CAPTURE CARIBBEAN TERMS OF SERVICE
FIRST WAVE CHALLENGE + SUBMISSION PLATFORM TERMS
Last Updated: February 16, 2026
Effective Date: February 16, 2026
These Terms of Service (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you, whether personally or on behalf of an entity (“you,” “user,” “Entrant”), and Capture Caribbean, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (“Company,” “we,” “us,” “our”), concerning your access to and use of:
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SERVICES, YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS. If you do not agree with all of these Terms, you are expressly prohibited from using the Services and must discontinue use immediately.
Supplemental terms and documents that may be posted on the Services from time to time, including but not limited to the Capture Caribbean First Wave Challenge Official Rules (the “Official Rules”) and our Privacy Policy, are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
If there is any conflict between these Terms and the Official Rules regarding eligibility, judging, verification, credential issuance, prizes, contest structure, or administration of the Challenge, the Official Rules shall control.
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to make changes or modifications to these Terms at any time and for any reason. We will alert you about changes by updating the “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the Services after revised Terms are posted constitutes your acceptance of those changes.
You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to use the Services and to participate in the First Wave Challenge.
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Use of the Services and participation in the First Wave Challenge is void where prohibited or restricted by applicable law.
You represent and warrant that:
Global Availability; Restricted Jurisdictions. The Services are intended to be available worldwide; however, participation in the First Wave Challenge and any paid contest functionality is open worldwide except where prohibited by law. We reserve the right to restrict access, refuse participation, or disqualify any user from any jurisdiction where skill-based contests with entry fees are prohibited, restricted, or legally ambiguous, including sanctioned jurisdictions.
Sanctions Compliance. You may not use the Services if you are located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any country subject to U.S. sanctions or embargoes, or if you are listed on any government restricted party list.
We may refuse access to the Services to any person, at any time, in our sole discretion.
The Services include access to the Capture Caribbean First Wave Challenge (the “Challenge”), a skill-based contest.
Participation is governed by these Terms and the Official Rules.
You acknowledge and agree:
You acknowledge that the First Wave platform environment is a live launch and stress-test environment.
Features, user interface elements, upload tools, payment flows, scoring systems, and display formats may be modified, refined, or adjusted during the Challenge period.
You agree that:
To access contest features, you must register an account.
You agree to:
We may remove or modify usernames that are misleading, unlawful, obscene, infringing, or otherwise objectionable.
Accounts are non-transferable.
Entry into the Challenge requires payment of a non-refundable Entry Fee as displayed at time of purchase.
The Entry Fee constitutes consideration for:
Payment of the Entry Fee provides the opportunity to compete. It does not guarantee:
Challenge Cancellation Exception. Although Entry Fees are generally non-refundable, the Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to issue refunds in the event of a full cancellation of the Challenge by the Company. If the Challenge is cancelled, the Company may determine the method and timing of any refund distribution.
We use third-party payment processors. By submitting payment information, you authorize charges for all applicable fees and taxes.
You are responsible for applicable taxes related to Entry Fees or prizes.
Refund eligibility is governed by the Official Rules and applicable law.
You agree that dissatisfaction with:
is not grounds for a chargeback.
If you initiate a meritless chargeback, we may:
All site Content and Marks are owned or licensed by us and protected by intellectual property laws.
You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, sell, or exploit any part of the Services without written permission.
Ownership
You retain full ownership of your User Submissions.
License Grant
By uploading User Submissions, you grant the Company and its affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, assigns, and authorized sponsors, partners, advertisers, and service providers a perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide, royaltyfree, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, publish, display, publicly perform, transmit, and prepare derivative works of (such as resizing, cropping, compressing, formatting, or applying protective display marks) your User Submissions solely in connection with:
This license permits authorized sponsors and partners to repost or distribute featured submissions for promotional purposes related to the Challenge.
No print sales or merchandise production may occur without separate written agreement.
Moral Rights Waiver
To the fullest extent permitted by law, you waive any moral rights or rights of integrity that would prevent resizing, cropping, compressing, formatting, or minor display-related modifications of your User Submissions.
