Professional Photos for Industry Awards Reminder

Some General Guidelines:

• Last year’s winner is not eligible to submit in the same category.
• Last year’s finalists/regional/top ten winners are eligible.
• You may not enter more than once in each category.
• Most categories are self-submitting for current RESA® members.
• Members must maintain their membership throughout the 2016 year.
• Members with ethics complaints or disciplinary actions in the last two years are not eligible.
• Submissions must be of an actual client staging and not an example of work done in the stagers own home or property.
• Submissions will be judged on the following:
  • The photo quality (clarity of the photo, proper lighting, was the same camera angle used for the Before photo as the After photo)
  • Does the staging highlight the focal point or architectural feature of the space?
  • Is the furniture layout done properly?
  • Is the proper scale of furnishings used in this space?
  • Is the color palette well balanced and appropriate?
• Photo submission – please limit the size to no more than 750 pixels wide.

Disqualifications:

• During the voting process, submissions are anonymous in round 1. If applicants are discovered soliciting votes from any other RESA® members/judges, they will be automatically disqualified.
• The Top 10 winners will be allowed to market their status starting Dec. 1st; however, they are not allowed to solicit votes from the judges. If a finalist is discovered soliciting votes from any judges, they will be automatically disqualified.
• Any photos submitted in previous RESA® competitions are not allowed.
• Any applicants discovered breaking any of the rules will be disqualified.

Applicants will submit: 

• Three (3) Before and After photos containing your best examples of stagings completed during the last 12 months. Photos will be unbranded.  No company watermarks or photographer watermarks, or information as to your identity or geographic location will be allowed.
• Company name, location, designations, memberships and website URL.
• Photo of yourself (jpg)
• Company logo (jpg)
• Essay: In 700 words or less, describe how you contributed to the home staging industry this year; you may include current participation in RESA® Leadership at the local, regional or national level; staging education to Realtors and homeowners; specific ways that you mentored new stagers this year; charitable staging projects; and other ways that you feel are noteworthy in helping advance the home staging industry both locally and nationally

Each Before and After photo must represent the same room.  You may submit one set of photos from one property and another set from a second property, or all sets may be from one property but of two different rooms that do not overlap in the photos.              

Photo editing allowed:

• Certain photo editing techniques may be used to enhance the photo; for example: photo frames,  color enhancement and drop shadows are allowed.
• Eliminating lamp cords with photo editing is allowed.

Photo editing not allowed:       

• Altering the view from windows is not allowed.
• Removing walls is not allowed.
• Watermarks of any kind are not allowed.
• You may not add accessories, light fixtures, change wall colors, or add furniture, etc.

Virtually staged photos:

• Neither virtually staged photos nor virtually edited photos are allowed. You may not add accessories, light fixtures, change wall colors, or add furniture, etc.