Please read the Indiana State Fair, Indiana Arts Department 2026 Open Entry Book - Photography Division Terms and Conditions. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to be familiar with and understand all terms and conditions concerning the exhibition. Entries not meeting specified requirements will be disqualified from scoring and not placed on display.

Category Descriptions:

•  Professional – Photographers engaged in creating prints for payment regardless of the percentage of the total income.
• Amateur – Photographers who do not sell their work
• Youth – Grades 7-12
• Elementary – Grades 1-6
• University – Enrolled in a College, University or Trade School
• Camera Club – Camera Club Group, Guild, Society. Entries must be from 5 different members of the club. Prints entered in Camera Club may not be entered in any individual category.

Professional vs. Amateur – Any person who promotes the sale of their images through any means, must enter the professional categories regardless of the percentage of his or her total income. Amateurs will be asked to sign a release stating they do not solicit photography jobs for monetary gains. Professionals entering in Amateur class may be disqualified or reassigned to the Professional categories. This contest is open to all photographers, both professional and amateur alike.

All entry final images must have been created during the past three years and have never been shown in any Indiana State Fair competition division or Photography Division category.

Number of Prints

Entrants may enter only 1 print in the theme and only 1 print in the "American's 250th Birthday" theme.

• Professional Categories – Up to 3 prints, 1 album and 2 State Fair Special Category (6 items) may be entered.

NOTE: Album and State Fair Special Theme Category scores will not be included towards overall scoring for Top Ten Photographer in the Professional Category.

•  Amateur Categories – Up to 3 prints, 2 State Fair Special Category (5 items) may be entered. Entrants may enter only 1 print in the theme and only 1 print in the "American's 250th Birthday" theme.
• Camera Club Categories – Limit 5 different prints per club submitted by 5 different club members. Club submissions (5 prints) must be submitted under the Club name by a singular club official. 

NOTE: No print or image may be entered into more than one category or division. No exceptions.

All class changes are the responsibility of the exhibitor to arrange with the State Fair's Indiana Arts Office on the first floor of the Arts building prior to check-in with the Photography Division on the 3rd floor. New entry "tags" must be printed by that office and the exhibitor must attach to the back of their print(s) prior to check-in.

Print Sizes and Mounting:

• Professional Category – Mounted prints entered must measure exactly 20 inches on the longest side. The maximum size accepted would be 20” x 20”. Image within the mount may be any size. Prints must be mounted on a solid photographic mount board or foam core. No Masonite, corrugated cardboard or thin poster board. No metal or glass. Thickness not to exceed 3/16”. PROFESSIONAL MOUNT SIZE MUST MEASURE EXACTLY 20” ON THE LONGEST SIDE
• Amateur Category & University – Minimum image area of 8” x 10” to a maximum of 16” x20”. The entry must be mounted on a solid photographic mount board or foam core measuring exactly 16” x 20”. No Masonite, corrugated cardboard or thin poster board. No metal or glass. MOUNT SIZE MUST BE 16”X20” Thickness not to exceed 3/16” (Image size on the mount can be no less than 8”x 10”)
• Youth and Elementary Categories – Minimum image area of 5” x 7” to a maximum of 8” x 10”. The entry must be mounted on a solid photographic mount board or foam core measuring exactly 8” x10.” No Masonite, corrugated cardboard or thin poster board. No metal or glass. Thickness not to exceed 3/16”. MOUNT SIZE MUST BE 8”X10” (Image size on the mount can be no less than 5”x 7”)
• Camera Club Category – (see diagram with Amateur & University) - Minimum image area of 8” x10” to a maximum of 16” x 20”. The entry must be mounted on a solid photographic mount board or foam core measuring exactly 16” x 20”. No Masonite, corrugated cardboard or thin poster board. No metal or glass. Thickness must not exceed 3/16”. MOUNT SIZE MUST BE 16”X20”.

Thickness on all images must not exceed 3/16 of an inch. Digital Mats are preferred for handling purposes, but overlay mats are acceptable if the total thickness of exhibits is no more than 3/16”. Overlay mats must be attached to all 4 corners. Exhibitors should be aware that double faced tape, or a thin layer of spray glue will not hold up in high heat and humidity. Entries that fall apart before or during judging will be disqualified. If your entry does not meet these standards, the entry will be disqualified and not placed on display.