Publicity Release
By participating, you grant us permission to use your name, likeness, image, biography, voice, city/state/country, and social media handle for promotional purposes related to the Services and Challenge without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.
Representations & Warranties
You represent and warrant that:
The Challenge maintains a strict no-generative-AI policy.
You may not submit content created, generated, fabricated, or materially altered using generative artificial intelligence tools.
“Materially altered” includes:
Permitted edits include cropping, exposure correction, sharpening, contrast adjustments, and minor retouching that do not involve AI-generated content.
Verification Deadline. If we request RAW files, EXIF data, editing history, or source documentation, you must provide such materials within forty-eight (48) hours of request unless otherwise stated. Failure to comply results in immediate disqualification.
You may not:
We may remove content or terminate accounts at our discretion.
Designated Agent:
Attn: Legal Department / Copyright Agent
Capture Caribbean, LLC
Email: legal@capturecaribbean.com
Phone: +1 (609) [INSERT BUSINESS NUMBER]
False claims may subject you to liability.
We may suspend or terminate accounts for violations, fraud, or security risks.
Termination does not limit our legal remedies.
THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”
WE DISCLAIM ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CAPTURE CARIBBEAN, LLC, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND ITS SPONSORS, PARTNERS, ADVERTISERS, AND PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU IN THE SIX (6) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CLAIM.
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Company and its affiliates, sponsors, advertising partners, promotional partners, contractors, service providers, successors, assigns, officers, directors, employees, agents, and legal counsel from any claims arising from:
These Terms are governed by New Jersey law.
Parties agree to a 30-day informal resolution period before filing suit.
For claims exceeding $10,000, parties agree to attempt mediation before litigation.
Exclusive venue: Mercer County, New Jersey.
No Class Actions. Claims may only be brought individually.
Waiver of Jury Trial. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU AND THE COMPANY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN ANY DISPUTE.
Provisions regarding intellectual property, licenses, indemnification, limitation of liability, dispute resolution, and waivers survive termination.
These Terms constitute the entire agreement.
If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder remains in effect.
We may assign rights at any time.
Capture Caribbean, LLC
1021, 440 US Highway 130 South, STE 11
East Windsor, NJ 08520
United States
Legal: legal@capturecaribbean.com
Support: support@capturecaribbean.com
CAPTURE CARIBBEAN PRIVACY POLICY
FIRST WAVE CHALLENGE + SUBMISSION PLATFORM PRIVACY POLICY
Last Updated: February 16, 2026
Effective Date: February 16, 2026
Capture Caribbean, LLC (“Capture Caribbean,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.
This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, share, and protect personal information when you access or use our websites, services, platforms, and tools, including but not limited to:
This Privacy Policy applies to all visitors, users, entrants, registrants, and participants (“you,” “user,” “Entrant”) who access the Services.
BY ACCESSING OR USING OUR SERVICES, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS PRIVACY POLICY.
If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not access or use the Services.
Participation in the Capture Caribbean First Wave Challenge (the “Challenge”) requires account registration,
submission uploads, payment processing, and verification protocols. As a result, we may collect personal
information for:
We reserve the right to request additional verification documentation at any time, including government-issued identification, proof of enrollment, proof of payment authorization, and original source files (including RAW files).
We may collect personal information directly from you, automatically through your use of the Services, and from third parties.
We may collect personal information you voluntarily provide when you:
This may include:
If you upload creative content, including photography, images, titles, captions, descriptions, or supporting documents (“User Submissions”), we may collect:
When you pay an entry fee, payments are processed by third-party payment processors (such as Stripe or similar services). We do not store full payment card numbers.
However, we may collect and store limited payment-related information such as:
Payment processors handle your payment data under their own privacy policies.
When you access the Services, we may automatically collect:
We may use:
These technologies help us:
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit functionality.
We may receive personal information from third parties including:
We use personal information for legitimate business purposes, including:
To:
To:
To:
To:
To:
To:
To:
Where required under applicable law (including GDPR), we process personal data based on:
We may share personal information under the following circumstances:
We may share data with vendors who support our operations, including:
These providers are contractually obligated to protect data and use it only for authorized purposes.
