PotM Calendar Terms of Use
The Photo of the Month Calendar is free of charge and open for submissions during the last two weeks of every month. Those wishing to post their work on the calendar must be at least 18 years old and do so under a shared interest agreement. Calendar slot requests can be made until all twelve places for the current year are taken. The subject matter can be as diverse as the natural world itself, including landscapes, plants, wildlife, captive wild animals, rock, wave and cloud formations, the night sky or weather in any background, style or setting, e.g. urban, black and white, colour, abstract or macro. However, as there are only twelve places available, applicants are allowed only one request per month and must ensure their submission does not contain or consist of the following:
- Images with links unsuitable for children.
- Images inappropriate to the theme of the calendar or the content of this website*
- Images sent as original RAW files or original full-sized JPEGs.
- Images taken with little skill, time or effort, i.e. of poor picture quality.
- Images of nesting birds taken with lenses less than 500mm
- Images of birds on feeders, farm animals and domestic or exotic pets.
- Images with human faces, vehicle registration numbers, house and door numbers, and company names or logos.
- Images owned by a third party.
- Images created using fabricating software*.
- Images found to be a second entry made within the same month.
- Images submitted outside the opening time/after the closing time.
*Note, too, that depictions of certain kinds of animal behaviour, such as mating, defecation and the killing of live prey, may also be in breach of these terms if considered to be too graphic, explicit or unsuitable for children. Post-processing, such as cloning, cropping, and sharpening, is permitted. However, the inclusion of additional elements to your original photo using background swaps or the use of cut-outs is not permissible
To request a place on the calendar, please use our request form or email a 3:2 JPEG copy of your photo (preferably watermarked) with a title and story of no more than 250 words, excluding any names of those with you at the time. Include page links and details of any specific calendar event at least sixty days ahead, as this will be published on the next monthly site update. Do state whether you’d like to have your entry deleted or archived at the end of its run.
Although one link will suffice, you’re allowed a maximum of two, e.g. one for your photo and the other for your name. We'll let you know when a slot becomes available. Your picture will then be posted with your name and photo linked to your requested site for free throughout that month. At the end of which, your image and details will either be deleted from our site or archived as per your instructions. Please note that all requests are received on a first-come, first-served basis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Regardless of any and all terms, you retain complete ownership of your images. You therefore have every right to say how they're to be used on this website and entitled to withdraw your entry or request its removal or deletion at any time, even after archiving. However you DO NOT have the right to swap a picture once it has been placed on the calendar. Should you request its removal before the end calendar date, you also forfeit any remaining time and all agreements made to show it.
Although editing is kept to a minumum, when it comes to the written word most of us don't have perfect grammer or spelling. Obvious mistakes can be picked up by any writing software but some, like Grammarly, are better at finding them than others (its why we use it). However, a story can also be edited to make room for advertising space, or if it exceeds the maximum two-hundred and fifty word limit.
No. Unless you specifically say so, any unmarked image destined for a place on the calendar will be watermarked for you. Should you wish to show your picture unmarked it will still be credited to you in the accompanying text along with any links you might have.
No, you don’t need to provide any links. You don’t need a personal website or Social Media account either. Your photo alone will do, but to gain any sort of online interest in your work as a photographer it's best to provide a link if you have one. At the very least you'll be required to provide a valid email address to link with your name and photo story.
The number of places available as well as the opening and closing times for submissions are published with the PotM at the bottom of the page. However, there's no guarantee that a place will still be there by the time you submit your request. They are simply granted on a first come, first served basis.
No, far from it. Your picture can reflect any time of the year regardless of the month you agree to show it. That's not to say that you can't make your photo as seasonal/occasional as you'd like it to be. If you've a preference for a particular month, or special time of the year then do let us know. We're always happy to help.
An event can be any announcement of a social gathering, group activity, special day, personal ad or promotion. You’re allowed a maximum of two events on the calendar for any time of the year which are only published as part of your PotM agreement.
Archiving means that your picture and links will be kept for future use as an example of a previous contributor. As well as the chance of receiving an invitation to show one of your pictures again, there's also the possibilty of having your photo and links featured in the Photo of the Month Gallery after its run on the calendar.
Only if they're willing to do the same for this website. One of the chief aims of this site is to network with those of similar interests. Check out our Links page. However, if its only a photo you wish to show then other than crediting you as the photographer; adding your events to the calendar and some watermarking, no further support will be given. In any case, it’s up to you to provide a picture respectable enough to encourage visitors to know more about you as a nature loverd/wildlife photographer.
Thank you for wanting to share your photo on this website. Please complete the following: