CATEGORY DESCRIPTION

The Commercial Category is for images created for business marketing, advertising, editorial, or magazine work. This category showcases photography that serves a commercial purpose, demonstrating creativity, technical excellence, and strong visual storytelling while effectively meeting the needs of a client or audience.

CATEGORY INTENT

This category celebrates excellence in commercial photography by recognising images designed for real-world business applications. Entries may be commissioned or self-commissioned, but they must be intended for use in a commercial setting—whether for promotional, editorial, or advertising purposes. Self- commissioned work must be created with the intent to sell or license for commercial use. 

Images will be judged on their technical execution, creativity, storytelling, and effectiveness in a commercial context—meaning they should be suitable for their intended business purpose, whether to promote a brand, convey a message, or engage an audience.

CATEGORY RULES

This is a MAJOR EDITING CATEGORY and allows for significant creative manipulation of the original image.

Entries may:

• Alter, add, or remove elements
• Combine multiple images or scenes
• Transform the original capture creatively

The final image does not need to represent the original scene as photographed.

RULES

1. Compliance with Global Rules, Terms and Conditions, and Spirit and Intent of the Awards 

All entries must comply with the Global Rules, Terms and Conditions, and the Spirit and Intent of the awards. This includes adherence to the principles of originality and ethical standards set forth by the competition. Images should represent the work of the entrant, and any entries that violate these guidelines will be disqualified. 

2.Commercial Purpose: 

• Images must be created for business, promotional, editorial, or marketing use. 
• Self-commissioned work must be created with the intention to be sold or licensed for commercial purposes, such as advertising campaigns, stock imagery, or brand promotions. 
• Personal projects and fine art images are not eligible unless created with the intent to sell or license for commercial use 

3. Allowed Techniques

• Compositing (combining multiple images or elements)
• Adding or removing subjects or objects
• Background replacement or scene construction
• Extensive colour grading or creative colour shifts
• Heavy dodge and burn or relighting
• Artistic effects and filters (e.g. painterly styles, texture overlays, blur effects) as long as this does not add non-photographic elements or photographic elements not captured by the entrant
• Retouching and reshaping, including significant changes to form or appearance

4. Capture Techniques

• In-camera techniques such as multiple exposure and intentional camera movement (ICM) are allowed
• Focus stacking and stitching are permitted

5. Not Allowed

• Any use of AI-generated content (as outlined in Global Rules 2.2)
• Any entry that misrepresents AI-generated elements as photographic work
• Adding non-photographic elements (except in explicitly permitted circumstances outlined in the category specific rules) 

6. Presentation (Digital & Print)

• Borders may be created using photographic elements (e.g. textures, objects, or parts of your image)
• Computer-generated borders that simulate a physical print presentation (e.g. mat colour or mount) are only permitted for entries submitted for print judging and may be included in the required digital upload of those print entries. Such borders must be clearly distinct from the image.
• Non-rectangular crops must be presented on white, or with a photographic border – unless representing a print mat (see above)
• Series may be presented with or without gaps (compositing is allowed)
• A thin stroke line (black or white) may be used to define the edge of the image only if the edge would otherwise not be visible 

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