For the past 18 years, Bousquet Holstein has hosted this photography contest as part of our ongoing efforts to support education and the arts in our community. Some past winners and finalists of the contest have gone on to study photography in college, and some have made photography a career after graduation.
Please read through all instructions carefully regarding how to submit student images and how to participate.
18th Annual Contest Theme
We're excited to announce that our theme for 2026 is “Life in Focus: Capturing the Human Story”.
Photography has long been a powerful tool used for storytelling. It shapes how we see the world, understand each other, and define moments in history. The six pioneering women featured in the Everson’s exhibit “LIFE: Six Women Photographers” used their cameras to document life in all its complexity – from global events to intimate, everyday experiences. Their images reveal not only what was happening, but how it felt to witness it.
This year's theme invites you to explore the quiet or powerful moments that define what it means to be human. Through your lens, seek out the emotions, connections, and experiences that often go unnoticed in everyday life.
Students are encouraged to highlight authenticity. Consider how a single image can tell a deeper story about life and shared humanity. Transform ordinary moments into meaningful narratives that resonate beyond the frame.
How to Enter
2026 submissions will open in Spring 2026.
High school students (9-12) in Onondaga and Tompkins Counties are eligible to enter. Student must be enrolled in high school for the Fall 2025 semester in order to be eligible for this contest. Students are not required to be in a photography or art class in order to participate.
Students can submit their photos using our Google Form
Here's everything you'll need to enter the contest:
Students can submit up to seven photos. We recommend that students collect their photographs, subject release forms, and entry forms before submitting their entries.
Winners and Finalists
All entries will be judged on composition, imagination, relevance to theme, and creativity of content by a panel of artists, staff, and attorneys at Bousquet Holstein PLLC.
Our judges will review all photographs submitted and select 20 finalists, including our first, second, and third place winners. The 20 finalists, their families and teachers will be notified and invited to an exclusive finalist reception hosted at the Everson Museum, where we will showcase their photographers and announce our winners. The place winners will receive their scholarships at the ceremony. This event will take place in early November, before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The 1st place winner will receive a $500 scholarship and their school's art/photography class will also receive $500. The first-place photograph will also be featured on the cover of the firm's annual Thanksgiving card – sent to over 7,000 of the firm's clients and colleagues. The 2nd place winner will receive a $300 scholarship, and the 3rd place winner will receive a $200 scholarship.
Contact
We are committed to making this contest as accessible as possible for students and teachers. If you have any questions or hiccups while trying to submit photographs, please do not hesitate to contact us at BHMarketing@bhlawpllc.com
Student Photographer Acknowledgement
By entering the Bousquet Holstein High School Photography Contest, student photographers approve and authorize Bousquet Holstein PLLC to publish, print, display, and distribute photographs in Bousquet Holstein printed publications, photo contest materials, social media, internal office galleries, and the firm's website. Participation in the contest is voluntary, and therefore, understood that the use of student images on social media, publications, marketing materials, holiday cards, and websites produced by Bousquet Holstein PLLC is also voluntary, and students will receive no financial compensation.
To view our past finalists/winners for inspiration, please view the links below: