Our Next Annual Senior Photography CONTEST opens 12/1/25!

 

Every image submitted is judged and scored, by our returning

Award Winning JudgeTrio from last year (Annie, Josh & Selessa),

to create the seniorMUSE list of 50 to Follow…

that you want your business to be on!

We will take your TOP 3 HIGHEST SCORING Images and combine their scores to come up with each photographer’s ranking. The TOP 50 will make our list!

PLUS - we’ll have JUDGE’S Choice Awards!

but here at seniorMUSE we want to take our CONTEST a step further…

submitting images to contests should help you learn and grow in your work, but if you are not given any sort of feedback, even as simple as your scores, how do you learn anything… other than, my work needs work…. “keep working”…. With scores at least you know where you fall on the scoring chart used for the contest. (there is a link to judging criteria below).

SO…. to make this contest a way to LEARN about your work, we are offering you a couple of feedback options!!

1. You can get your scores for all images submitted for a flat fee of $20 regardless of the number of images you submit

2. You can request to get CRITIQUE from 1 or more of our Judges on a maximum of 2 of your submitted images of your choice for $15 ea.

SO SUBMIT ALL YOUR BEST IMAGES!!

(previously published are allowed as long as the senior part of the current submission classes)

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN 12/1/25 - 1/5/26

SUBMISSIONS ARE TO BE CLASS OF 2025, 2026 SENIORS ONLY!

OUR SUBMISSION PROCESS IS INCREDIBLY EASY!! (we are often told “the easiest”)

 

Meet our Industry Leading JUDGES:

(click on their name to view their work on Instagram)

Annie Marie Josh Hanna Selessa Holmberg

We have chosen judges that have been photographers for years and know what it takes to make an amazing image. They have shared their time and talents over and over, proving community over competition is so important.   Their names are seen on many photographers to watch lists, and their work is incredible! Each one is respected in the industry and amongst their peers. Judge scores are final.

All images will be judged on the following criteria:

Impact • Technical Aspects • Creativity • Style • Composition

Lighting • Posing • Center of Interest • Story Telling

Click HERE to view the judging criteria defined

 

50 to FOLLOW Submission Instructions

1. Images of 2025 and 2026 seniors are eligible for submission.  (images may or may not have previously been featured or published).  

IMAGES that are NOT ELIGIBLE are: 

  • Images from Workshops or Mentoring Sessions (if images from such events are found they will be disqualified, no questions, no refunds)

2. All images must be HIGH RESOLUTION JPG files (300dpi).  

Low resolution, watermarked, or raw images WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED (NO REFUNDS)

IMAGES MUST BE NAMED as follows:

studio name-the seniors name# - examples: ThruLisasLens-KenziThomas1.jpg   | ThruLisasLens-KenziThomas2.jpg

NOTE: A number is only necessary where multiple images of THE SAME model are being submitted.

IMAGES NOT NAMED CORRECTLY WILL BE DISQUALIFIED!! (NO REFUNDS) CORRECT NAMING IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ENSURE IMAGES DON’T GET MIXED UP!

NOTE: Images may be cropped for best fit/use in magazine, if chosen.

3. Process your payment for the TOTAL NUMBER OF IMAGES you plan to submit. If you want to submit a quantity not provided you can process multiple payments to create the quantity desired. Payment link will open a new window to process payment. Then when done submitting payment, close that window and return here to complete your submission form(s) and upload images.

4. The form below allows for submitting info for UP TO 5 MODELS on one form. (Model’s NAME is required for every model submitted! Other model info is optional. Models only need to be listed ONCE regardless of the number of images you submit of them).

5. Upon form submission you will be redirected to upload your images. Upload ALL images being submitted at once, even if you will need to return to submit additional forms.

6. Each published image WILL LIST:  The business name, photographer, city and state, and hair & make-up artist (if applicable/provided). The model’s information will ONLY be included IF you provide it AND check the box for each model giving approval to print their info.

7. ONLY portrait orientation images will be considered for THE COVER!!

THE MORE IMAGES YOU SUBMIT THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES ARE!

A Few Submission Tips:

  1. Submitting lots of almost identical images doesn’t increase your odds, it typically gets you more of the same score. Choose your best couple images with similar looks and then you can submit a wider variety to increase your odds!

  2. Have a photographer friend help you choose your strongest images. Then ask them to give you any critique they have, they will likely see things you missed the first time around. Then edits that will improve your image(s).

  3. Look at each image 2 ways to find things like halos, missed masking, and so much more…. Upside down AND as a medium size thumbnail.

  4. Look at your crop, be sure it is making for a strong image!

SUBMISSION COSTS

  • 5 IMAGES $25

  • 10 IMAGES $35

  • 15 IMAGES $45

  • 20 IMAGES $55

  • Image Scores $20

  • 1 Image Critique $20

 
 

CAN’T WAIT to see all the amazing images we will get this year!!