Q: Who is considered a professional photographer?
A: We consider professional photographers those who earn or have earned the majority of their income from photography. Additionally, those who sell or publish their work regularly and belong to professional photography organizations.
Q: Are only photography students eligible for the student discount?
A: All students are eligible for the student discount, regardless of the concentration or major in which they are studying.
Q: How many photographs can I enter into the same series?
A: A series consists of a maximum of 8 images and 1 cover photo, sharing a common theme or concept and a single title. Please ensure that your images on the series work together as a whole as they will not be judged individually when entered as a series.
Q: What is considered a series?
A: A series consists of at least 2 and no more than 9 photographs, sharing a common theme or concept and a single title. Please ensure that your images work together as a whole, as they will not be judged individually when entered as a series.
Q: How will I know if my submission is complete, and what do I do if it’s not?
A: If at the time of the competition’s close, a submission is incomplete (e.g. the submission has not been paid, or the images have not been uploaded correctly) it will not be eligible for juried consideration. Though we make every effort to initiate contact and to ensure completion of submissions, we are not responsible for incomplete entries and are unable to offer a refund should an entry be incomplete at the time of the competition’s close. However, you may check on your entry status by sending us an email at: support@moscowfotoawards.com
Q: My image(s) didn’t upload correctly. What do I do?
A: It may be due to characters that are not letters or numbers in the titles of your files. Please ensure that the file name contains only letters from the English alphabet and/or numbers–no other symbols will be recognised and your image will not upload correctly. Try to upload once again after following these instructions. You can also try to refresh your main submission page after you upload the images.
Q: What size should the digital files be?
A: Digital submissions must be saved as jpg, and minimum 1000 pixels in either height or width. Please remember also to keep your files in RGB format, no larger than 4MB per image
Q: Can I enter one photograph into multiple categories?
A: Yes, you may enter the same photograph into as many categories as you see fit. In fact, doing so may increase your chances of winning. There is an additional fee for each category.
Q: Is there a limit to the number of entries I can submit?
A: No, you may submit as many entries, in as many categories, as you see fit.
Q: Is there a time limit within which the photographs should have been taken?
A: Yes. All photographs should be no older than 5 years old.
Q: Can I submit a photograph that has won an award or has been entered in previous competitions?
A: Yes, you may submit work that has been previously submitted or that has won an award. However, in an effort to promote the creation of new work and maintain fresh flow of ideas, we encourage you to submit new work.
Q: What is the Book category?
A: The book category is reserved for photographers who have published a body of work. Submissions to this category must be in the form of a series. After submitting via the online process, a pdf copy must be emailed to support@moscowfotoawards.com, bearing the Entry ID obtained during the online submission process.
Q: What is the Portfolio category?
A: In the Portfolio category you can submit 20 of your best images. Unlike other categories, the Portfolio category doesn’t have to be one title or one group of work. For example, in portfolio-advertising you can submit up to 20 individual works that you have created (doesn’t have to be one campaign).
Q: Can I make changes to my entry after I have paid?
A: No, after payment has been made, entries cannot be altered. Please review your work carefully before finalizing payment.
Q: How do I know if you received my entry?
A: You should receive a confirmation email shortly after you submit and pay for your work. If you do not receive an email, please let us know by emailing support@moscowfotoawards.com. In addition, if you are using spam-blocking software, please add “moscowfotoawards.com” to your list of recipients.
Q: How can I pay for the photographs that I submit?
A: There are a number of ways to pay for your submissions: a) Online: You may pay for your entry after you submit your photographs through PayPal and credit card.
**Once a submission fee has been paid, there are no refunds provided. If you have been wrongly charged for any reason, we will be happy to credit the amount that is due.
Q: How will my images be used?
A: Any images that you submit to MIFA may be used in promotional material related to the award (in social media, newsletters, on the MIFA website, etc.) but never for any other purpose than the promotion of the Moscow International Foto Awards. You retain the copyright for your images and you will always be credited accordingly if your image(s) are used for this purpose. This includes media and press announcements in the case of your being awarded a prize in the competition and in the process of publicizing and promoting the MIFA winning works . If we are contacted by outside media or press who wish to use MIFA winning images in relation to promoting the MIFA awards, we retain the right to provide them with a MIFA Press Pack (which includes low-res files of all winning photographs) for publication online or in print, provided both the photographer and MIFA are credited accordingly and the publication directly references the MIFA awards. If higher resolution images are needed in the case of a print publication, the photographer will be contacted directly. Your images will never be released or allowed to be used for any purpose NOT specifically relating to the MIFA photography awards.
Q: Where will my image(s) be used/shown?
A: One of the advantages of this competition is its global reach. Depending on what your image is chosen for (The Best of Show, a magazine ad for the MIFA, a Postcard for the MIFA etc), your image will be viewed with your full credit, all around the world. From galleries in Italy, Poland, England, the US, Cambodia, France, Canada, Germany etc, to magazine ads printed in all the top photographic journals in India, Russia, Greece, Japan, among many others. The destination and promotion of your work is endless. By entering the competition, you are agreeing to be included in the annual MIFA publication that showcases the full collection of winning images.
Q: Will I be compensated for the use of my images?
A: There is no monetary remuneration for the use of your images, however in the case that it is being used for something other than the promotion of the competition, you will be contacted and given the option to decline the use of your work.
Q: If my print is selected to take part in the Best of Show, what will happen to it once the show is done traveling?
A: The exhibition will be archived at the MIFA Headquarters for safe storage and POSSIBLE inclusion in the “Best Of” annual retrospective exhibitions for MIFA. On the back of each print there is stamp that reads: “not for sale, do not duplicate, return to MIFA Headquarters”. Should someone be interested in purchasing your work, we will contact you and pass on the details.
Q: Do the category winners receive an award or certificate at the MIFA Awards Ceremony?
A: No. Only the winners of the Moscow International Photographer of the Year and Moscow International Amateur Photographer of the Year will receive a MIFA trophy and a cash prize at the MIFA Awards Ceremony.
Q: How do I know if I’ve won an award?
A: We will notify award winners by email and publish the list on our website.
Q: What did I win?
A: First of all, congratulations! The winners package depends on what title you received.
MIFA Photographer of the Year
$3,000 cash prize and MIFA trophy
New Talent of the Year
$2,000 cash prize and MIFA trophy
First Place Category Winners
$100 cash prize each, Advertising, Architecture, Book, Editorial, Fine Art, Nature, People,Professional and emerging/student. (Paypal or Amazon gift card) *One cash prize per entry only.
MIFA winners will enjoy extensive publicity throughout the following year in addition to the following benefits:
– Work will be showcased in MIFA exhibition in Moscow and beyond
– Work showcased on the main page of the website, and in the online gallery exhibition
– Press release and newsletter announcements to over 90,000 in MIFA Community
– Online printable MIFA certificate of achievement
– Winner’s Logo to be used online and on printed materials
Other Category Winners
MIFA winners will enjoy extensive publicity throughout the following year in addition to the following benefits:
– Work showcased in the online gallery exhibition
– Press release and newsletter announcements to over 90,000 in MIFA Community
– Online printable MIFA certificate of achievement
– Winner’s Logo to be used online and on printed materials
