beach photo contest

Show us your best photos!

beach photo

Do you have some incredible beachcombing photos? Now’s your chance to make them stars in the 2025 Beachcombing Calendar.

Enter your photos for the 2025 Beachcombing Calendar

We would love to include your original, unpublished photos that capture the spirit of beachcombing and the wonders found on your beach in a beautiful image. As-found photos of great finds, beachscapes in all types of weather, and collections of treasured finds all are great photos for a calendar.

best beach calendar photo contest

Enter your best photos by April 1, 2024, and if your photo is selected by voters for the cover, you win a $250 cash prize!

Important Dates

  • Submissions open: Now through April 1, 2024
  • Finalists announced: April 15, 2024
  • Public voting: April 15 – May 1, 2024
  • Cover Winner announced: May 2, 2024

Open to entries worldwide. Void where prohibited by law.

Photo specs

Calendar photos should be original. unretouched, high-resolution, horizontal photos of as-found pieces, your beach finds, your collection, your beach, or whatever you think fellow beachcombers might like to look at for a month.

Please don't share your photo entries online before April 15th, so when your photo is announced as a finalist on April 15th it will be the first time viewers have seen it. If your photo is selected as a finalist we hope that you will encourage everyone to vote for your image for the cover starting on April 15th!

Because photos are printed at high resolution at 11x8.5 inches, the ideal size is 3,000 x 2,000 pixels or larger. Phone camera photos are great as long as your phone is set at the highest settings.

If your photo is on the cover, you get $250 plus 10 free calendars. If your photo is a finalist and is inside in the calendar, you'll receive 10 free calendars to share with your friends and family. It's a fun way to share your love of the beach — and check a few people off your shopping list!

calendar photo contest specs

We want YOU to pick the cover shot!

We will announce finalists from all eligible photos on April 15, 2024, and after that date voters will pick the cover photo for next year’s calendar. Finalists each get 10 calendars and the cover photo winner gets 10 calendars plus a cash prize of $250.

You can enter any type of beachcombing photo: sea or beach glass, sea pottery, seashells, beach fossils, rocks, agates, driftwood, historical finds, toys, bottles, scenery, and more. Beaches can be along oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water.

There will be 14 winning photos: one photo will appear on each month, one on the one-page 2026 calendar, and one photo on the cover. On April 15, 2024, you can vote for the people's choice cover shot!

How to Enter:

  1. Fill out the information and upload a photo on the entry form for each of your entries. You can submit up to five (5) images for consideration.
  2. Phone or camera photos are acceptable. Please use the highest-quality and largest file setting when taking your photos. Check out some beachcombing photo tips.
  3. Final image specs: 3,000 x 2,000 pixels, horizontal, maximum resolution
  4. Do not resize or edit your photos.

Rules:

  1. Photos should focus on beachcombing and beach finds, for example beautiful fossils, agates, unique sea glass, rare shells, a historical bottle or collection, a favorite coin. An image on the beach, especially as found, gives people a feel for being right with you when you made your find.
  2. Submitted entries must be authentic, unaltered, and photographed/found at the location named in your entry form.
  3. You or someone in your immediate family must have found the item(s) in your photo. No purchased items allowed.
  4. Finalists will be selected from the images submitted based on the uniqueness and beauty of the find, overall artistic presentation, and quality of the photo file.
  5. We always try to use photos that have not been shared online so please resist the urge to post your photo before April 15, 2024.

See full rules below.

Finalists will be announced on April 15, 2024, and voting is open as soon as the finalists are announced. The winning photos will appear in the 2025 calendar and in Beachcombing magazine.

    *OFFICIAL RULES*

    No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this Contest. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Entry open to anyone 18 years old and older who meets the eligibility criteria below and are legally eligible to participate.

    1. CONTEST SPONSOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Etched by the Sea Inc.

    2. CONTEST NAME: The 2025 Beachcombing Calendar Photo Contest

    3. CONTEST PERIOD: The 2025 Beachcombing Calendar Photo Contest begins on December 21, 2023, and ends on April 1, 2024.

    *ENTRY PERIOD*

    Starts December 21, 2023, and ends on April 1, 2024 11:45 PDT

    *WINNERS ANNOUNCED *

    • Entries close at midnight on April 1, 2024.
    • Finalists announced April 15, 2024.
    • Vote for cover winner on April 15 – May 1, 2024.
    • Cover winner announced May 2, 2024.

    4. ELIGIBILITY: Submitting an entry into the Contest is open to individuals of at least 18 years of age or older.

    5. HOW TO ENTER:

    a. The entrant may upload up to five (5) images. If you submit more than 5 image we will consider the last five you upload.

    b. The entrant needs to fill out the contact information requested: first name, last name, and email address, as well as the name and location for each photo.

