Awards guide · Alberta & Saskatchewan
BILD Calgary Region Awards Photo Guide: Image Rules, Deadlines and How to Enter
For entrants planning the photography for BILD Calgary Region Awards. Checked against BILD Calgary Region’s published rules on November 1, 2026.
The BILD Calgary Region Awards (2026 program) are open only to BILD Calgary Region members, for projects completed or running in 2026 in the Calgary region. Entries opened October 23, 2026 and close January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. MST, at $315 + GST per entry. Photos must be high-definition JPEGs at 16:9, horizontal only and at least 2,000 px, and single-family homes are scored mostly on seven required room shots.
At a glance
| BILD Calgary Region Awards | |
|---|---|
| Organiser | BILD Calgary Region (BILDCR) |
| Who can enter | BILD Calgary Region members in good standing. New home (NH) entries need a Builder Member; renovator awards also need RenoMark membership. |
| Where | Projects in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, High River, Okotoks, Strathmore, Foothills County or Rocky View County |
| Eligible projects | Completed or running January 1 to December 31, 2026, and not entered in the BILDCR Awards before |
| Entry platform | Awards Force (bildcr.awardsplatform.com) |
| Fee | $315 + GST per entry; Partner Awards (PT) $475 + GST; Grand Awards free. Credit card only, at checkout. |
| Entry limits | Single-family: 10 entries per company. Multi-family: 10 across the multi-family categories. Renovator: 12 per company, no more than 3 from one address. |
| Next deadline | January 15, 2027, 11:59 p.m. MST (2026 program) |
Source: 2026 BILDCR Awards homepage, BILDCR Awards 2026 Submission Guide.
Key dates
| Date | |
|---|---|
| Entries open (2026 program) | October 23, 2026 |
| Deadline | January 15, 2027, 11:59 p.m. MST (no exceptions) |
| Round 1 judging (online) | February 1–12, 2027 |
| In-person judging of single-family finalists; renovator check | March 1–5, 2027 |
| Finalists published | March 22, 2027 |
| Awards gala | May 1, 2027, BMO Centre, Calgary |
Photo requirements
| Rule | |
|---|---|
| File format | High-definition JPEG. The guide lists JPEG or PNG as preferred; the single-family criteria say JPEG. No web-resolution images. |
| Size and resolution | At least 2,000 pixels in width or height, at 72 DPI or higher. Any file-size limit is set in the Awards Force portal. |
| Orientation | 16:9 aspect ratio, horizontal only. Vertical photos are not used in the finalist and winner videos. |
| How many | Single-family (NH) and multi-family home (MH): 7 required images plus up to 5 optional, 12 at most. Interior decorating, single family (AD10): at least 7 colour images plus up to 6 optional. Renovation: up to 10 before and 20 after (whole-home) or 6 before and 15 after (room categories). |
| Required shots | Single-family and multi-family home: front exterior, foyer or entrance, kitchen, dining area, main living room, primary bedroom, ensuite or main bathroom. AD10: front foyer, bathroom, kitchen, dining room, living room, main bedroom, and a secondary bedroom or den/bonus room. |
| Before and after | Renovation entries need before and after photos, taken from the same spot in the house where possible. One optional walkthrough video of up to 2 minutes, with no branding. |
| Staging, renderings and AI | Renderings are not accepted in most categories. Single-family virtual staging is allowed only if every staged image is identified, the unstaged original is also submitted, nothing permanent is changed, and staged items are priced on the Price Specification Sheet. Multi-family home: staging must be declared. No AI-specific rule is published. |
| Editing | No retouching limit beyond the staging rules. The entry tips ask for photos that are well lit and true to real-life colour and scale. |
| Logos, names and people | Brand-blinded: remove company names, logos, watermarks, signage, website addresses, social handles and branded décor from photos and plans. Product images must be unmarked, with no logos or borders. |
| Credit and permissions | The entrant confirms the photos are by its employees or that an independent photographer gave written consent, and must give the photographer’s name. A signed homeowner waiver is required for every renovation entry and for owner-occupied new homes. |
Categories
The 2026 program has 11 groups: Advertising & Marketing (AD1–AD11), Development, Innovation, Multi-Family Community, Multi-Family Design, Multi-Family Home, New Home (13 price bands, NH1–NH13), Partner, Renovation (RN1–RN9), Sales Centre and Sales Team. The most photo-driven are New Home, Multi-Family Home, Renovation and Best Interior Decorating (AD10 and AD11).
