İSTANBUL PHOTO AWARDS COMPETITOR AGREEMENT

Article 1. The Parties

This agreement is made between

1.1 Anadolu Ajansı (hereinafter AA) which is the sole owner of the İstanbul Photo Awards (hereinafter Contest or Photo Awards); and,

1.2 Photographer who has registered to the award and submit his/her photographs.

Article 2. Acceptance

Photographer hereby agrees the terms of this agreement by submitting his/her photographs to www.istanbulphotoawards.com.

Article 3. The Subject of The Agreement

3.1 Within the scope of this agreement, the Photographer shall submit his/her photographs to www.istanbulphotoawards.com in accordance with the terms and conditions situated in this agreement and Contest’s website so as to participate the photography contest. (https://istanbulphotoawards.com/Page/Index?id=74 , https://istanbulphotoawards.com/Page/Index?id=75) AA reserves the right to change the terms at any time without prior notification.

3.2 AA shall have the right to use all submitted photographs for promotional efforts on photobook, AA’s websites, Photo Awards’ website, magazines, newspapers, TV, in any kind of exhibitions, mobile media and all relevant online & print PR campaigns worldwide. AA shall have the right to use the submitted photographs on AA’s workshops as training material and slideshows to communicate to the public and deliver printed photographs in exhibitions. Photographer shall accept and declare to give the right of usage of the submitted photographs and it accept not to put in a claim for using of the photographs within the scope of promoting and advertising for Contest. 

3.3 The scope of use of the rights granted under this agreement is limited only to the promotion and advertisement of Contest.

Article 4. The Duration of the Agreement

This agreement shall be in force from the date of submitting of the photographs by Photographer and end (i) by the decision given by the Jury or (ii) by delivering the prices to the Photographer if Photographer wins the prize. Although the term of this agreement ends, Photographer shall accept and agree that AA shall have right to use the photographs, right of adaptation (process) , right of reproduction, right to communicate a work to public by devices enabling the transmission of signs and/or images including the digital transmission, related to the photographs and other rights designated in this agreement without any limitation regarding location, number and content, and within the scope of promoting and advertising for Contest. AA may use the photographs, in the AA’s websites, Photo Awards’ website, photobook and in any kind of exhibitions, AA’s premises, AA’s books, activities and deliver printed photographs in exhibitions and etc. only for promotion and advertising of Contest.

Article 5. Participation Fee

The parties agree that the application is free, no payment is required for submitting work.

Article 6. The Obligations of the Photographer

6.1 Photographer shall accept and undertake to be the copyright owner of the submitted photographs. In the contrary case, Photographer shall be liable for all kind of damages and losses that Anadolu Ajansı has to compensate.

6.2 Submitted photographs by Photographer shall not violate any third party rights and Anadolu Ajansı shall not be considered as responsible. In case of that AA is pushed to make a payment to the third parties due to the violation of their rights, Photographer shall accept, declare and undertake to compensate the all losses and damages of AA.

6.3 Photographs submitted to the website shall contain the relevant and correct information in all issues like: personal info, full name, age, contact info, company info etc. AA takes action assuming that the information provided is correct.  In the contrary case, Photographer shall be liable for all kind of damages and losses that Anadolu Ajansı has to compensate.

6.4 Photographer shall declare and undertake that submitted photographs must be taken in the year 2025. (01.01.2025 – 31.12.2025)

6.5 Photographer shall agree that digital manipulation and any kind of photoshop effects is not allowed, only basic color corrections and minor crop are allowed. It is not allowed to add signatures, stamp or any other identifying mark for Photographer or company on the photo or in the caption.

6.6 All submissions shall need to have necessary information embedded into photographs IPTC like: title, description, creation date, country and city. Photographer has the liability for providing accurate information.

6.7 All forms should be filled in English and Latin Alphabet. Photographer will be responsible for any incorrect information.

Article 7. The Rights of the Anadolu Ajansı

7.1 Photographer agrees to undertake the license non-exclusively to AA the right to use his/her photographs, within the scope of promoting and advertising for Contest.

7.2 Photographer agrees and undertakes that AA shall have the right to reproduce and publish the original or copies of the photographs in any form or by any method, with all kinds of print techniques or in different formats through electronic methods, in physical or electronic media. In this regard, AA may reproduce and publish the photographs as photobook and complete works in different sizes and colors. Photographer agrees that ten thousand copies of the photographs subject to printing will be printed. AA may reproduce and publish the photographs in physical media and transmit the photographs to its subscribers. Again AA, may reproduce and publish the photographs in physical media, it may also publish and reproduce the photographs temporarily or permanently pursuant to article 3 of this agreement in computer environment, DVD, VCD, CD, video (digital), means for sign and/or image transmission, including without limitation smart devices and other mobile environment where the mobile technology is used as well as known environments and other environments which are not known yet and which will provide service depending on technological developments and which are used for image transmission/transfer, replay in media already known and to be developed.

7.3 Photographer agrees that AA may distribute and publish the photographs by all physical and electronic publishing and other means such as e-book, z-book and digital book within the scope of article 3 of this agreement.

7.4 Photographer agrees that AA shall have the right to communicate the photographs to the public including right to broadcast and rebroadcast through wired and wireless devices. In this context photographer agrees to undertake the license to AA the rights to broadcast, mobile and interactive applications in all active and digital environments, the right to communicate the photographs to public by providing access to it including the right to communicate to the public and digital transmission; retransmission and search engine rights and authority and right to communicate to the public.

7.5 Within the scope of article 3, photographer, agrees that AA shall have the right and authority to exploit the photographs by adapting it to AA. In this context, photographer agrees that AA shall have the authority and right to exploit the photographs as turning it into photobook, complete works and compilation. Photographer accepts that AA has the right to exploit the photographs through almanac, collection or similar ways belongs to AA.

