Awards guide · North America
Gold Nugget Awards Photo Guide: Image Rules, Deadlines and How to Enter
For entrants planning the photography for Gold Nugget Awards. Checked against PCBC and the California Building Industry Association (CBIA); administered by TeamPMP’s published rules on November 1, 2026.
The Gold Nugget Awards, presented by PCBC and CBIA, judge residential, mixed-use and commercial design and planning from across North America, with Canada named as eligible. The 2027 call is not published; the 2026 program closed June 1, 2026, cost US$325 per entry and held its gala on July 29, 2026. Under the 2026 rules, images are JPEGs at about 1800 × 1200 px and 300 ppi, with up to 12 images for most categories and 8 for kitchen and interior categories.
At a glance
| Gold Nugget Awards | |
|---|---|
| Organiser | Presented by PCBC and the California Building Industry Association (CBIA); administered by TeamPMP |
| Who can enter | Projects from throughout North America, including Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. Three International categories cover projects outside North America. |
| Eligible projects | 2026 program: open for sale, lease or rental, or occupied (with a certificate of occupancy), at any time after January 1, 2025. On the Boards entries need at least one government approval. |
| Exclusions | Previous Grand Award winners cannot re-enter the same category without distinct design changes; projects whose architect or builder sits on the judging panel are not eligible. |
| Entry platform | TeamPMP Awards Central (teampmpawardscentral.com) |
| Fee | US$325 per entry (2026 program) |
| Next deadline | Not published as of November 1, 2026. The 2026 deadline was June 1, 2026, 12:00 p.m. PST. |
Source: PCBC 2026: Gold Nugget Awards, 2026 GNA Categories & Requirements.
Key dates
| Date | |
|---|---|
| Entry deadline (2026 program) | June 1, 2026, 12:00 p.m. PST |
| Judging | June 23–25, 2026 |
| Award of Merit list posted | June 29, 2026 |
| Grand Awards gala | July 29, 2026, Gaylord Pacific Resort, Chula Vista, California (at PCBC) |
Photo requirements
| Rule | |
|---|---|
| File format | JPEG, saved at 300 ppi (2026 program). |
| Size and resolution | Approximately 1800 px wide × 1200 px high. |
| Orientation | The stated size is landscape (wider than high); there is no separate orientation rule. |
| How many | Up to 12 images for most building categories. Up to 8 for kitchen, primary suite, specialty room, interior merchandising and interior design categories (51–62), and for several site-planning categories such as Community Land Plan and Landscape Architecture. Up to 3 for On the Boards custom homes. |
| Required shots | Commercial and custom homes: at least 3 exteriors and 1 interior. Multifamily, affordable and 55+ communities: at least 3 exteriors and 2 interiors, plus overall community views. Single-family production homes: a front elevation and at least 4 interiors. |
| Before and after | Renovation categories: at least 1 “before” view, up to 4 befores and 6 to 8 afters, each labelled “before” or “after”. |
| Staging, renderings and AI | On the Boards entries may submit photographs or images of sketches or models, plus an optional video of up to 2 minutes with voiceover. No AI rule is published. |
| File names | Each file is named with the category number, entry number and a sequence number or description. |
| Credit and permissions | A photo release form is required whenever photography is submitted, signed by the owner of the photography or the holder of usage rights. |
Categories
The 2026 document numbers 69 categories in groups such as Commercial/Retail, Custom, One-of-a-Kind and Renovated Homes, Affordable, Multifamily, Seniors Housing, Site Planning, Single-Family Production Housing, Interior Design, Communities of the Year and International. Photo-heavy ones include the custom home size bands (8–11), Best Renovated or Restored Single House, the kitchen and primary suite categories, and Best Interior Design of a Custom or One-of-a-Kind Home.
How to enter
- Review the categories and requirements and confirm the project falls in the eligibility window.
- Complete the online entry application on TeamPMP Awards Central, with team credits, and pay US$325 per entry.
- Wait for the confirmation email with official entry numbers, forms and upload instructions.
- Prepare the Team/Project form, photo release form, floor plans, site plan where required, and images named by category, entry and sequence number.
- Upload all forms and materials by the deadline (12:00 p.m. PST on June 1 in 2026).
How entries are judged
- A Blue Ribbon panel of industry professionals judges every category; in 2026 judging ran June 23–25.
- Each category is scored to pick up to 5 Award of Merit honorees (finalists); the highest score wins the Grand Award, presented at the gala.
- Criteria vary by group. Single-family design: exterior design and curb appeal, interior design, floor plan and site plan. Custom and renovated homes add functional strengths, creative product and material use, and how well the design meets the client’s needs.
- Judges may give no award in a category, and may name a Home of the Year and Judges’ Special Awards of Excellence.
Planning the photography
- Shoot and deliver landscape frames: the stated file size is about 1800 px wide by 1200 px high at 300 ppi.
- Cover the exterior: most building categories expect at least 3 exterior views, and production homes need a front elevation.
- For renovations, take before photos from the start and label each file “before” or “after”; up to 4 befores and 6 to 8 afters are allowed.
- Name files with category number, entry number and sequence number, and have whoever owns the photo rights sign the release form.
Not in the published rules
As of November 1, 2026 the organiser’s public documents do not state:
- 2027 dates, fee and categories (no 2027 call on pcbc.com as of November 1, 2026)
- Maximum file size
- Rules on editing, virtual staging or AI-generated images
- Whether logos, names or people may appear in photos
- Whether judging is anonymous
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 Gold Nugget Awards rules (Approximately 1800 px wide × 1200 px high).
- 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
What are the photo requirements for the Gold Nugget Awards?
Under the 2026 Gold Nugget Awards rules, images are JPEGs at about 1800 × 1200 pixels and 300 ppi, named by category, entry and sequence number. Most building categories take up to 12 images, kitchen and interior categories up to 8, and a signed photo release form is required.
Can Canadian projects enter the Gold Nugget Awards?
Yes. The 2026 Gold Nugget Awards rules welcome entries from throughout North America, naming Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. Projects outside North America go in the three International categories.
When is the Gold Nugget Awards deadline?
The 2027 Gold Nugget Awards call has not been published as of November 1, 2026. In 2026 the deadline was June 1 at 12:00 p.m. PST, with the gala held July 29, 2026 at PCBC.
How much does it cost to enter the Gold Nugget Awards?
A Gold Nugget Awards entry cost US$325 per entry in the 2026 program. The 2027 fee has not been published.
This guide summarises PCBC and the California Building Industry Association (CBIA); administered by TeamPMP’s published rules and is not affiliated with PCBC and the California Building Industry Association (CBIA); administered by TeamPMP. The official documents take precedence.