted in all categories except the Documentary Category.
- In the Documentary category - post-production techniques may only be used to enhance an image without altering the authenticity of the scene or subject matter of the original capture. Composite images are not permitted.
- In the Creative category - the full range of post-production and digital manipulation techniques, including composites, are permitted. All elements of an entry must be 100% photographic in origin.
Faithful Editing
Categories: Portrait, Action, Pets and People
Faithful editing rules are intended to reward technical and creative excellence in photographing and presenting an authentic representation of a scene using in-camera capture techniques and a limited suite of editing tools.
These include in camera double/multiple exposures, panoramic stitches and focus stacking. Faithful editing allows everyday professional practices such as the removal of leashes, head swaps and other practices, providing the resulting image is true to the scene captured at the time.
Permitted post-production techniques include basic processing using:
- Tone and colour adjustments
- Black & white conversion
- Sharpening
- Noise reduction
- Cropping
- Lens correction
- Vignetting
- Levelling of horizons
- Perspective correction
Permitted cloning practices:
- Removal of dust spots, sensor spots and scratches
- Removal of incidental temporary blemishes
- Stray hair removal
- Removal of incidental elements that are not significant to the image and were outside the control of the photographer at the time of capture
- Removal of leashes and collars
- Head swaps
- Use of blank plates to remove unwanted parts of an image
- Any practices that result in a final image that is faithful to the original scene
Creative Editing
Categories: Creative (previously Open)
The creative category is intended to reward technical and creative excellence in photographing and presenting images with major post production and composite techniques allowed. Entrants may utilise all post-production techniques, including using multiple images and elements, in producing their entry. All components must be photographic in nature and all components must have been captured by the photographer.
Permitted post-production techniques:
- All forms of post-production
- Composite images
- Textures
Documentary Editing
Categories: Documentary (new in 2023)
The Documentary category is intended to reward the technical and creative excellence in traditional purist documentary photography practices. An entry may be presented as a series, such as diptychs, triptychs, etc.
Post-production techniques applied must not obscure or eliminate elements, affect the authenticity of the original image, or create an effect not authentic to the original RAW capture.
Permitted post-production techniques include basic processing using:
- Tone and colour adjustments
- Black & white conversion
- Sharpening
- Noise reduction
- Cropping
- Lens correction
- Vignetting
- Levelling of horizons
- Perspective correction
Permitted cloning practices:
- Removal of dust spots, sensor spots and scratches
Terms and Conditions
Disqualification
If an entrant knowingly breaks the rules, their image/s will be disqualified, and awarded prizes where relevant must be returned. In addition to breaking general and/or category rules, images may be disqualified if:
- An image is considered to be plagiarised (although homage to an artist is acceptable)
- An image contains inappropriate content for public viewing, including obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit or otherwise objectionable content
- The image contains content that is considered an unsafe practice or could result in being harmful to the subject
- The image does not meet the size, specifications or naming criteria outlined in the rules
- An image contains information (e.g. graphics) that identifies the creator
- The entrant is unable to supply requested RAW/capture files within 48 hours
- The entrant is unable to supply a model or property release within 48 hours, if one is required in the country of origin
The International Pet Photographer of the Year organisers have the right to re-categorise, remove and disqualify any entry without public dispute.
Copyright
Copyright of all images entered will remain the property of the entrant. The International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards reserves the right to use images entered, whether awarded or not, for the purposes of marketing, promotion or education in relation to the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards only. Images will be credited to the photographer.
The entrant owns all rights and takes full responsibility that the work submitted is original, and does not infringe the copyright, moral rights, or other rights of any third party. The entrant will indemnify and keep indemnified any claim by a third party in relation to their work.
Competition Legalities
Entry fees and prizes are quoted in US dollars. The total prize pool of cash and prizes across the awards is $1750.
Prizes will be as stated, with no alternative prizes available for winners. If the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards cannot contact the winning entrant by phone or email within a reasonable time frame, the judges may award the prize to another entry.
The promoter of the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards is UNLEASHED EDUCATION PTY LTD, ABN 96651285184.
Earlybird entries open at 8am AEST on Thursday 18 May 2023 and close at 5pm AEST on Wednesday 31 May 2023. Regular entries open at 5pm AEST on Wednesday 31 May 2023 and close at 5pm AEST on Friday 30 June 2023. No late entries will be accepted. Images will be judged online between 15 July and 15 August 2023.
The International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards Ceremony will be held live at the Shutterhound Conference at the Mirage Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada USA on Thursday 7 September 2023. Winner announcements will be available online shortly after the ceremony concludes.
Entrants' scores and feedback will be available in the entry portal on the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards website no later than Sunday 10 September 2023.
The decisions of the judges and the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards in relation to any aspect of these awards are final and no further discussion will be entered into. Entrants directly contacting judges about their scoring and feedback may be disqualified and any prizes forfeit. In cases of abuse or other derogatory behaviour towards judges, organisers or other entrants, the organisers of International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards reserve the right to deny entry to future awards.
Any areas or issues not explicitly covered by these terms and conditions and other competition rules will be interpreted by the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards if and as they arise.
