categories

U.S. middle school

Middle School students may submit up to 3 PHOTOS in the Middle School Open category.

// Middle School Open Category – Choose any school-related topic. Student photographers must be a legal resident of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia; age 13 years or older, and a middle school or junior high student, grades 6-8.

U.S. high school

High School students may submit up to 3 PHOTOS per CATEGORY, a total of 30 PHOTOS. Student photographers must be a legal resident of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia; and a high school student.

HIGH SCHOOL 10 CATEGORIES:

// ACADEMICS & COMMUNITY SERVICE - Show students learning, in or out of the classroom. Includes academic subjects, electives, service, field trips, clubs and organizations.

// GRADUATION - Capture the emotion, color, and vibrancy of graduation day. Photos can be from the 2024 graduation if the photographer is enrolled in high school for the 2024-25 school year.

// PERFORMING ARTS - Artistic performers in action on the stage or at halftime or in a classroom, in a coffee house or garage, at practice or competition. Includes: theater, music, dance, and performance arts like step and drill team, magic, mime, and spoken word.

// PHOTO ILLUSTRATION & MANIPULATION - Pose or electronically enhance a topic or idea. Examples of electronic enhancement include using filters, altering colors, adding/removing objects or people or combining photos.

// PORTFOLIO - A set of three images that reflect the scope and depth of a student’s photojournalism work. Strong storytelling shown through creativity, composition, cropping visual impact, technical quality, and lighting. *Images may not be entered in any other category.

// PORTRAIT - Photos of a person or group of people that uses effective cropping, lighting, backdrops, and poses to capture the personality of a subject.

// SPORTS: ATHLETES IN ACTION - Capture athletes in any sport at the height of action wherever they are, including games, meets, training, practices and events.

// SPORTS: SIDELINES & SCHOOL SPIRIT - Show moments of action and reaction that capture emotion and school pride. Includes images of coaching moments, team bonding and fan reaction, often taken on the sidelines or in the audience/stands.

// STUDENT LIFE & TRADITIONS - Showcase school culture and traditions at whole-school events like pep rallies and fundraisers. Also includes individuals engaging in trends, interests, and social awareness.

// YEARBOOKERS IN ACTION - Go behind the scenes and capture the making of the yearbook. Photos of staff selling yearbooks, engaging in team-building activities, and traveling to workshops, in addition to working in the classroom, are all welcomed.

CANADA

Middle School and High School Canadian students may submit up to 3 PHOTOS in the Canada Open category.

// Canada Open Category - Choose any school-related topic. Photo must be taken and entered by a legal resident of the provinces or territories of Canada (excluding Quebec) AND a current middle school, junior high school, or high school student. All entrants must also be 13 years of age or older.

SEE FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for more details.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Entrants must be, as of the date of entry: (A) a legal resident of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, or Canada (excluding Quebec); and (B) a current middle school, junior high school, or high school student; and (C) 13 years or older (regardless of school grade). To clarify, for the criterion (A) above: (i) U.S. and Canadian citizens living abroad (i.e., not in their home country of the U.S. or Canada) meet this criterion; and (ii) foreign exchange and international students living in the U.S. and Canada, but who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens, do not meet this criterion and are not eligible. Anyone between the ages of 13 and 17 or who is under the age of majority in their state, province, or territory of residence (a “Minor”) must obtain the permission of his/her/their parent or legal guardian (“Guardian”) to enter. Entrants who are high school students may enter in all categories except the “Middle School & Junior High” category. Entrants who are middle school or junior high school students may only enter in the “Middle School & Junior High” category. The Jostens Photo Contest begins January 1 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on March 1.