We may share limited personal information with authorized sponsors, partners, or promotional collaborators only as necessary to:
We do not sell your personal information to sponsors.
If you win a travel prize, we may share necessary winner information with Bay Gardens Resorts to fulfill the travel award, such as:
If we merge, sell assets, restructure, or undergo acquisition, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
We may share information when you explicitly consent.
Certain information may be publicly displayed on the Services, including:
If you are selected as a finalist or winner, we may also publicly display:
You acknowledge that public display may result in third-party sharing beyond our control.
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to:
Submission content and contest data may be retained for archival and promotional purposes unless prohibited by law or unless you request deletion where applicable.
We may retain certain information indefinitely where necessary for:
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information.
However, no system is 100% secure. You acknowledge that transmission of data over the internet is not guaranteed secure, and you assume risk of unauthorized access.
You are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of your login credentials.
If you access the Services outside the United States, you acknowledge and agree that your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from your jurisdiction.
By using the Services, you consent to the transfer and processing of your information in the United States.
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights including:
You may request to exercise your rights by contacting:
legal@capturecaribbean.com
We may require verification of identity before fulfilling requests.
Certain information may be exempt from deletion requests due to:
If you subscribe to marketing communications, you may opt out at any time by:
Transactional and contest-related emails may still be sent even if you opt out of marketing.
The Services are not intended for individuals under eighteen (18) years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
If you believe we have collected personal information from a minor, contact us immediately at legal@capturecaribbean.com and we will take appropriate steps to remove such data.
The Services may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties.
You should review third-party privacy policies before providing personal information.
You retain ownership of your creative submissions.
By uploading content, you grant us a license as described in our Terms of Service and Official Rules.
We may use submissions for:
We will not sell your images as prints or merchandise without separate agreement.
Cookies may be used for:
You may disable cookies through your browser settings, but certain platform features may not function properly.
Some browsers transmit “Do Not Track” signals. At this time, we do not respond to Do Not Track signals due to lack of standardized interpretation.
California residents may have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), including:
Requests may be submitted to: legal@capturecaribbean.com
If you are located in the EEA or UK, you may have GDPR rights including:
You may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time.
We will update the “Last Updated” date and post the revised version on the Services.
Your continued use of the Services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance.
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, contact us:
Capture Caribbean, LLC
1021, 440 US Highway 130 South, STE 11
East Windsor, NJ 08520
United States
Legal Inquiries: legal@capturecaribbean.com
Support: support@capturecaribbean.com
OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES – CAPTURE CARIBBEAN FIRST WAVE CHALLENGE
IMPORTANT NOTICE: THIS IS A SKILL-BASED CONTEST. THIS IS NOT A GAME OF CHANCE, LOTTERY, OR SWEEPSTAKES. Winners are determined solely by the judging criteria described herein.
Entry into this Challenge requires payment of a non-refundable entry fee of a minimum of Twenty-Five U.S. Dollars ($25.00 USD). Void where prohibited or restricted by law. All Entries and Associated Fees are final.
The Capture Caribbean First Wave Challenge (the “Challenge”) is sponsored and administered by Capture Caribbean, LLC (“Sponsor”), a New Jersey limited liability company located at #1021, 440 US Highway 130 South STE 11, East Windsor, NJ 08520.
Caribbean Photo Contest is a service mark used by Sponsor for contest administration services.
Capture Caribbean is the flagship creative platform celebrating Caribbean and Caribbean-connected visual storytelling and serves as the official brand destination for the Challenge.
The official public-facing landing page and primary entry information portal for the Challenge is located at: www.capturecaribbean.com/first-wave (the “Official Landing Page”).
Technical entry processing, account access, upload management, and submission administration are facilitated through Sponsor’s official contest platform, Caribbean Photo Contests, accessible at: www.caribbeanphotocontests.com (the “Submission Platform”).
The Official Landing Page and Submission Platform are the only authorized channels through which entry fee payments, contest submissions, and official Challenge participation may occur.