How to enter
- Confirm the entrant is a BILD Calgary Region member in good standing (Builder Member for new homes, RenoMark member for renovations).
- Read the 2026 Submission Guide and the criteria sheet for each category on bildcr.com; if they differ, the Awards Force criteria apply.
- Log in to Awards Force (bildcr.awardsplatform.com) or create an account, then click Start Entry.
- Fill in every mandatory field and upload the blinded photos, floor plan, Price Specification Sheet, homeowner waiver and proof of permit.
- Add each finished entry to the cart and pay by credit card; an entry counts only after checkout.
- Edit entries as needed until January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. MST.
How entries are judged
- An independent panel, including professionals from outside Alberta and people from outside the industry, judges the entries; BILDCR staff do not judge, and Doane Grant Thornton reviews the results.
- Single-family homes are judged in two stages: 10 to 12 out-of-market judges per category score online, then the top 10 in each NH category are judged in person by a separate panel whose scores decide the winners.
- Single-family weighting: front exterior, foyer, kitchen, main living room, primary bedroom and ensuite photos 10% each; special features 10%; floor plan 10%; 150-word project summary 20%.
- Renovation entries are anonymous and judged online on category fit, challenges, special features, integration, value and overall impact; their pricing is also reviewed.
Planning the photography
- Compose every frame for a 16:9 horizontal crop: vertical photos are not used in the finalist and winner videos.
- Give each of the six scored rooms its strongest single frame, because in single-family entries each of those required photos is worth 10% of the score.
- Clear signage, logos and branded décor before shooting, since the competition is brand-blinded and identifying details can lead to a penalty or disqualification.
- If a home is virtually staged, label every staged image, keep the unstaged original for submission, and list the added furniture so it can be priced on the Price Specification Sheet.
- For renovations, shoot the after photos from the same spots as the before photos, within 10 before and 20 after for whole-home entries.
Not in the published rules
As of November 1, 2026 the organiser’s public documents do not state:
- Maximum file size (set inside the Awards Force portal)
- Whether people may appear in photos
- Any rule on AI-generated or AI-edited images
- File-naming rules
- The 2027 program (next cycle)
Check the entry platform or ask the organiser before the shoot.
Using this as a photo brief
I photograph architecture and interiors in British Columbia, so for a project outside BC this page works best as a brief for a local architectural photographer. Send them the photo rules above, the categories you plan to enter and the deadline, and ask for:
- A shot list built from the category criteria, one image for each thing the judges score.
- Files exported to the BILD Calgary Region Awards spec, already named and counted per category.
- A licence that covers the organiser’s promotional use of winning images, plus a ready credit line.
The awards photo calendar lists the other programmes the same photos can be re-exported for.
Frequently asked questions
When is the BILD Calgary Region Awards deadline?
Entries for the 2026 BILD Calgary Region Awards close January 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. MST, with no exceptions. Entries opened October 23, 2026, and you can edit them on Awards Force until the deadline.
What are the photo requirements for the BILD Calgary Region Awards?
BILD Calgary Region asks for high-definition JPEGs at 16:9, horizontal only, at least 2,000 pixels in width or height at 72 DPI or higher. Single-family and multi-family home entries take 7 required images plus up to 5 optional, 12 at most, with all logos and branding removed.
Is virtual staging allowed in the BILD Calgary Region Awards?
In the 2026 BILD Calgary Region single-family awards, virtual staging is allowed only if every staged image is identified, the unstaged original is also submitted, and nothing permanent is altered. Staged furnishings must be priced on the official Price Specification Sheet; undisclosed staging can lead to return, penalty or disqualification.
How much does it cost to enter the BILD Calgary Region Awards?
The 2026 BILD Calgary Region Awards cost $315 + GST per entry, except Partner Awards at $475 + GST; Grand Awards are free. Entries are paid by credit card through Awards Force.
This guide summarises BILD Calgary Region’s published rules and is not affiliated with BILD Calgary Region. The official documents take precedence.