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The Dean of Students Photo Contest

The Dean of Students Photo Contest is an annual, cash-prize contest for BYU students. The contest is an opportunity to showcase students' creative talent and to contribute to the look and feel of the Wilkinson Student Center (WSC).


Students submit photos in categories related to various aspects of student life. The photos are then judged by a panel of students and administrators. The winning photos are hung in the WSC with a brief description and the photographer's name.

Contest Information and FAQs

  • Click here to sign-up to receive updates about the contest and reminders about important dates!

  • To submit your photos for consideration in the contest, please follow the guidelines below:

    Who is eligible to enter?

    • The participant must be a student currently enrolled at BYU in order to be eligible to enter. 

    When to enter?

    • Submissions will be accepted from Monday, January 8th, 2024 at 8:00am to Sunday, February 4th, 2024 at 11:59pm.  

    How to enter?

    • Photos must be submitted as jpeg files. 
    • Only one photo per category will be accepted for the 2024 contest. Therefore, each student may submit a total of FIVE photos.
    • Photo submissions must be labeled with the student’s name and category as the file name.
      • For example, if the student’s name is 'Jay Smith' and they are submitting a photo to the 'Student Portraits' category, the photo should be titled “jaysmith_portrait.jpg.”
    • Please submit a submission form for each photo you are entering into the contest. This means that you can submit a total of five submission forms.

    Categories:

    • The five categories are listed and explained below in the section labeled "2024 Categories."
    • Students may submit one photo per category.

    Rules and Suggestions for Submitted Photos:

    • All aspects of the BYU Honor Code must be followed in photo submissions. Please make sure that the subjects within the photo follow BYU dress and grooming standards (i.e., no beards). This is rarely an issue; however, submissions have been turned down on occasion.
    • The photo must be taken by the person that is submitting the photo to the contest. In the case that a photographer is doing a self-portrait or needs to be included in the photo, they need to be the person that is setting up the shot and camera.
    • Photos should be student focused. Photos do not have to be on BYU campus or in BYU apparel but should show an aspect of student life. The importance of including a student subject in the photo has increased as the contest has continued to grow. For example, a photo of students hiking is appropriate, but a landscape photo without any people would likely not score as well in the judging process.
    • Photos may be edited to a reasonable degree (i.e., color, contrast, lighting, etc.) Drastic alterations (i.e., addition of individuals, removal of significant portions of the photo, etc.) are generally discouraged.
    • Color, black and white, sepia, etc. photos are acceptable.
    • Photos should be high quality, meaning that the photo can be blown up to a larger size without pixelation of the image content. Ideally, photos should try to be around 3000x4500px (this is not required, but please be aware of how the photo might look if it is made larger).  
    • Preference will be given to candid photos (except for portraits). 
    • Photos are not required to have been taken within a certain time frame or at a specific location; however, recent photos are preferred. For instance, photos do not need to have been taken within the 2024 academic year or on BYU campus. 
    • Photos from the previous year’s contest may be resubmitted.
    • All photos should be taken in a manner that follows best safety practices for the activity.

    Additional Information:

    • For your information, all submitted photos may be utilized by the university for various needs (i.e., websites, conference rooms, etc.). 
    • The Dean of Students reserves the right to deny any entry. 
    • Winners will be informed via email and invited to an awards luncheon in March to receive their award. 

    Thank you for your submissions!

  • There will be three cash prize winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) and three honorable mentions (4th, 5th, and 6th place) selected from each category. This adds up to 15 total cash prize winners, and if including honorable mentions, 30 total winners in the contest.

    Students can win up to one cash prize (either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in one category), one honorable mention, and the Best of Show award.

    The prize values for each category are as follows: 1st place receives $475, 2nd place receives $350, and 3rd place receives $150. Because 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place is awarded per category, this adds up to 15 total cash prize winners. The Best of Show winner will receive an additional $125 prize.

    See the section below titled “Judging Process" for more information on the judging process and the Best of Show element.

  • All photos submitted by the deadline (February 4th, 2024 at 11:59pm) will be reviewed by teams of employees and students. Judges will score the photographs in each category according to the criteria noted below:

