PhotoContest
Verification Guide
A promising call can still be risky if the source is unclear, the deadline is old, or the rights language is vague. Use this guide before you pay an entry fee or send a full project.
Find the organiser's own page, not only a repost. A strong source usually has the organiser name, current year, deadline, entry system, rules, contact information, and a stable domain that matches the institution or festival.
If the only source is a social caption or copied calendar entry, treat the call as unverified until you can find a first-party page.
Open calls often keep old pages online. Confirm that the call year, submission deadline, announcement date, exhibition date, and payment deadline all belong to the same cycle. A page can look current while still carrying last year's rules.
When an event is annual, compare the current page with previous cycles so you know whether you are looking at a live deadline or a preparation target.
A reasonable entry fee can become a poor choice if the rights language is broad, the production requirement is expensive, or selected artists must cover shipping, framing, installation, travel, or publication costs without enough benefit.
Look for refund rules, late fees, image usage terms, credit requirements, and whether the organiser can use submitted images beyond promotion of the specific award or exhibition.
Trustworthy calls usually name organisers, venues, jurors, partners, sponsors, selection dates, and contact routes. They also explain prizes, finalist obligations, and what happens after selection.
Missing contact details do not always mean a call is bad, but they should make you slower to pay and more careful before sending unpublished work.