The 2026 Calendar Photo Contest - OPEN NOW!

The Calendar Photo Contest for 2026 will begin accepting photo submissions on April 14, 2025 via our dedicated photo submission site.  Entries will close on May 23, 2025.

To submit photos, CLICK HERE    (You'll be taken to our online, dedicated photo database submission site)

Please read the information and suggestions below.

SUBMISSION INFO (technical):

You can only submit one photo at a time. But you can submit up to 25 individual photos. Photos of purebred PWDs from anywhere in the world are welcome. 

** Important File-naming Instructions: All images *must* be re-named prior to submission. Use your last name followed by the dog's name -- and then add a number to the end if submitting multiple images.

Examples of properly named image files for submission: HardingFluffy1.jpg; HardingFluffy2.jpg.

** Submit photos as jpegs.

** Do NOT resize your own photographs. Submit originals and let us resize. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

** Submit your photos at their full resolution (high resolution).

Remember that professional printing presses need a higher-resolution than desktop printers. And even though a photo looks wonderful on your computer screen, it doesn’t mean it is of print quality. Ideally, we're looking for high resolution images.

INFO TO HELP YOU SELF-ASSESS YOUR PHOTOS:

We have no pre-set specifics for photos to be used.  Each photo is judged on its individual merit. Photos of purebred PWDs from anywhere in the world are welcome.  Here’s some information to help you self-assess your photos prior to submitting them:

Photos we’re NOT likely to select:

- Is the background cluttered and distracting, and thus detracts from the dog? (cluttered photos aren't likely to be used)

- Are there deep shadows in the photo (which will not print well) that obscure the dog or essential elements of the background?

- Is the dog dressed in clothing? (We do not typically use photos with dogs that are dressed in anything more than a bandanna at most; harnesses and life vests for water work are okay)

- Are there dogs in the photo that aren't PWDs? (we don't use photos that have other breeds in them)

- Are there people in the photo? (since the calendar is celebrating the PWD, we don't use photos that include people or parts of people)

- Is the photo shot at dog level or is the angle disorienting?

- Conformation show win photos (unless they are candid show ring photos without people, or parts of people, in them)

In this age of Photo Manipulation and digital enhancements, please note that the Nutmeg PWD Club calendar has always been committed to the most natural photographs possible.  Our agency designers may brush out a leash or collar tag, and we always crop to the dog, but that is largely the extent of what we do and what we permit.   We appreciate the skills that you and your photographers may have in turning a photograph into a work of digital art, but this is not a Photoshop competition and we will not use highly manipulated images.  Things that will disqualify a photo include, but aren’t limited to:

Anything that changes the dog itself – color, conformation, position, haircut, tail position, etc.

The placement of the dog in a different background

Adding, removing, or moving of objects in the photo other than those that are eliminated by a simple crop of the image

Color changes and adjustments that change the hue, contrast, and/or saturation levels so that the content of the image is significantly altered.  NOTE: Simple conversion of a photo to grayscale without other manipulation is permitted.

Other criteria we use in the judging process are:

1. Would anyone be able to tell that this is a PWD by looking at the photo?

2. Does the dog in the photo depict the breed accurately?

3. Will people enjoy looking at this photo for 30 days?

4. Is the dog in the photo the focus of the photo? The photo needs to be more than a beautiful photo that happens to have a PWD in it.  The photo needs to showcase the PWD (and be beautiful, well-composed, etc.)

5. Is the photo crisp, clear and clean?  Is it a high resolution photo? [Cell phone photos, unless the phone has high resolution and has been set to that high resolution, will normally not be suitable for *print* – even if the photos display well on screen]

6. Is there "drama" or "tension" in the composition of the photo?  Does the photo tell a mini-story?

If your photos fit well with the above criteria, please submit them.  We always enjoy getting photos that show active dogs doing some kind of work/task/play.  Over the years, we've had a lure-coursing PWD, a hunting PWD and a flyball PWD so we're open to anything.  As long as a photo is well-composed and meets the rest of the criteria, it stands a good chance of being selected, be it an action shot, or a head shot, a tender, quiet moment, or a fun moment.

Remember, proceeds from calendar sales are donated to The Portuguese Water Dog Foundation for canine health research.  Over the years we’ve donated $57,000.  It’s YOUR photos that allow us to create and sell the calendar and support this worthy cause.  So, please, take a few minutes and submit your photos!  Thanks!

Have questions? Please email:  NutmegPWD@aol.com