Awards guide · North America
NAHB BALA Awards Photo Guide: Image Rules, Deadlines and How to Enter
For entrants planning the photography for Best in American Living Awards (BALA). Checked against National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)’s published rules on November 1, 2026.
The Best in American Living Awards (BALA) are NAHB’s residential design awards for homes, communities, multifamily, remodelling and offsite construction, and accept entries from anywhere in North America, Canada included. NAHB membership is not required; the 2026 awards closed October 5, 2026 and winners are announced in February 2027. Each entry can include up to 15 high-resolution photos, and any identifying information on photos or plans means disqualification.
At a glance
| NAHB BALA Awards | |
|---|---|
| Organiser | National Association of Home Builders (NAHB); sponsored by SMEG |
| Who can enter | Anyone; NAHB membership is not required but lowers the fee. Entries are accepted from all of North America in every category, so Canadian projects qualify. |
| Eligible projects | Homes completed or first model opened between January 1, 2024 and September 21, 2026. Communities or phases need at least 50% of units and 50% of infrastructure complete by September 21, 2026. A project can win only once per category. |
| Entry platform | Online application linked from nahb.org; electronic entries only, paid by credit card |
| Fee | US$300 for NAHB council members, US$325 for NAHB members, US$350 for non-members, per entry (2026 awards). No refunds. |
| Next deadline | Not published. The 2026 awards closed October 5, 2026. |
Source: Best in American Living Awards (BALA) page, BALA Categories and Eligibility.
Key dates
| Date | |
|---|---|
| Entries open (2026 awards) | June 22, 2026 |
| Entries close | October 5, 2026 |
| Winners announced | February 2027 |
Photo requirements
| Rule | |
|---|---|
| Size and resolution | High-resolution images only. No pixel minimum is published. |
| How many | Up to 15 photos per entry. The number required varies by category and is shown in the application. |
| Required shots | For categories that are not strictly interior, at least 2 exterior and 4 interior photos are highly recommended; entries without enough exterior photography may be removed from consideration. |
| Before and after | Before and after photos are required in all remodelling categories, with at least 1 before photo. |
| Staging, renderings and AI | On-the-boards entries submit renderings and architectural drawings instead of photographs. No rule on virtual staging or AI is published. |
| Editing | Images must accurately and truthfully reflect the design. Technical enhancements that improve the image are allowed if they do not alter the components of the design. |
| Logos, names and people | Judging is anonymous: entries with identifying information on photos or plans are disqualified. |
| Captions and video | Brief captions describing what is shown are recommended. An optional video upload or link is available. |
| Credit and permissions | Entrants must accept NAHB’s photo, image and content release in the application before it can be completed. |
Categories
The 2026 requirements list 66 numbered categories in Design, Multifamily, Remodeling, Community, Specialty and Offsite Construction groups (NAHB’s categories page says more than 70). Photo-heavy ones include the custom and production home size bands, kitchen, primary suite and specialty room categories, Best Outdoor Room/Living Space, and the remodelled kitchen and bath budget bands.
How to enter
- Check the eligibility dates and pick the category; the same project may go into several categories.
- Start the online application and enter the project details.
- Upload up to 15 professional-quality colour photos, with brief captions.
- Upload floor plans (all categories except Design Detail), plus before plans and photos for remodelling.
- Accept the photo and content release and pay by credit card; the entry is not final until payment is received.
How entries are judged
- Judged by industry experts, including builders, architects, designers and land planners from across the country.
- Anonymous: judges receive no information about the project team, and a judge who recognises a project must recuse from that category.
- Judges may give more than one award in a category in a tie, or no award if entries do not meet quality requirements, and may move an entry to a better-fitting category without penalty.
Planning the photography
- Cover the exterior: at least 2 exterior and 4 interior photos are highly recommended, and entries without enough exterior photography may be removed.
- For remodels, photograph the space before work starts; at least 1 before photo is required in every remodelling category.
- Keep signs, logos and firm names out of frame and off plans, since identifying information leads to disqualification.
- Plan a set of 15 images or fewer, and keep retouching to technical fixes that do not change the design.
Not in the published rules
As of November 1, 2026 the organiser’s public documents do not state:
- Dates and fees for the next awards cycle
- File format, pixel dimensions or maximum file size
- Orientation rules
- File-naming rules
- Whether people may appear in photos
- Judging criteria or scoring weights
- The exact per-category photo minimums (shown only inside the application)
Check the entry platform or ask the organiser before the shoot.
How I photograph awards entries
I’m an architectural and interior photographer based in Richmond, working across Metro Vancouver and, with published travel fees, the rest of BC. For an awards entry the brief comes from the rules:
- A shot list built from the categories you are entering, with an image for each thing the judges score.
- Real spaces, no virtual staging, and edits limited to normal correction of exposure, colour and verticals.
- Files delivered to the programme’s spec: files exported to the NAHB BALA Awards rules (High-resolution images only. No pixel minimum is published).
- A ready credit line (“Photography: Travis Zhang”) and a licence that covers the organiser’s promotional use of winning images.
- Published prices: CA$1,100 for a half day with 12 finished images, or CA$2,000 for a full day with 20 images including twilight, plus 5% GST. Details are in the cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos can I submit to the Best in American Living Awards?
Best in American Living Awards entries can include up to 15 photos, and only high-resolution images should be submitted. The required number varies by category and is shown in the application; NAHB highly recommends at least 2 exterior and 4 interior photos for non-interior categories.
Can Canadian projects enter the BALA awards?
Yes. NAHB says the Best in American Living Awards accept entries from all of North America in every category. NAHB membership is not required, though members pay a lower fee (US$325 versus US$350 for non-members in 2026).
When is the BALA awards deadline?
The 2026 Best in American Living Awards opened June 22 and closed October 5, 2026, with winners announced in February 2027. NAHB has not yet published the next deadline.
Can BALA photos be edited?
Best in American Living Awards photos must accurately and truthfully reflect the design. Technical enhancements are allowed only if they do not alter the components of the design, and any identifying information on photos leads to disqualification.
This guide summarises National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)’s published rules and is not affiliated with National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The official documents take precedence.