The contest is now closed. Thank you so much to everyone who entered!

Each year, California Pacific Medical Center’s BabySteps and our Lactation Consultants at Newborn Connections reach out to educate, connect, and appreciate local breastfeeding families.

After the grand success of last year’s World Breastfeeding Week Celebration, this year we are hosting a Bay Area photo contest recognizing the importance of breastfeeding in our community.

Judged by a panel of professional, creative, and compassionate women, 5 finalists and 1 grand prize winner will be chosen!

The grand prize winner’s photo will be featured in a Pottery Barn Kids catalog and the potterybarnkids.com website. All winners will receive $500.

It’s free and easy to enter!

CRITERIA

Participation constitutes full and unconditional agreement to, and acceptance of, the Official Rules. California Pacific Medical Center’s BabySteps’ ("CPMC BabySteps") Bay Area’s Happiest Breastfed Baby Photo Contest ("Contest") is open only to legal residents of the United States who meet all of the following conditions:

Official Rules

18 years of age or older; and
The parent or legal guardian of a child who (a) is breastfeeding at the time the Contest entry is submitted and (b) is the subject of the entrant’s photo submission.

To enter the Contest, you must register online and must submit one (1) current, nonprofessional photograph for each BREASTFED child, taken by you or at your discretion, showing your child’s photogenic quality and appearance.

The child in the photograph must have been breastfed for all or part of 2/1/09 – 3/31/09 (the entry period).

While the child MUST BE BREASTFED at the time of the contest entry period, any pictures submitted with the child breastfeeding in the picture will be disqualified.

The child must be the sole subject of the photograph. All group photos will be disqualified.

You must be the parent or legal guardian of the child depicted in the photo, and photos must be taken by the entrant, must be unpublished, and may not have won any prize or award.

Photos must be in .jpeg, .bmp, .gif, or .tiff image formats and cannot exceed 3 MB.

LIMIT: One entry per household, per eligible child. For entries of more than one child, the entry process must be separate for each child. No group entries.

OFFICIAL RULES: Additional details and the Contest’s Official Rules are available here.

The Contest will run from February 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009. Subject to limit below, any and all of the photographs submitted by an entrant are eligible to win. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m., P.S.T., on March 31, 2009. Entries become the property of CPMC BabySteps, 1046 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 94133 (“Sponsor”) and will not be acknowledged or returned. Any photograph entered after the March 31, 2009 deadline is considered ineligible.

If you have any trouble uploading your photos please don't hesitate to contact Britt Gerhard.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How many winners are there in this contest?
The total number of winners is 6.

2. Who can enter?
Any family that lives in San Francisco City and County, Marin County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, or San Mateo County is welcome to enter their child in the contest. The child in the photograph must have been breastfed for all or part of 2/1/09 – 3/31/09.

3. Can I enter over the Internet?
Yes! Please see the Official Rules.

4. Can I submit professionally taken photos, or headshots from agencies?
No. In addition, you must own the copyrights to any photos you submit.

5. Are there any limitations on the age of the child in the picture?
No, but the child must be breastfed during the contest entry period (between February 1, 2009 and March 31, 2009).

6. What is the selection process like?
A panel of 5 women (with no vested interest in who wins) carefully views every photo with no prejudice in regard to sex, race, or age. Once all the photos are in, each judge gets to choose as many photos as she wants. Then a selection process will take place over a period of several days. All judges will come together through this process to reach a group decision on the final winners. The judges are committed to being impartial and to choosing winners of a wide variety. Winners will be notified between April 1, 2009 and April 30, 2009. All judges’ decisions are final.

7. Will I get my photographs back?
No. As a standard practice, your photographs will not be returned.

8. Can I submit photos of breastfeeding twins or tandem nursing in a single photo?
No. Even though the child must be breastfeeding during the contest entry period, the child cannot be breastfeeding in the photograph itself. Any photograph that includes a child breastfeeding will be disqualified.

9. How would I know if my child has won immediately after judging?
When the judges complete their judging, winners will be notified via email. Winners will be posted on www.cpmcbabysteps.org by April 30, 2009.

10. Any tips to give me a better chance to win the prize?
Yes, we will be delighted to help you! A good quality photo will aid the judges in making a better judgment. Please ensure that the photo is clear and not blurry or grainy. Lighting will make a big difference. Photos that are too light or washed out or too dark and shadowy may lack definition and contrast. No group photos are allowed, so make sure your child is the only subject captured.