Through Your Lens Photography Contest Rules
What Does Stoney Creek Mean to You?
The Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce invites photographers of all ages and experience levels to capture the people, places, businesses, landscapes and everyday moments that make our community special.
Your photograph could be featured on the front cover of our 2027 Business Directory!
Whether it's a breathtaking waterfront sunset, a historic landmark, a favourite neighbourhood, a local business or a moment that tells a story, we want to see Stoney Creek through your eyes.
People. Places. Stories. Our Stoney Creek.
1. Who Can Enter?
- The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers of all ages.
- You do not need to be a Chamber member or a Stoney Creek resident to participate.
- Entrants under 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
- There is no entry fee.
- Chamber staff, contest judges and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.
2. What Photographs Are Eligible?
Photographs must:
- Have been taken within the Stoney Creek Chamber's service area, including East Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Upper Stoney Creek, Glanbrook, Binbrook and Winona.
- Be original photographs taken by the person submitting them.
- Capture some aspect of our community, such as local landmarks, neighbourhoods, businesses, people, nature, heritage, events or everyday life.
- Be suitable for publication in a community business directory.
Photographs may be recent or from previous years.
AI-generated images are not permitted. Standard photographic adjustments such as cropping, exposure, colour correction and sharpening are acceptable, provided the photograph remains an authentic representation of the original scene.
3. How Many Photographs Can I Submit?
Each entrant may submit a maximum of three photographs.
Each photograph will be judged individually.
4. How to Enter
There are two ways to enter.
OPTION A — BY EMAIL
Send your photographs to:
marketing@chamberstoneycreek.com
Email subject line: Stoney Creek Through Your Lens — Photo Contest Entry
Please include:
- Your full name.
- Your email address and telephone number.
- Up to three photographs, preferably in JPG or PNG format.
- The location where each photograph was taken.
- A brief description (maximum 50 words per photograph) explaining what the image represents or why it captures the spirit of Stoney Creek.
- The following statement in your email:
“I have read and agree to the Stoney Creek Through Your Lens Photography Contest Rules and Photography Permissions. I confirm that I am the photographer and copyright owner of the photographs submitted.”
OPTION B — IN PERSON
Photographs may also be dropped off at the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce office during regular office hours.
- Printed photographs are welcome for judging.
- Digital photographs may be submitted on a USB memory stick by prior arrangement with the Chamber.
- Include your name, email address, telephone number, photograph locations and brief descriptions.
- Include a signed statement confirming that you have read and agree to the contest rules and photography permissions. A parent or legal guardian must sign for entrants under 18.
IMPORTANT: If a printed photograph is selected for publication, the photographer must provide an original, high-resolution digital copy suitable for professional printing. The Chamber will not be responsible for scanning photographs for publication.
Printed photographs will not be returned unless arrangements are made in advance.
5. Photograph Quality
- Digital photographs should be clear and submitted at the highest available resolution.
- Vertical (portrait-oriented) photographs are encouraged because the winning image will appear on a directory cover.
- Both horizontal and vertical photographs are welcome.
- The Cover Winner and any other photographer whose image is selected for publication must be able to provide a high-resolution digital file suitable for professional printing.
The Chamber reserves the right to request original digital files before confirming the selected photographs.
6. Contest Dates
Entry Deadline: Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Judging Period: November 23–30, 2026.
Winners Announced: Friday, December 4, 2026.
All entries, including in-person submissions, must be received by the deadline. In-person entries must be delivered during Chamber office hours no later than Friday, November 20, 2026.
Late entries will not be considered.
7. Judging
Entries will be evaluated by an independent panel of three community judges:
Bryan Macaulay — Owner, Village Studio
Greg Armstrong — President, Stoney Creek Historical Society
Julie Brown-Webber — Funeral Director, Donald V. Brown Funeral Home, and recipient of the Stoney Creek Chamber's inaugural Women in Business Award.
Judges will consider:
- Creativity and originality
- Visual impact and photographic quality
- Connection to Stoney Creek and its surrounding communities
- How effectively the photograph captures the spirit, character or story of our community
- Suitability for publication in the Business Directory
Photographs will be presented to the judges without identifying the photographer.
The judges' decisions are final.
8. Recognition
COVER WINNER
The selected photograph will appear on the front cover of the 2027 Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce Business Directory, with photographer credit and recognition on the Chamber's website and social media.
TWO HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Two additional photographs will be featured inside the directory, with photographer credit and recognition on the Chamber's website and social media.
Additional submitted photographs may also be selected for inclusion inside the directory, subject to available space and publication requirements.
No cash or merchandise prizes are guaranteed.
9. IMPORTANT — COPYRIGHT, PEOPLE & PROPERTY PERMISSIONS
By entering this contest, you confirm that:
- You personally took each photograph and own the copyright.
- You have obtained any necessary permission from identifiable individuals appearing in your photographs, including parental or guardian permission for minors, where required for publication.
- You have obtained any necessary permission from property owners where required for publication.
- Your photographs are not AI-generated.
- You have read and agree to these contest rules and photography permissions.
Photographers retain copyright ownership of their photographs.
By entering the contest, participants grant the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce a non-exclusive, royalty-free, ongoing licence, applicable to photographs selected for recognition or publication, to reproduce, publish, display and share those photographs in:
- The 2027 Chamber Business Directory, including print and digital editions
- The Chamber website
- Chamber social media channels
- Related Chamber promotional and contest materials
Photographer credit will be provided wherever reasonably practical.
Photographs will not be sold to third parties.
The Chamber reserves the right not to publish photographs where copyright, privacy, consent or other concerns arise.
10. Additional Conditions
- The Chamber may contact entrants to verify information, request higher-resolution digital photographs or obtain additional permissions.
- The Chamber reserves the right to reject entries that do not meet contest requirements.
- If a selected photograph cannot meet publication or permission requirements, another photograph may be chosen.
- The Chamber may make reasonable adjustments to selected photographs for directory layout, cropping and print production.
- Personal information collected through contest entries will be used to administer the contest, contact participants and recognize photographers. Entrants will not automatically be added to the Chamber's marketing mailing list.
- The Chamber reserves the right to make reasonable changes to contest arrangements if necessary.
Questions?
Contact the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce at:
marketing@chamberstoneycreek.com
For more information about the Chamber, visit chamberstoneycreek.com.
Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce