Mountain America Credit Union
2025 Calendar Photo Contest FAQs
About the Contest
- When does the contest start and end?
- What are the prizes?
- How do I know if I won?
- What happens to the winning photos?
- Do I keep the rights to my photo if I win?
Entering the Contest
Your Entry
- What type of photo should I enter?
- Can professional photographers enter?
- Do you have any tips on submitting a good photo?
- Do I need to use a recent photo?
- Can I enter a photo that I didn't take?
- Where does the photo need to be taken?
- Can I enter a collage of photos?
- Can I enter a drone photo?
- Does my photo have to be landscape- or portrait-oriented?
- Why won't it let me upload my photo?
- How can I edit/delete/change the photo I entered?
- How do I find my photo?
Voting
- How do I share my photo to get votes?
- My share link won't work. What can I do?
- How many times can I vote?
- Why won't it let me vote?
- What happens when I get 10 votes?
- Do the total votes matter after 10?
Judging Round
- How do I get to the judging round?
- How will the judges select the winners?
- I am a previous winner. Can I enter again this year?
- I have another question...
About the Contest
When does the contest start and end?
The contest starts at 12:01 a.m. MDT on August 4, 2025. Entries will close at 11:59 p.m. MDT on August 15, 2025. Voting will close at 11:59 p.m. MDT on August 17, 2025.
What are the prizes?
The grand prize is $1,000 Visa® gift card. The grand prize photo will also be on the cover of the Mountain America 2026 printed calendar. Eleven runners up will receive a $100 Visa gift card and their photos will also appear in the Mountain America 2026 printed calendar. Mountain America may also post the winning photos to our social media pages, website, in our online newsletter, as signage and more. Photographer attribution is important to us and will be given wherever possible.
How do I know if I won?
We will contact the winners via email. The winners will also be announced across all of our official social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
What happens to the winning photos?
The winning photos will be featured in the Mountain America 2026 printed calendar. Mountain America may also post the winning photos to our social media pages, website, in our online newsletter, as signage and more. Photographer attribution is important to us and will be given wherever possible.
Do I keep the rights to my photo if I win?
Yes. However, to qualify as a winner, you must agree to give Mountain America Credit Union permission to use your photo in the Mountain America 2026 printed calendar, on social media pages, website, in our online newsletter, as signage and more. Photographer attribution is important to us and will be given wherever possible.
Entering the Contest
How do I enter?
You can enter through our official contest page. Then get at least 10 votes through our official contest page to enter the semi-final round.
How many times can I enter the contest?
Each person may enter the contest four times, one entry per season. However, you may only win one prize.
Your Entry
What type of photo should I enter?
A photo of a landscape or nature detail taken by you anytime in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho or Montana. Please do not submit AI-generated photography and do not submit photos that include people, pets or animals. Landscape images are selected from all four seasons.
Can professional photographers enter?
We welcome photographers of any skill level to enter this contest.
We suggest these general tips to get a great photo:
- Use the best light.
- Make sure your image is high resolution and clear.
- Keep in mind any season of the year is welcome.
- Do not use AI-generated images and do not include people, pets or animals.
- Only submit a photo that you own the rights to and took yourself.
- Avoid adding effects, such as heavy filters, text overlays and graphics (photographer treatments and logos are acceptable).
- Remember the photo must have been taken in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho or Montana.
Do I need to use a recent photo?
You can enter any photo taken at any time.
Can I enter a photo that I didn't take?
No, you must be the original photographer of the photo you submit.
Where does the photo need to be taken?
Photos must have been taken in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho or Montana.
Can I use a collage of photos?
For this contest, we will only accept images that are entered as a single photo.
Can I enter a drone photo?
Yes, drone photos are permitted. Note: You must be the original photographer of the image you submit.
Does my photo have to be landscape- or portrait-oriented?
You may submit a photo with either orientation. Note: For this contest, "landscape photo" refers to the subject matter, not the orientation, i.e., a photo of a landscape. Also, some cropping may occur to format winning photos for the calendar.
Why won't it let me upload my photo?
Please make sure that your file is less than 10 MB and that you are using an acceptable file format, such as .jpg .png or .tiff. Also, please update your browser to the latest version. If you are still having trouble, please email socialmedia@macu.com and we will create your entry for you.
How can I edit/delete/change the photo I entered?
Please email socialmedia@macu.com and let us know what issue you are experiencing. If you have uploaded the wrong photo or want to switch out your photo for new one, we will need to delete your entry so that you may try again. Note: Deleting your entry will erase all votes accumulated up to that point.
How do I find my photo?
Click the "View Gallery" button and you can search for your entry by scrolling through the gallery.
Voting
How do I share my photo to get votes?
After you complete your entry, visit the photo gallery. Find your entry and click on it. In the bottom right corner, you will see an arrow icon. Click the icon to share your entry with your friends.
My share link won't work. What can I do?
Find your entry in the photo gallery and click on it. In the bottom right corner, you will see an arrow icon. Click the icon to see the share methods. Click second to the last icon (a dark gray chain link) to copy the link to your photo and share it with your friends.
How many times can I vote?
Each person can vote for each entry one time during the contest period.
Why won't it let me vote?
You may be entering from a shared location (e.g., school, library or internet cafe). Make sure you are on your own network, then try again. If the issue persists, please email socialmedia@macu.com.
What happens when I get 10 votes?
Each entry that receives 10 or more votes will become a semi-finalist and advance to the judging round, where a panel of judges will select the winners.
Does the total votes matter after 10?
No, once you get 10 votes, your entry will become a semi-finalist and advance to the judging round, where a panel of judges will select the winners. The judges do not take the total number of votes received into account.
Judging Round
How do I get to the judging round?
Your entry must receive 10 votes in order to become a semi-finalist. Semi-finalists advance to the judging round, where a panel of judges will select the winners.
One grand prize winner and 11 runners up will be chosen. Judging criteria for the semi-finalists is based on the following:
- Technical quality and composition.
- Creativity and originality.
- Use the best light.
- Make sure your image is high resolution and clear.
- Keep in mind any season of the year is welcome.
- Do not submit AI-generated photography and do not submit photos that include people, pets or animals.
- Only submit a photo that you own the rights to and took yourself.
- Avoid adding heavy effects, such as filters, text overlays and graphics (photographer treatments and logos are acceptable).
- Remember the photo must have been taken in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho or Montana.
I am a previous winner. Can I enter again this year?
Yes, but please note that previous winning photos cannot win another prize.
Have another question?
Please read through the official rules. If you still have a question, please email socialmedia@macu.com.