    1. The photo is compliant with all aspects of the Honor Code. This criterion is binary, meaning that photos that do not comply with this rule will not be considered.
    2. The photo matches the feel of a student center (i.e., the photo is student-oriented). Photos do not have to be on BYU campus or in BYU apparel, but they should show an aspect of student life.
    3. The photo has appropriate exposure. Photos should have ideal brightness, including appropriate levels of detail in both the shadows and highlight areas.
    4. The photo is not pixelated. Photo pixelation should not inhibit a viewer’s ability to see the content or cause a lower quality appearance in printing. Winning photos will be printed at 2'x3' so photo submissions should be able to be blown up to that size. It is recommended that photos be around 3000x45000px to avoid the issue of pixelation.
    5. The photo has appropriate composition and focus. The arrangement of the forms within the photo should be pleasing to the eye and follow the rule-of-thirds, unless for a specific artistic reason. Focus should aid in framing the photo with intentional choice of which objects are sharp and which are blurred.
    6. The photo is relevant to the category. Preference will be given to photos that fit the category description.
    7. The photo is memorable. Photos should stick out among the submissions. Submissions are encouraged to be artistic, creative, and showcase the photographer’s style. Memorable photos may contain content that is especially beautiful, emotional, thought-provoking, etc.
    8. The photo follows all the listed submission rules. Photo submissions that fail to follow rules will be disqualified. *This criterion is binary, meaning that photos that do not comply with this rule will not be considered.
  • The Dean of Students Office and Wilkinson Student Center Services started the Dean of Students Photo Contest to celebrate the student experience and student art in the Wilkinson Student Center (WSC). In an effort to reduce the amount of random landscape artwork in the building, over one hundred pieces of artwork were removed from the WSC walls in 2017-2018, targeting works that did not relate to BYU or students. This created a need for new artwork/photos and the Dean of Students Photo Contest was started to fill the void.

    Fall semester of 2018 was the first year of the annual Dean of Students Photo Contest. Since then, student participation has contributed to almost one hundred new photos now displayed in the Wilkinson Student Center. We look forward to another year celebrating student work by showcasing photos that embody student life here at BYU.

  • Most photos are on the third floor surrounding the Terrace, between Women's Services and Resources and the BYU Store. Additional photos are on the second floor, placed between the CougarEat and the Ballrooms and around the East Lounge.

    Winning photos for this and upcoming years will be placed in available spaces throughout the building.

  • We would love your feedback. If you have any feedback for us, please fill out this short survey!

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Best of Show

Vote for your top 3 favorites
Voting closes on Wednesday,
March 20th at 11:59 pm
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Contact Us

Dean of Students Office
deanofstudents@byu.edu
(801) 422-2731
3500 WSC
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2024 Categories

Please read carefully under each of the five categories before submitting.
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Student Study & Experiential Learning

This category celebrates the spirit of exploration, innovation, and hands-on learning among students.

Participants are encouraged to showcase students engaged in experimental and experiential learning activities, such as scientific experiments, creative projects, research endeavors, or technological innovations.

The photos should capture the curiosity, ingenuity, and enthusiasm that accompany the learning through experimentation, inspiring others to embrace a similar approach to education.
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Student Belonging: Heritage and Culture

This category focuses on capturing the essence of students' connection to their heritage and culture.

It encourages students to showcase the diverse backgrounds and traditions that shape their identity. For example, photos of students engaged in cultural activities, wearing traditional attire, eating traditional food from their culture, or participating in ceremonies that celebrate their heritage.

The photos should evoke a sense of belonging, highlighting the richness and diversity of student cultures.
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Students & the Built Environment: BYU Campus & The State of Utah

This category is dedicated to capturing students in the built environment. Students are encouraged to explore Utah's streets, both on and off-campus, urban landscapes, and cityscapes, seeking out interesting moments and intriguing compositions.

The photos should showcase the energy and spirit of the state. Whether it’s capturing experiences on campus or the dynamic scenes from city streets, the goal is to capture the student’s experience with Utah’s built environment through compelling photography.
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Student Wellness

The Student Wellness category aims to spotlight the comprehensive well-being of students, covering their physical, mental, social, and emotional health.

In this category, participants are encouraged to submit photos that showcase students actively engaged in activities promoting wellness, self-care, and serving others. This could include images of students exercising, practicing mindfulness, engaging in sports, recreational activities, or engaging in service.

The goal is to capture moments of tranquility, rejuvenation, and the pursuit of a balanced lifestyle, while also inspiring viewers to prioritize their well-being and embrace a positive and healthy approach to both individual and community life.
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Students in Nature and on Adventure

The Students in Nature and on Adventure category invites participants to capture students immersed in nature and adventurous experiences.

Photos in this category could showcase students exploring natural landscapes, engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, or wildlife observation, or embarking on thrilling adventures that push their limits.

The photos should convey a sense of wonder, awe, and the transformative power of connecting with the natural world. They should inspire viewers to appreciate and protect the environment while embracing their own spirit of adventure.
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Category Guidelines

Students may submit ONE photo per category, adding up to FIVE possible submissions total per student.

Remember: photos that include student(s) do best in the judging and voting portions of the contest.
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Dean of Students Photo Contest Winning Photos
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019

Photo Wall 2022 - 2023

Every year, 30 pictures are chosen and are hung up in the Wilkinson Center on BYU campus.

Now, you also have the opportunity to showcase the extraordinary talent and creativity of our students from the 2022 - 2023 online. Take some time to go through the winning photos from last year and read about the stories behind the photos.

Partners