The San Francisco Peninsula Photo Contest
The San Francisco Peninsula invites photographers of all levels to enter our FREE 2026 Magazine Photo Contest! Capture the stunning beauty of our Bayside region for a chance to win the grand prize of $3,000 and potentially see your work featured on the cover of our 2026 Magazine. This contest runs from December 5, 2025 through January 14, 2026, and challenges photographers to showcase the Peninsula's breathtaking Bayside scenery—from Brisbane to Mountain View.
Think golden hour glow, blue hour drama, sweeping vistas, even views from the sky! Whether you're shooting from Sweeney Ridge, San Bruno Mountain, or capturing aerial perspectives with a drone, we're looking for wide-angle images that celebrate the natural beauty of our Bayside communities, waterfront parks, and bay-to-hills vistas. View our 2025 magazine for more inspiration!
CONTEST DETAILS
Grand Prize
- $3,000 + potential magazine cover feature + social media feature
Honorary Second Prize
- $1,000 + potential magazine feature + social media feature
Judging
How to Enter
- Please submit your photos via our Google Form no later than 11:59 pm PST on January 14, 2026.
Important Dates
- Contest runs from December 5 - January 14
- Top three finalists announced on February 1
- Winner announced on February 5
CREATIVE DIRECTION
- Time of Day: Photos are ideally captured at dawn or dusk (or whenever you think a scene looks best).
- Subject Matter: Wide-angle or aerial shots (preferably vertical or croppable) showcasing the Peninsula's Bayside towns/communities, waterfront parks, or bay-to-hills scenery. Think grand views that showcase the Bayside in its entirety, from vantage points up on Sweeney Ridge, San Bruno Mountain State Park, Skyline Blvd, drone photos, etc.
- Visual Style: Vibrant, yet natural colors that capture the region's distinctive light and atmosphere.
- Drone Photography: Aerial images are welcome and encouraged (please obtain proper clearance in certain areas).
NEED TO KNOW
Eligibility
- Open to amateur and professional photographers aged 18 and older.
- Entrants must own full copyright to images submitted.
- Photos must be taken within the Peninsula's Bayside region (coastside, photos of the city of San Francisco, of the East Bay, etc., will not be considered).
Submission Guidelines
- One entry per person
- Editing (exposure, color correction, cropping) is permitted
- High resolution images at 300 dpi
- Images must be under 100mb for submission in JPG, PNG, or TIFF formats (if selected as a finalist/winner you will be contacted for highest resolution)
Winner Notification
- Winner will be contacted via email
- Prize must be claimed within 14 days of notification
Rights and Usage
- By submitting, you grant The San Francisco Peninsula permission to share your images on social media for contest promotion purposes with proper photo credit. All other uses—including print, marketing materials, or advertising—require your explicit written permission.
- All finalists have a chance to be featured in the 2026 San Francisco Peninsula Magazine. Finalists retain copyright but grant The San Francisco Peninsula a non-exclusive license to use their images in the magazine if selected and promotional materials.
- Photo credit will be provided if/when images are published across social platforms and within magazine.
Questions?
Contact our Creative Manager alex@thesfp.com or visit www.thesanfranciscopeninsula.com/contest for complete contest details and submission form.
The Finer Print
BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, YOU ARE ACCEPTING AND AGREEING TO ALL RULES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS ("RULES"). The contest is open to participants regardless of residence or citizenship, so long as the laws of their jurisdiction allow participation. Employees of The San Francisco Peninsula are not eligible to participate. Photo submissions must be uploaded by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on January 14, 2026. Please review the FULL PHOTO CONTEST RULES above before entering. Good luck!
Visual Inspiration Below