In the event of any discrepancy between promotional materials, the Official Landing Page, the Submission Platform, and these Official Rules, the terms of these Official Rules shall control.
Travel experiences included in prize packages are facilitated by Bay Gardens Resorts (the “Hospitality Partner”), the official hospitality partner of Capture Caribbean. The Hospitality Partner is responsible solely for prize fulfillment and is not a sponsor, administrator, or operator of this Challenge.
Sponsor may engage third-party service providers for payment processing, fraud screening, technical infrastructure, hosting, data management, analytics, contest operations, verification audits, judging administration, or other functions. These providers act under contract with Sponsor and are not sponsors or administrators of this Challenge.
All trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only.
The following dates constitute the Official Contest Schedule. Sponsor’s computer is the official time-keeping device.
Phase 1: First Wave Submission Window:
March 15, 2026 – April 1, 2026.
Verification & Audit Period (Phase 1):
April 14, 2026 – April 25, 2026.
Phase 1 Winner Announcement:
Week of April 26 – May 2, 2026.
Phase 2: Official Global Contest:
May 3, 2026 – June 13, 2026.
Main Event Verification (Phase 2):
June 14, 2026 – June 27, 2026.
Phase 2 Winner Announcement:
Week of June 28, 2026 – July 4, 2026.
Credential Issuance Window:
Founding Class Member Digital Badges and Tier 4 Golden Ticket activations are issued only after the Verification & Audit Period has concluded and only after successful verification is confirmed, which shall occur no earlier than April 25, 2026 for Phase 1 and no earlier than July 4, 2026 for Phase 2.
Sponsor reserves the right to adjust the Contest Schedule in its sole discretion if necessary due to technical issues, administrative delays, force majeure events, fraud investigations, or circumstances beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control. Any schedule adjustments will be posted on the Official Landing Page and/or Submission Platform.
Verification Protocols are implemented to ensure the integrity of the creator pool, protect against transactional fraud, validate intellectual property (IP) ownership, confirm eligibility, confirm authenticity, and ensure compliance with all contest requirements. All entries are subject to verification protocols.
Founding Class Digital Badges and Tier 4 “Golden Ticket” activations are issued exclusively following the conclusion of the applicable Verification & Audit Period and only after Entrant verification has been successfully completed.
Payment of an entry fee does not guarantee receipt of a Founding Class Member Badge or Golden Ticket.
Founding credentials are issued only to Entrants who successfully complete all required verification checks and remain in full compliance with these Official Rules, as determined solely by Sponsor.
Sponsor reserves the right to delay, deny, withhold, suspend, revoke, or cancel any Founding Class badge, Golden Ticket activation, prize eligibility, recognition, or award if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that an Entrant has failed verification or violated these Official Rules.
Sponsor reserves the right, at any time before, during, or after the Challenge, to require additional verification documentation from any Entrant, including but not limited to:
Sponsor reserves the right to use automated tools, third-party fraud detection services, metadata analysis, reverse image search tools, AI detection systems, and manual review to evaluate submissions.
Failure or refusal to provide requested documentation within the timeframe specified by Sponsor may result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of eligibility for prizes, recognition, credentials, and/or awards.
All entry fee payments are final once the submission window has closed or once digital credentials have been authorized for delivery, whichever occurs first, except where prohibited by law.
Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry that fails to meet eligibility, originality, authenticity, compliance, financial integrity, or IP standards during the Verification & Audit Period.
Sponsor further reserves the right to conduct post-award verification. If fraud or ineligibility is discovered after an award has been issued, Sponsor may revoke the award and select an alternate winner.
Sponsor reserves the right to deny Founding Class designation, deny Golden Ticket activation, disqualify an Entrant, and/or revoke credentials if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that the Entrant has engaged in:
Sponsor’s fraud determinations are final and binding.
By entering, the Entrant acknowledges that “First Wave” is a live stress-test environment for the Capture Caribbean platform and its associated submission infrastructure. Features, user interface elements, submission tools, upload speeds, and platform functions may be refined, modified, or adjusted during the Challenge Period.