    6. SELECTION OF WINNERS: Images are judged on subject uniqueness and beauty and overall photographic and artistic quality by the members of the Beachcombing Team. Images that are of low-resolution and/or are not horizontal format will not be eligible for inclusion in the contest.

    Etched by the Sea Inc’s decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this contest. All entries are subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules.

    TERMS OF ENTRY:

    a. Etched by the Sea Inc reserves the right to disqualify any entries for any reason and in its sole and absolute discretion, including, but not limited to, entries that (i) include trademarks, logos, or copyrighted material not owned by Entrant or used without permission; (ii) refer to public figures; (iii) contain profanity, pornographic or sexual content, content promoting alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, or firearms or weapons, hateful content of any kind, content that promotes violence or harm to another living creature; (iv) promote a political agenda regardless of the political affiliation and regardless of Etched by the Sea Inc’s treatment of other entries that may or may not promote a political agenda; (v) defame, misrepresent, or contain disparaging remarks about other people or companies; or (vi) contain materials embodying the names, likenesses, photographs or other identifying elements of any person, living or dead, without permission.

    b. Entrants may not submit entries on behalf of any person other than themselves. Entries not submitted in accordance with the instructions provided in the Official Rules or on Contest Website shall be disqualified.

    c. Each entrant represents and warrants as follows: (a) the submission is the entrant’s own, original work; (b) the submission will not contain or transmit any computer code or other technology specifically designed to disrupt, disable, harm, or otherwise impede in any manner, any other software, hardware, computer system, or network (sometimes referred to as “malware,” “viruses” or “worms”); (c) as of the date of submission, the submission is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim; (d) the Submission does not and will not violate or infringe other people’s intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other legal rights; and (e) the Submission is not abusive, harassing, harmful to reputation, pornographic, indecent, profane, obscene, hateful, racist, or otherwise objectionable. Each entrant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Etched by the Sea Inc harmless from and against any and all third party claims, actions, or proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses relating to or arising out of any breach or alleged breach of any of the covenants, representations, and warranties of entrant and/or his or her parent or legal guardian hereunder. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify (and refuse to accept or remove) any submission that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, deems to violate these Official Rules.

    d. Neither Etched by the Sea Inc nor any of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, contractors, subcontractors and each of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, agents and employees, nor any Internet access providers are responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry of information, human error, technical malfunction, lost/delayed data transmission, lost/delayed/misdirected mail, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, line failure of any telephone or other network, computer equipment, software or any combination thereof, inability to access the Contest Website, for problems uploading or downloading any Contest-related materials from the Contest Website, or for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incorrect or incomplete entry.

    e. If for any reason any aspect of this Contest cannot be completed as planned, including by reason of infection by computer virus, network failure, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any cause beyond the control of Etched by the Sea Inc which corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest, Etched by the Sea Inc may in its sole discretion cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this Contest, or invalidate any affected submissions.

    f. For purposes of these Official Rules, receipt of Contest Entries occurs when the website records the required entry information from entrant’s submission. Any entry information collected from the Contest may be recorded by Etched by the Sea Inc for further promotional or marketing purposes.

    g. Etched by the Sea Inc may, in its sole discretion, disqualify any submissions, and prohibit further participation in this Contest by, any person who tampers with or benefits from any tampering with the submission process or with the operation of this Contest or acts in violation of these terms and conditions, acts in a disruptive manner or acts with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.

    ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS:

    a. Etched by the Sea Inc reserves the right to use any other method or medium that Etched by the Sea Inc deems fit at its sole and absolute discretion for the purpose of announcing and contacting the Contest winners.

    b. Upon request, Contest winners will be required to provide their contact details and photo ID proof and any other details deemed necessary and relevant by Etched by the Sea Inc at its discretion, within three working days upon receiving the request/notification from Etched by the Sea Inc.

    c. Etched by the Sea Inc reserves the right to forfeit prizes for any Contest winner who does not provide the required verification upon receiving the request/notification from Etched by the Sea Inc.

    PRIZES:

    a. Finalists will receive:

    • Ten (10) copies of the 2024 Beachcombing Calendar
    • Photo featured in an upcoming issue of Beachcombing magazine.
    • Cover Photo Winner will receive additional cash prize

    b. Winners consent to Etched by the Sea Inc using their name, photo, and image(s) in the 2024 Beachcombing Calendar, Beachcombing magazine, and any promotional material.

