The City of Venice is holding its fourth annual photography contest for its much-anticipated annual calendar that showcases the beauty and charm of our “City on the Gulf.”

Along with gorgeous images from local photographers, the annual calendar also provides residents and visitors with information on City Council and advisory board meetings throughout the year, special events, frequently used phone numbers, a map of City limits, photos of Council Members and Charter Officers, and more. A limited run of 5,000 calendars are distributed for free to citizens at the end of the year.

Rules for the City of Venice 2025 Calendar Photo Contest are below. If you are interested in submitting, please review all these rules thoroughly.

The 2024 City Calendar, pictured below, is available for review at the Information Center at Venice City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave.

COV 2025 CALENDAR PHOTO CONTEST RULES

• Images must be submitted as an attachment by email to: landerson@venicefl.gov. In the body of the email, photographers must include the following: full name, contact phone number, and description of photo including location where the image was taken, which must be in Venice City limits. Please make your subject line: “Calendar Photo Contest.”
• Entries must be received by Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Maximum of four photo submissions per entrant. Photos must have been taken no earlier than Jan. 1, 2023.
• Submitted images should be in color, at least 3 MB in size and in .JPG format. Paper entries or entries submitted on any portable media (CDs, flash drives, etc.) will not be accepted.
• Photos must be horizontal (landscape). Vertical (portrait) photos will be disqualified. The finished calendar will be full-color 8.5”x11”.
• Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. There is no cost to enter.
• Fifteen photos will be selected: the calendar’s front and back covers, 12 months of 2025, and January 2026.
• Photos containing provocative, violent, sexual, culturally or socially insensitive material will not be accepted. Photos that are discriminatory in any way will be disqualified. Copyrighted/trademarked photos will be disqualified.
• Photos should be of landscapes, architecture, nature, and/or wildlife that are indicative of Venice. We will not accept photos where people are the main subject, although they may be present in the background. Acceptable subjects include parks and beaches in the City of Venice, including the South Jetty and Fishing Pier; Venice Museum, Historic Train Depot, bridges and waterways in the City, Historic Downtown Venice (Miami, West Venice, and Tampa avenues), annual and holiday events, and Police and Fire Rescue assets. A note that Caspersen and Nokomis beaches and the Venice Rookery are NOT in Venice City limits. Chosen images will encompass a variety of seasons.
• Digital manipulation that changes the content or meaning of a photograph, including digitally removing photo content, is not allowed. Minor adjustments to brightness and color are acceptable.
• Professional and semi-professional photographers (or any photographers who earn money selling their photographs) are eligible and welcome to enter.
• The City of Venice assumes no responsibility for submissions. Selected images are used on a non-exclusive basis. The City retains the right to use submitted photos in any advertising and/or promotion it deems suitable, including its social media platforms and website.
• Entries will be evaluated based on appeal, content and photographic skill. Final photography choices will be selected by City of Venice staff. Winners will be notified in August 2024. The 2025 Calendar will be printed and distributed beginning in December 2024.