Entrants acknowledge that minor technical issues may occur and agree that such issues do not automatically entitle an Entrant to a refund or disqualification of other Entrants.
Entry requires payment of an entry fee through the designated payment portal. The minimum entry fee is Twenty-Five U.S. Dollars ($25.00 USD).
Payment of the entry fee grants one (1) user account and the ability to submit entries per the limits specified in Section 7 and/or displayed on the Submission Platform at time of purchase.
The entry fee may be subject to applicable taxes in certain jurisdictions. Entrants are responsible for any applicable taxes, fees, or charges related to their entry fee payment.
The entry fee constitutes consideration for contest participation, submission processing, platform operations, contest administration, judging coordination, operational management, verification review, and prize distribution.
The Challenge is open only to individuals who:
Are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry and entry fee payment.
Have successfully paid the required entry fee.
Are not employees, officers, directors, agents, representatives, affiliates, subsidiaries, contractors, service providers, or prize partners of Sponsor, nor immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling) or household members of such individuals.
Are not residents of, or located in, any jurisdiction where paid skill-based contests are prohibited or restricted by law.
Sponsor reserves the right to reject or disqualify Entrants from any jurisdiction at its sole discretion to ensure legal compliance.
Entrants are solely responsible for determining the legality of participation in their jurisdiction. Sponsor makes no representation or warranty regarding the legality of participation in any jurisdiction.
Entrants must self-select one (1) of the following divisions at the time of entry. All divisions are open only to individuals eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry fee payment.
Each division is judged independently; however, all divisions are evaluated under the same core scoring criteria and percentage weightings as described in Section 8. The judging emphasis described below does not alter the scoring percentages but provides contextual evaluation guidance appropriate to each division.
The General Creator Division is open to experienced creators, working professionals, independent artists, and advanced-level visual storytellers who regularly produce creative work publicly, commercially, or within a professional portfolio context.
Judging Emphasis:
While all entries are scored under the same weighted criteria outlined in Section 8, entries in this division may be evaluated with heightened consideration of:
The Emerging Creator Division is open to developing creators, hobbyists, and early-stage visual storytellers who are building their portfolios or expanding their creative practice.
Judging Emphasis:
Entries in this division will be evaluated under the same weighted scoring criteria; however, judges may give contextual consideration to:
The College Creator Division is open to individuals who are currently enrolled in an accredited college, university, or post-secondary institution at the time of entry.
Proof of enrollment may be required during finalist selection, during the Verification & Audit Period, or at any time deemed necessary by Sponsor.
Judging Emphasis:
Entries will be evaluated using the same weighted criteria outlined in Section 8, with contextual consideration for:
Failure to provide valid proof of enrollment when requested may result in disqualification or reassignment to another division at Sponsor’s sole discretion.
The Master Your Craft Division is open to individuals seeking structured creative growth, skill refinement, and constructive evaluation. This division is designed for creators who wish to focus on technical development, storytelling clarity, and artistic discipline.
Judging Emphasis:
Entries will be scored under the same weighted criteria as all other divisions. Judges may provide evaluation emphasis on:
Participation in this division does not guarantee mentoring, coaching, or direct instruction unless separately specified by Sponsor. This division remains a competitive category subject to the same judging integrity standards as all others.
Entrants may compete in only one (1) division per entry fee payment.
Sponsor reserves the right to:
Division reassignment, if necessary, will not alter scoring methodology.
Each division is judged independently. Scores are not compared across divisions unless expressly stated for special recognitions.
To enter, visit www.capturecaribbean.com/first-wave and follow the instructions to submit the required entry fee payment.
Entrants will be redirected to the official submission portal hosted on www.caribbeanphotocontests.com, where account creation, entry upload, and submission completion must be finalized within the Challenge Period.
Entries submitted through unauthorized websites, third-party platforms, social media platforms, email, direct message, or unapproved submission methods will not be accepted.
Originality: All submissions must be the original work of the Entrant.
Creation Date: Submissions must have been created on or after January 1, 2024.
