Photo Contest Rules

Entry: In order to be considered, your entry must meet the following requirements for submission and reproduction. All submissions must be submitted in digital format and be at least 300 dpi at a 4 x 6 image size. Submissions are limited to one photo per person via the HOTSHOE CARD COMPANY ("HOTSHOE") website and must fit the posted theme for each contest. As a requirement for submission, the submitter must grant a release (license) enabling HOTSHOE to print and reproduce for commercial sale any winning entry for which a cash prize is awarded. HOTSHOE is entitled to also post any submitted photo on our site and be entitled to use any and all submissions in future HOTSHOE promotions. Submitters certify their entries to be a "product" for which they own and hold rights of ownership, control, and copyright.

Eligibility: The Contest is open to all persons legally residing in the United States, but not including employees of HOTSHOE. Children, spouses, siblings, and parents of HotShoe employees are also excluded. All entrants must have a valid email address.

HOTSHOE has total discretion in deciding which photos will be posted in the viewing gallery for each contest during the submission period. Prior to the voting period, the HOTSHOE's panel of judges will screen all photo submissions to determine which entries are allowed to proceed to the voting gallery. HotShoe has sole discretion to determine which images move from the "viewing gallery" to the "voting gallery" and be available for voter consideration. HOTSHOE reserves the right to reject any photo submitted. All entrants agree that judges' decisions are final, binding, and are not open to challenge. The top images as selected by the HOTSHOE judges will be subjected to popular vote via a public gallery on the HOTSHOE website. Submission and voting schedules will be announced and posted on the HOTSHOE Home Page and voting will close at midnight on the last day of voting. The photo receiving the highest number of votes (points) wins the previously announce prize for that contest level. In the case of a tie, the HOTSHOE judges will decide which photo wins the tiebreaker.

Winners: Each contest will have a pre-determined numbers of winners which will be announced and posted prior to the competition starting date. Winners will receive recognition, exposure, and earn cash prizes according to their ranking within each contest. Winners are decided by popular vote and will be determined according to the number of respective votes (points) they receive during the established voting period. In exchange for a cash prize, HotShoe Cards will be entitled to publish any winning submission and reproduce that image for commercial sale. Any materials printed by HotShoe Cards will include full credit to the author. The cash purse for each contest may vary. All awards will be payable to the registered submitter.