All PSA Chapters, PSA member camera clubs, and PSA member councils and federations are encouraged to serve as sponsors for the Youth Showcase. There are no limits on the number of high schools that may be sponsored by a PSA organization, but two participating PSA groups cannot sponsor separate entries from the same high school.

New sponsors contact the Youth Showcase director with a request to become a sponsor: ✉ Youth Showcase Director

The sponsoring organization identifies an individual to serve as the sponsor representative who works with the teacher. The representative will be responsible for submitting the entries from a school. The sponsor representative must submit a Sponsor Representative Certification form listing the participating schools. (Download from "Forms" tab)

• Entries from each high school are limited to sixteen images, eight prints in the print section and eight projected images in the projected section in six categories. (See tab for categories and their definitions)
• There are no entry fees.
• All entries from high school age students shall be submitted by the PSA sponsor representative. The sponsor or sponsor’s representative shall determine how the entries are selected and the date by which the entries are needed by the representative for submission to PSA before the showcase due date.
• A student may have no more than two prints and two projected entries.
• Any image containing a recognizable person must be accompanied by a showcase model release form. The exception to this is a photojournalism image showing crowds, spot news, sports events, or any public event. See forms tab for sample model release form.
• All projected images and prints, and all parts thereof, must be taken by the student. (No clip art, no stock images, etc.)
• An entrant’s photographic submissions must be from only one school.
• Each image must have a title. Use of “untitled” or numbering for a title is unacceptable. The maximum length of the title is 25 characters including spaces. The title cannot contain the following characters or else the image title will cause a fatal error when submitted.   ( ) ! , “ . / ? _ \ = ‘ $   These characters will be added by the Print or Projected Image Coordinator as needed.
  
  

There are two sections - prints and projected images, each with six categories. The six categories for each section are:

1. ARCH - Architecture (1 print and 1 projected image per school allowed in each section) - Architecture can be a building, bridge, ruins, or structure of any type. This category also includes any part of a structure, such as windows, doors, roofs, stairways, towers, domes, and walls.

2. PORA - People or Animals (1 print and 1 projected image per school allowed in each section) In this category an individual or group of people or animals, or combination of both, is acceptable. Animals may include pets, birds, fish, reptiles, or insects.

3. SCAP - Scapes (1 print and 1 projected image per school allowed in each section) A “scape” is a broad, scenic image of the land, wetlands, water, city, sea, or sky.

4. PJOU - Photojournalism (1 print and 1 projected image per school allowed in each section).  A photojournalism image depicts a story or news item and generally deals with current events, human interest, sports, weather events, or disasters. Note: In this category only, the image cannot be manipulated.

5. CCHOI - Color Photographer’s Choice (2 prints and 2 projected images per school allowed in each section) The choice category includes photos of any subject. The use of any creative photographic technique, photo manipulation, or software is acceptable. Photos in the color choice category must include at least two colors. Note: A monochrome image shall not be submitted in this color choice category.

6. MCHOI - Monochrome Photographer’s Choice (2 prints and 2 projected images per school allowed in each section) The choice category includes photos of any subject. The use of any creative photographic technique, photo manipulation, or software is acceptable. Photos in the monochrome choice category must include only one color. Generally “black and white” images are submitted to the monochrome choice category, but an “all-sepia” tone image or an image of only one color is also acceptable. Note: A monochrome image with any added color should be submitted to the color choice category.

• The image's longest dimension (vertical or horizontal) should be 2100 pixels.
• The image format is to be “jpg” at the highest setting.
• For best projection, images should be saved in the “sRGB” color space.
  
• All projected jpg files must be submitted by the Sponsor Representatives to the PSA website by midnight on the closing date - link
• The fillable entry form and the Sponsor Representative Certification Form must also be completed and uploaded on the entry link (above)

Questions? Contact the: youth-showcase-director@psa-photo.org

• The print may be no smaller than 5” x 7” and no larger than 8 ½” x 11” (either with or without a border).
• The print must be un-mounted.
  
• An printable entry form must be filled out for each student and must be included with each print.
• An online Print Entry form must be submitted by the Sponsor Representatives to the PSA website by midnight on the closing date - link
• Print the completed fillable entry form and obtain appropriate signatures.
• The bottom portion of that entry form must be detached and affixed to the back of the print.
• Mail the print entries and the top portion of the completed and signed fillable entry form for each print to the Print Coordinator.
• ALSO include the completed Sponsor Representative Certification Form in the mailing to the Showcase Director.

All print entries, the signed entry form and the Sponsor Representative Certification Form must be received by the Youth Showcase Director by the closing date.

Email: youth-showcase-print-director@psa-photo.org  for the address where the entry should be sent.

All appropriate print and projected entry forms must be fully completed to grant permission to PSA to reproduce the image for exhibit at the PSA Photo Festival, for showing in the Youth Showcase video program, for publication in the PSA JOURNAL and souvenir brochure, and for showing on the PSA website. The student’s parent or guardian must also sign the entry form if the student is under age 18. The student also certifies that all elements of the image are the work of the student.

The entry forms must contain the student’s or parent's home email address. A school email is not allowed. It must be the student’s or parent's home email so that contact can be made during the summer.

Sponsor Representative Certification Form: pdf - one form per sponsor, for both print and projected entries
Projected Entry Form: pdf (this form must be filled out in addition to the online entry of the images: link)
Print Entry Form:  pdf  (this form must be filled out in addition to the online entry of the image titles:  link )

A model release will be required if the image is a posed portrait and receives a Place Award or Honorable Mention. 
Model Release: pdf

• A “Best of Show” plaque and a $300 award will be sent to the photographer whose image is selected “Best of Show” from the six first-place images in both the print section and the projected.
• A $150 award will be sent to the other five first-place category photographers in each section.
• A $75 award will be sent to the six second-place category photographers in each section.
• A $50 award will be sent to the six third-place category photographers in each section.
• A $25 award will be sent to the three honorable mention photographers in the two “Choice” categories in each section.
• All award winners will be given a PSA Digital membership which includes receiving a monthly email notice on the availability of the online PSA JOURNAL.
  

• The six first-place prints and the six first-place projected images, along with each maker’s photo and short autobiography, will be published in the September issue of the PSA JOURNAL.
• The Youth Showcase print and projected award images will be displayed on the PSA website after the annual PSA Photo Festival.
• The award and accepted prints and projected images will be exhibited in the print exhibit hall at the annual PSA Photo Festival. The exhibited images will also be shown as a Youth Showcase video program during the PSA Photo Festival.
• All students with exhibited images will receive a Certificate of Participation and a souvenir Showcase brochure. Each teacher, PSA
  Sponsor, and the Sponsor Representative will also receive copies of the brochure and be given an opportunity to download the Youth Showcase video program.

Youth Showcase Handled Successfully by Elena McTighe appeared in the September 2006, PSA Journal and provides many ideas to help a PSA group participate.

Fox Valley Camera Club and PSA Youth Showcase from the December 2008, PSA Journal describes a more in-depth history of the PSA Youth Photography Showcase and shares the experiences of the Fox Valley Camera Club.

In 1992, the first "Outstanding Photographs from the Young Photographers" exhibition were selected and shown at the PSA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The exhibit included 55 prints selected from 200 entries from 35 high schools in six states sponsored by eight PSA Chapters and PSA member clubs and councils. That was the beginning of the PSA Youth Showcase which continues to grow.