7.6 Photographer undertakes, declares and agrees that the rights designated in this agreement that he/she undertakes to license non-exclusively to AA, are deemed to be licensed when the photographs are delivered to AA without need to conclude any other act or transaction.

7.7 Copyrights remain on the photographer, Photographer shall give İstanbul Photo Awards (Website) and AA right to use the submitted photographs with photographer’s credit. Within scope of contest publicity, AA shall sell or send out introduction materials, including photobook and printings, and Photographer shall agree, declare and undertake to not claim any royalty or intellectual property right against AA or third parties.

7.8 AA and Jury shall reserve the right to change, increase or decrease categories, awards and prizes.

Article 8. Obligations Under the Law on The Protection of Personal Data

With regard to the processing of the data defined as personal data and special categories of personal data in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Personal Data No. 6698 (LPPD) within the scope of the commercial or contractual relationship between the parties;

8.1 Each party accepts, declares and undertakes that they shall comply with all provisions of the legislation covering / will cover personal data including the provisions of the Constitution, Turkish Penal Code, Turkish Civil Code and applicable primary and secondary legislation though not mentioned namely, Law on the Protection of Personal Data No. 6698 (“LPPD”) and its sub-regulations, and shall not engage in any activity that would put the other party into a position that it violates the data protection legislation, shall take the measures determined / will be determined by the relevant regulation and shall fulfil its obligations completely, on time and as required,

8.2 They shall process the personal data shared with them by the counterpart within the scope of this contract in accordance with LPPD and the applicable legislation, shall share them with third parties when the legislation allows, shall use all kinds of general and special personal data that it has obtained exclusively for the purpose of providing the service under this contract, shall process them only if this is necessary for the establishment or performance of the contract, shall take all necessary measures to ensure data security, shall destroy the personal data if the reasons for the processing of personal data disappear reserving the condition of assumed liabilities on keeping, and their obligations for the protection of personal data shall continue after the end of this Contract,

8.3 Photographer, accept, declare and undertake that they have read the “İstanbul Photo Awards Website Privacy and Cookie Policy” which is the annex of this contract prepared transparently on the rights of the data owner and the principles related to the personal data being transmitted, the purpose and lawful reasons of the Personal Data processing activities, the methods of Personal Data collecting in accordance with the 10th article of the Law on Personal Data Protection No. 6698 with regard to the use of personal data obtained from Photographer.”

8.4 If the personal data processed is obtained by others in illegal ways, Photographer should immediately refer this situation AA by a safety way.

Click to read the clarification text

Article 9. Categories and Prizes

9.1 There are 10 (ten) different categories, all of them with 3 prizes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Single News 1st prize winner will be nominated as Photo of the Year. In total, there will be 30 prizes for the winners as outlined in detail at https://istanbulphotoawards.com/Page/Index?id=73 (Appendix 1)

9.2 Photographers shall have right to apply for all 10 (ten) categories at the same time.

9.3 Photographer shall accept and know that this contest is only for professionals and İstanbul Photo Awards jury shall have the right to ask him/her for proofs about the source of the photo or publications on newspapers, magazines or web sites.

9.4 Photographers will be responsible for collecting prize money and any other prizes won, working with AA. Award-winning photographers will receive their additional prizes in person from an AA regional office, following instructions from the contest team.

Article 10. Limits

Photographers can apply for all “categories” with maximum number of limits. Although it is not mandatory and a photographer can apply with only one photograph for a single category, but the same photo cannot be submitted into two different categories, (https://istanbulphotoawards.com/Categories/Index )

Article 10. Calendar

Call for Entries: 

November 13, 2025 – January 9, 2026

Application deadline is January 9, 2026, at 00:00 UTC+3.

Announcement of winners: 

March-April 2026

AA shall reserve its right to change the dates of the contest or cancel the contest without giving any notice and cause to the Photographer.

Article 11. Termination

AA shall have right to terminate this agreement anytime without giving any reason and notice and without any compensation responsibility.

Article 12. Website Terms of Use

12.1 All content in this Website is protected by international and national copyright law.

12.2 All submitted Photographs that displayed on this website belongs to the copyright owners.

12.3 İstanbul Photo Awards or Anadolu Ajansı cannot be held responsible by third parties, because of the damages arising from the photographs on this site.

12.4 No harmful program, virus, trojan, etc. must be uploaded to the website.

12.5 İstanbul Photo Awards is a registered trademark of Anadolu Ajansı, Türkiye.

Article 13. Process

13.1 All submissions will be carefully evaluated in 2 (two) phases by the jury of İstanbul Photo Awards.

13.2 In the first phase, all submitted photographs shall be evaluated and checked for the following aspects: 

o Quality, 

o Technical adequacy, 

o Correct IPTC information, 

o Authenticity of the photograph,

o Compliance with the concept of the contest and categories.

Although AA checks all the information so as to learn whether they are accurate or not with its own means, AA shall not accept any liability with regard to the accuracy of the information provided by Photographer.

13.3 In the second phase, internationally known jury shall evaluate all passed submissions and select the winning photographs.

13.4 Photographer shall not have any right to make an objection to the decisions given by the Jury.

13.5 If Photographer shall obtain an award from the Jury, the related prize shall be paid to the bank account given by the Photographer in 180 days.

Article 14. Applicable Law and Court of Competent Jurisdiction

14.1 This agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the Turkish Law.

14.2 The parties irrevocably agree that the courts and enforcement offices of Ankara (TÜRKİYE) are to have exclusive jurisdiction for the purpose of hearing and determining any suit, action or proceedings and/or to settle any disputes arising out of or in any way relating to this agreement.

Appendix 1

*Photo of the Year