Preparing Your Work for Submission:​

• Your images must be resized to fit the requirements of our form. Individual files cannot be larger than 10MB. If you need help with this process, or do not have access to a program to resize or process your images, please contact us.

• We do not list image resolution requirements (pixels) to allow for photographers to make their own decisions regarding the digital formatting of their body of work. We recommend processing your images at the highest resolution possible within the file size requirement of 10MB. This number will likely come to around 2000 x 2000 pixels.

• The work itself should not display your name anywhere. The files must be named accordingly: Last Name_First Name_Number_Title. "Number" indicates the order in which you would like the works viewed. JPEGs only.

• The work will be viewed by the judges with monitors using an RBG ICC profile. Please keep this in mind when preparing your images for submission.

• If you choose to have your work for sale, please price your work as you would for the physical copy you intend to print. In the case of a sale, Shoreline Arts Alliance will work with both the artist and the buyer to help facilitate the sale and delivery of the work.*

• REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE PRESSING 'SUBMIT'. We will not accept alterations to your application once it has been submitted except in extenuating circumstances.

​

Preparing Your Work for In-Person Exhibition:

• You will be asked on the form to indicate the size you intend to print your work at; the total size of your work, including the frame, may not exceed 60" x 60" unless special permission has been requested.

• If your work is selected for the show,  you will be notified by Thursday, July 10th and may drop it off at the gallery on July 19th, 20th, or 26th between 12 pm and 5 pm. 

• Works accepted must be matted, framed, and ready to hang. The gallery requires wire and two D-ring hooks, one on each side of the work, near the top. Works fitted with sawtooth hangers or french cleats are not permitted. Examples of wire rope and D-ring hangers can be found here. They are inexpensive and easy to install.

• We cannot accept works with heavy or ornate frames for this exhibition. Please keep your mats free of smudges or dirt, and your mat colors neutral. We prefer silver, black, white, or simple wood-grain frames in order to maintain a clean and unified look for the exhibition.

​

Artist Responsibilities and Project Support:​

• For 44 years, CT Photographers have taken pride in coming together to mount IMAGES and to encourage each other as a community. We request that each exhibiting artist support the exhibit by gallery sitting, hanging, or deinstalling and moving some of the exhibition to CT Hospice. Choose your opportunity to support the team today:

  • To gallery sit click here

  • To assist with hanging, deinstalling, receiving art, or moving the exhibition to CT Hospice click here

• Consider becoming a member of the IMAGES Committee. Enjoy the creative process of supporting Connecticut Photographers and the arts community strategically. Join the team that makes IMAGES continue to develop and grow.  Discuss and improve the competition and exhibition goals, trends, process, and much more. Contact eric@shorelinearts.org or discuss with a committee member. We meet as needed throughout the year.

​

Picking up Work Following Exhibit at Kehler Lidell Gallery:

• Work must be picked up on Sunday, August 24th from 4pm -7pm

• KEHLDER LIDELL GALLERY AGREEMENT: $50 fee per day will be charged to each artist leaving their work in the gallery past 4pm on August 31st.

​

Picking up Work Following Exhibit at CT Hospice:

• Invited works must be picked up on Friday, January 2, 2026 from 2pm to 6pm

• You will be notified if your work will be accepted into the CT Hospice Exhibit by Friday, August 22. Not all work offered will be chosen for the exhibition.

• Invited works for CT Hospice Exhibit will be transferred by IMAGES volunteers on Saturday, August 30th, between 10am and 2pm.

 

Additional Fees and Forfeiture of Ownership of Work:

To avoid additional fees and forfeiture of ownership of work, contact office@shorelinearts.org two weeks in advance of exhibit closing if you are unable to arrange for pickup of your work by designated date and time. All unclaimed work will become the property of Shoreline Arts Alliance.

​

Selection Criteria and Jury Process:

• Photographs chosen for exhibition are based on IMAGES judges’ interpretation of creativity, photographic excellence, and ability to evoke reaction 

• Entries that conform to the submission requirements are reviewed through a blind jurying process

• Jurors conduct three rounds of critical review to determine the photographs to be featured in the IMAGES exhibition

• Selected works from the exhibit may also appear at an additional exhibition at CT Hospice 

 

Awards:

• Four $250 First Honor prizes

• One Ann Christensen prize, named in honor of our former Executive Director (1984-1996),  is chosen by the jurors and awarded to a photographer “whose work makes a lasting impression.”

• Honorable Mention recognition

• One Peoples' Choice Award is awarded to the audience favorite and receives free admission for their first three photographs into the next year's IMAGES competition

​​

*All rights to the photographs will be retained by the photographer. SAA will select photographs for reproduction to publicize IMAGES. A 40% commission will be retained by Shoreline Arts Alliance on all sales.

​