    TAXES:

    a. Any valuation of the prize(s) stated above is based on available information provided to the Etched by the Sea Inc, and the value of any prize awarded to a winner may be reported for tax purposes as required by law. Winners are solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes. Winners may be required to provide the Administrator with valid identification and a valid taxpayer identification number.

    b. Contest is subject to the any and all applicable Local, State, Central or Community laws/Local customs. These Terms and Conditions shall be governed, constructed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the United States.

    c. All prize recipients may be required to sign a form of legal release to be determined by Etched by the Sea Inc in its absolute discretion.

    d. Etched by the Sea Inc accepts no responsibility for any tax implications that may arise from the prize winnings. The prize/s shall be subject to the laws of the United States, including all the tax laws. All applicable regulatory and statutory duties, surcharge, taxes, insurances, transfer fees, registration fee etc., that may be applicable to avail the prizes will be borne by the winners.

    e. Etched by the Sea Inc reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual found tampering with the entry process or entry materials.

    f. All entrants accept the conditions stated in these official rules, warrant that they are eligible to participate in this contest, and release Etched by the Sea Inc from and against all claims and damages arising in connection with their participation and/or entry in the contest and/or awarding of or use of any prize awarded in this contest. Any attempt to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and, should such an attempt be made, Etched by the Sea Inc and its licensees reserve the right to seek damages or other remedies from any such person(s) responsible for any such attempt to the fullest extent permitted by law. Entrants agree to indemnify and hold harmless Etched by the Sea Inc from and against any and all claims, losses, damages or liability (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) that may be asserted against or incurred by any of them at any time, in connection with entry, or use thereof, or by respective entrants’ breaches of any agreement or warranty associated with the contest. This Contest is governed by United States law and is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Any and all legal actions or claims arising in connection with this Contest must be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States. If, in Etched by the Sea Inc’s opinion, there is any suspected or actual evidence of electronic or non-electronic tampering with any portion of the Contest, or if technical difficulties compromise the integrity of the Contest, Etched by the Sea Inc reserves the right to void suspect entries and/or votes and/or terminate the Contest and award the prizes from among all eligible entries received as of the termination date. The use of any automated launching or entry software or any other mechanical or electronic means that permits the entrant to automatically enter or vote repeatedly is prohibited. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a Entrant based on an email address, the entry in question may be disqualified subject at Etched by the Sea Inc’s discretion. Should the Contest be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, Etched by the Sea Inc will endeavor to post notice of termination on the Page.

    WINNERS LIST:*

    For a written list of the names of the prize winners, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Etched by the Sea Inc, PO Box 1910, Capitola CA 95010.

    EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY:*

    a. Etched by the Sea Inc and related companies and agencies will not be liable for any loss (including, without limitation, indirect, special or consequential loss or loss of profits), expense, damage, personal injury or death which is suffered or sustained (whether or not arising from any person’s negligence) in connection with this Contest or the acceptance or use of any prize, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law (in which case that liability is limited to the minimum allowable by law).

    b. Etched by the Sea Inc disclaims any and all liability of any kind for any unauthorized access to or use or Entrant’s personal information or for any unauthorized disclosure or use of Entrant submitted content that results from the upload, download, storage, or display of Entrant content. Entrants hereby acknowledge and agree to Etched by the Sea Inc’s disclaimer of any such liability.

    c. Nothing on the Page, or on any other website of the Etched by the Sea Inc, or relating to this Contest, shall be construed as conferring any license or other rights under the intellectual property or other proprietary rights of Etched by the Sea Inc or its related companies or any third party, whether by estoppel, implication or otherwise.

    d. The software and programming code and media relating to the Page and Promotion-related communication is protected by the applicable laws of copyright, trademark, patent, unfair competition and other proprietary laws.

    MISCELLANEOUS:*

    a. Etched by the Sea Inc’s decisions shall be final in all matters relating to this Contest, and no correspondences will be entertained.

    b. Etched by the Sea Inc reserves the right to change these terms and conditions without prior notice.

    c. Entrants shall be deemed to have notice of any such amendments or interpretations upon publication of the same on the Page and shall be deemed to have accepted such amendments or interpretations by virtue of their continued participation in this Contest. Should Entrant not wish to continue to participate in this Contest pursuant to the prevailing terms and conditions as amended or interpreted, he/she may terminate participation in this Contest upon written notice to Etched by the Sea Inc.

    d. It is responsibility of the entrants to inform Etched by the Sea Inc of any change in the address of correspondence, for availing the prizes.

    e. Apart from the entitlement to the above prize/s under the Official Rules, the winner and/or their legal heirs will have no other rights or claim against.

    f. Etched by the Sea Inc shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations caused by weather conditions, fire, flood, strike, hurricane, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, acts of God or any other circumstances amounting to Force Majeure.

    g. The prize/s will be distributed/delivered to the winners within 30 days of calendar being printed, at the respective addresses of the winners. If the winner is absent from taking delivery of the prize and fails to collect the same within 30 days of notification of delivery then their prize stands forfeited.