Entry tag must be placed on the back upper left-hand corner of the entry. Placement of the tag determines the orientation of the print.

Print titles should be written on the top/back of the print.

Name, previous awards, seals, ribbons or any other identification may not appear on the front of the entry. No prints in frames, under glass, plastic covers or shrink wrap will be accepted. No hangers, rough, raised or sticky substance on the back or the front of the prints.

Prints previously displayed at the Indiana State Fair may not be entered again.

No two (2) prints shall be of the same subject matter unless treatment is such as producing two entirely different photos.

The official judges will assign points to each entry. The highest score will determine awards and premiums.

The Indiana Arts Department Superintendent and State Fair Officials reserve the right to disqualify prints deemed to be in poor taste, or to remove after being placed on display, should public complaints arise.

All possible care will be taken to safeguard the exhibits, but no responsibility will be assumed by the Indiana State Fair or the Indianapolis Professional Photographers Guild (IPPG) for any loss or damage in transit or while in our possession.

The original exposure and image must be that of the exhibitor. Copies of photographs or photographs taken during an instructional class will not be allowed.

It is the photographer's responsibility and not the obligation of the Indiana State Fair nor IPPG to secure a model release of any individual in a photograph. Likewise, permission in the form of a written release is required for any photograph on private property including Railroad property.

VERY IMPORTANT All photographic entries must be created by the entrant. Photographs created in any part using “Text to Image” Artificial Intelligence (i.e. not using a camera) will be automatically disqualified. Artificial Intelligence is commonly abbreviated as “AI.”

Image Classifications:

In the PROFESSIONAL Category:

• Portrait – An image of an individual or group. May be staged, posed, or candid.
• Wedding – (includes both Color and B/W An image taken with a wedding theme. May be staged, posed, or candid.
• Commercial – (includes both Color and B/W) An image taken for advertising, product, or “Point of Sale” or architecture.
• Open – Anything goes, creative, experimental, any subject, and any technique excluding Artificial Intelligent (AI). Photographs created in any part by the used of “text to image” (not using a camera) will be automatically disqualified.
• Wildlife – non-domesticated animals (including birds) in natural wildlife settings or in zoos or sanctuaries.
• Photojournalistic – A story telling or human-interest image including Sports and other Live events
• Nature/Landscape – An image that the main subject is animals, insects, landscapes, or plants
• Album/Book – Album or book of images that tell a story of a person, couple, place, or pet
• Pets- An image of a domesticated pet. May be posed or staged.
• Photographic Artist -- (includes both Color and B/W Prints using more than one element in an image/print not taken by the photographer that aid in telling a visual story may be entered in the Photographic Artist class. Guides or small thumbnail images must be included showing all elements used in the creation of the larger image. These prints are judged on the total artwork. The final image is judged by the same 12 elements used with the addition of “technical difficulty."

 

In the AMATEUR, YOUTH, ELEMENTARY, COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY, and CAMERA CLUB Category:

• People/Family – people are the main subject, either formal (posed) or informal (candid)
• Travel (Scenic and Architecture) – An image taken anywhere that reflects architecture, seascapes, or human interest.
• Photojournalistic – A story telling image or human-interest including Sports and other Live events.
• Nature/Landscape – An image that the main subject is animals, insects, flowers, or plants.
• Open – Anything goes, creative, experimental, any subject, and any technique excluding Artificial Intelligent (AI). Photographs created in any part by the use of “text to image” (not by the use of a camera) will be automatically disqualified.
• Wildlife – (includes both Color and B/W) Non-domesticated animals (including birds) in natural wildlife settings or in zoos or sanctuaries.
• Pets – (includes both Color and B/W) An image of a domesticated pet. May be posed, staged, or candid.

Clarification of scoring: Numeric scores are determined by the judges. Any score of 80 or above not awarded a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place ribbon shall be awarded Honorable Mention.

Indiana Photographer of the Year: This is awarded in the professional division only - to a professional photographer with the highest case score (total of three images entered not including State Fair Theme print or album).

Scoring Ties: When necessary, the judges will determine the placement of all ties.