2026 Photo Contest Rules
As part of our focus on engaging our members and building up the UAEA community, UAEA is hosting our third competition of the year, an opportunity to show off the photos you and your families are proudest of.
Entries must be pictures of places around Tempe, Arizona. There will be 3 categories of entry
“The City” - Pictures of recognizable landmarks and locations around Tempe, Arizona. It is okay if a photo is not taken in Tempe as long as the photo is primarily of Tempe-specific landmarks (one example - a photographer may snap a photo of Tempe from the Phoenix-side of Papago Park. Consider finding a special angle of a well-known landmark, a particular time of day its lighting appears special, or even an important historical landmark that maybe doesn’t get enough attention.
“The People” - Pictures of Tempe employees (preferably non-supervisory staff) performing their daily work, posing in uniform, or in their workplace. Anyone appearing in these photos must have provided their permission to appear in the picture - entrants will need to confirm as such when entering their photo(s). Consider capturing a specific type of work that is uniquely performed by a certain workgroup, a type of work that requires extreme knowledge or competence to perform, or even just a particularly interesting uniform or work environment.
“The Details” - Pictures of little details in Tempe, such as plants, signage, pieces of public art, or other things that people may not notice in their day-to-day. Consider historic signage from Tempe buildings, pretty Arizona plants that grow commonly around Tempe, or anything else that you feel deserves some recognition.
All current UAEA members and their children are eligible to enter photos into this competition. Non-members and their families will not be eligible. There is no age-specific category in this contest - any person of any age may enter any category. Art must be produced by the entrant, or be submitted on behalf of someone who is eligible. The vice-president and president of the UAEA board may enter the contest but are not eligible for prizes.
Photographers may enter up to 5 different photos for consideration. Parents of children who would like to enter may enter on their child’s behalf.
Each photo may be entered into multiple categories (if applicable) but is only eligible for one prize. Photographers cannot win more than one prize in each category.
Entries will be in the form of photos and a brief description of the photograph. All entries must be in the form of .jpeg, .jpg, or .png digital files. Please make sure your photos are as high-resolution and clear as possible - this is the only thing that will be seen by people voting on the finalists. Entries should be 10MB in size or smaller - if an entry is just over that threshold, feel free to upload a placeholder on the entry form and email the real art to president@uaeatempe.com.
If there are more than 5 entries in any category, submissions will be anonymized and shared with UAEA members. Members will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite submissions in an anonymous poll that will run for no less than one week.
Photographers may choose to incorporate the word “uaea” into their entry but this will not give greater or lesser consideration to their entry. Pictures may not be considered if they contain copyrighted materials, profanity, gore, or sexual content.
Photography submitted to the competition will remain the property of the entrant but entrant will allow UAEA to reproduce it in emails, on their website, in newsletters, on UAEA merch, or on stickers, in perpetuity. UAEA agrees that it will not use any entry for profit.
Entrants agree that UAEA may use their name in emails, on social media, or on our website when discussing photo entries or announcing results.
Entrants agree that UAEA may modify their original submission for purposes of printing or rendition in publications.
Entrants agree that the photos they submit are their own creation and that they have the sole legal right to distribute them as they see fit.
Entries will be accepted between Thursday, July 23rd, and Thursday, August 27th, 2026. Entries received after the deadline will not be considered.
The winners of each category will receive a Visa gift card (or giftcard of their choice), a certificate of accomplishment, and recognition in future UAEA publications. The 1st place winner of each category will receive a $50 giftcard. If there are more than 20 entries from unique individuals in any category, the second place winner of that category will receive a $25 giftcard. If there are more than 30 entries from unique individuals in any category, the third place winner of that category will receive a $15 giftcard. Additional prizes may be awarded if there are more than 30 entries from different participants.