Strict No-AI Policy: No generative AI content is permitted. No undisclosed AI manipulation, AI-generated elements, or AI-assisted synthetic creation is allowed.
Basic post-processing is permitted, including but not limited to:
Sponsor may use automated and manual detection tools to identify prohibited AI usage.
Sponsor reserves the right to request RAW files, original source files, or editing history to verify authenticity.
Failure to provide requested original files may result in disqualification.
Technical Specs: JPEG or PNG only. Maximum file size: 8MB. Minimum resolution: 3000 pixels on the longest side.
Content Requirements: Each submission must include a unique title (maximum 50 characters) and a description (maximum 250 words). Submissions must be anonymous and must not contain watermarks, logos, signatures, or identifying marks.
Releases: Entrant must have obtained all necessary model releases and property releases prior to submission.
Prohibited Content: Entries must not include illegal content, explicit sexual content, pornography, hate speech, extremist content, graphic violence, defamatory content, or any material that violates applicable law or infringes upon the rights of any third party. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry that, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, violates these standards or may harm the reputation of the Challenge or Sponsor.
Entry limits are defined on the Submission Platform purchase page at the time of entry.
Sponsor reserves the right to modify entry limits for technical, fairness, security, or administrative purposes.
General Policy: All entry fee payments are final once the submission portal has been accessed, subject to the Verification Protocol, except where prohibited by law.
EU/UK/EEA: Where applicable, a 14-day right of withdrawal may apply. Refund requests must be submitted via refunds@capturecaribbean.com.
Technical Failure: Refunds may be issued if the Submission Platform is inaccessible for more than seventytwo (72) consecutive hours during the submission window, as determined solely by Sponsor.
Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, corrupted, misdirected, or failed submissions due to technical failures, internet disruptions, file corruption, service outages, device malfunction, browser incompatibility, user error, or any other reason beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control.
Neither Sponsor nor service providers are liable for disruptions beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to force majeure events such as natural disasters, acts of war, terrorism, civil unrest, labor disputes, power outages, pandemics, internet failures, government restrictions, or any other event outside Sponsor’s reasonable control.
All accounts, entries, paid entry fee submissions, Founding Class badges, Golden Ticket activations, and contest eligibility are strictly non-transferable.
Sale, assignment, transfer, barter, or exchange of any credential, badge, contest access, prize entitlement, or eligibility is prohibited and shall result in immediate disqualification.
Judging will be conducted by a panel of qualified industry professionals selected by Sponsor. Judges may include photographers, visual artists, creative directors, educators, curators, editors, and other professionals with relevant expertise.
Sponsor reserves the right to appoint, replace, or modify members of the judging panel at any time and for any reason.
All entries across all divisions are evaluated using the same weighted scoring criteria:
These percentage weightings apply equally to all divisions.
Division-specific judging emphasis described in Section 6 provides contextual evaluation guidance only and does not modify scoring percentages or scoring methodology.
Entries are evaluated within the division selected and verified. Judges evaluate entries in comparison to other entries within the same division.
Scores from one division are not directly compared against scores from another division for purposes of selecting Division Champions.
Sponsor reserves the right to reassign entries to a more appropriate division prior to final scoring if eligibility concerns arise or if division misrepresentation is suspected.
The judging process may include multiple stages, including but not limited to:
Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry at any stage if eligibility, originality, authenticity, or rule compliance concerns arise.
Division Champions will be determined based on the highest cumulative scores within each verified division, subject to verification and compliance review.
Sponsor may also designate one (1) Overall Grand Champion as an honorary recognition for the highest-scoring eligible entry across all divisions. Overall Grand Champion recognition does not include an additional travel award unless expressly stated in writing by Sponsor.
In the event of a scoring tie within any division or award category, the entry with the higher score in “Creativity & Originality” shall prevail.
If a tie persists, Sponsor may conduct a secondary evaluation or request additional review from the judging panel. All tie-breaking determinations are final.
Payment of an entry fee does not increase the likelihood of winning. Selection of division does not increase the likelihood of winning. Possession of a Founding Class badge or Golden Ticket does not influence judging outcomes.
