Terms
Entry into the Keep Iowa Beautiful Annual Photo Contest (the “Contest”) is currently open. The contest submission period ends on December 12, 2025. The Contest rules consist of the phases set forth below in these Official rules.

Deadline
All entries must be submitted and received by 11:59 PM on December 12, 2025.

Eligibility
The contest is open to all amateur and professional photographers. Photos must be submitted by the individual who took the photograph. All photos must be of a scene taken within the State of Iowa. Contest sponsors, judges and Keep Iowa Beautiful staff and members of their immediate family are not eligible to enter.

Submission
Submission is by online registration form at www.keepiowabeautiful.com/photograph-contest/ Entry fee of $5 will be paid online through STRIPE for each photo submitted. An individual may submit an unlimited number of photos.

Format
Photographs must be in high-resolution digital format. No print or film submissions will be accepted. All digital files must be 5 MB or smaller, must be in .jpg format, and must be at least 1,600 pixels wide (if a horizontal image) or 1,600 pixels tall (if a vertical image). Images may have minor alterations for color, contrast, cropping, but may not be significantly altered, appear unnatural or have elements added or removed. AI (Artificial Intelligence)-generated imagery may not be submitted to this competition. Any images submitted to the competition using AI-generated imagery will be disqualified with no refund.

Photo Eligibility Rules
All photos submitted must be taken within the State of Iowa. You may enter one or more of the six categories: Iowa Landscape, Iowa Water, Iowa Cities, Iowans in Action, Iowa Wildlife and Hometown Pride. Category details below.

Model releases are not required to enter photos. If a photograph contains a recognizable person, photographers agree that they have requested permission to photograph subjects and are able to provide a model release to KIB upon request.

The photo must not contain material that violates or infringes another’s rights, including but not limited to privacy, publicity, or intellectual property rights, or that constitutes copyright infringement. The photo must not contain brand names or trademarks. The photo must, in its entirety, be a single work of original material taken by the contestant. The photo must not, in the sole discretion of KIB , contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, tortuous, defamatory, slanderous, or libelous; promotes bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age. Photos must not depict cruelty or harm to wildlife, domestic animals or pets.

Reproduction Rights
Photographers retain all copyrights associated with their photograph(s). Entry in the contest constitutes agreement to allow winning photographs to be published and used by KIB on our social media, website, program materials and emails. Examples of typical use include: posting the winning photographs on our website and social media, including photos in our monthly e-newsletter, publishing winners in our annual report, and promoting the photo contest on social media. Photographers will be given credit when their photo is used. KIB will never sell your photos to any outside source. Inquiries by third parties regarding use of the photos will be referred directly to the photographer.