All entries are evaluated solely on merit according to the published scoring criteria.
Any dispute regarding scoring or winner determination must be submitted to disputes@capturecaribbean.com within forty-eight (48) hours of public announcement.
Judging score sheets, deliberation materials, and internal scoring documentation are confidential and will not be disclosed.
Sponsor retains final authority in all matters relating to judging procedures, eligibility determinations, division assignments, disqualification decisions, prize awards, and interpretation of these Official Rules. All decisions made by Sponsor are final and binding.
The Capture Caribbean First Wave Challenge features a Division Champion Prize Structure designed to recognize excellence within each official contest division.
A total of four (4) Division Champions will be selected (one per division), each receiving a sponsored travel prize package and a cash award as described below.
In addition, Sponsor may designate one (1) Overall Grand Champion as an honorary recognition based on the highest-scoring entry across all divisions; however, such designation does not include an additional travel award beyond the division prize.
All prizes are subject to verification and compliance review as described in these Official Rules.
Each division will have one (1) Division Champion selected from the highest-scoring eligible entries within that division.
Each Division Champion will receive the following travel award:
Sponsored Travel Award (Division Champion Travel Prize):
A curated Saint Lucia travel experience consisting of a four (4) night stay for two (2) guests at Bay Gardens
Beach Resort & Spa, located in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, West Indies, including daily breakfast for the duration of the stay.
Approximate Retail Value (ARV) per travel award: $4,500 USD.
The Division Champion travel awards are fully sponsored by Bay Gardens Resorts.
Each Division Champion will also receive a cash award as follows:
General Creator Division Champion (1):
$500 USD cash.
Emerging Creator Division Champion (1):
$500 USD cash.
College Creator Division Champion (1):
$500 USD cash.
Master Your Craft Division Champion (1):
$1,000 USD cash.
Cash prizes will be issued by method determined by Sponsor (e.g., check, ACH transfer, or approved electronic payment method).
Sponsor may, at its sole discretion, recognize one (1) Overall Grand Champion based on the highest cumulative score achieved across all divisions.
Overall Grand Champion recognition is honorary and may include public recognition, digital distinction, platform featuring, and/or special Founding Class acknowledgment.
Overall Grand Champion recognition does not include an additional travel award or additional cash award unless expressly stated by Sponsor in writing.
All travel prizes are awarded only after eligibility verification is completed and Entrant compliance is confirmed.
Travel must be booked within sixty (60) days of winner confirmation and completed within one (1) year of winner confirmation. Travel is subject to blackout dates, seasonal restrictions, and resort availability.
Airfare is not included.
Each winner is solely responsible for all travel costs not expressly stated herein, including but not limited to:
Winner and guest must comply with all applicable laws, travel requirements, resort policies, and entry regulations. Winner is responsible for ensuring valid travel documentation.
Sponsor and Hospitality Partner are not responsible for travel disruptions, cancellations, airline delays, acts of nature, illness, government restrictions, force majeure events, or other circumstances beyond their reasonable control.
Winners are solely responsible for all federal, state, local, and international taxes associated with prize receipt and use.
IRS Form 1099 will be issued for prizes valued at $600 or greater in accordance with U.S. law.
Winner(s) must respond to prize notification within seventy-two (72) hours of being contacted by Sponsor.
Failure to respond, failure to complete verification, failure to provide required documentation (including tax documentation), or failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in forfeiture of prize eligibility.
Sponsor reserves the right to select an alternate eligible Entrant.
Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize (or portion of a prize) of equal or greater value if any prize becomes unavailable, impractical, or cannot be fulfilled due to circumstances beyond Sponsor’s control, including but not limited to changes in resort availability, travel restrictions, natural disasters, public health restrictions, or force majeure events.
No substitution or transfer of prizes is permitted by winner except as authorized by Sponsor.
Honorary, non-monetary recognition may include Founding Class digital badges, early access recognition, and other commemorative acknowledgments.
Founding Class recognition is not a prize, has no cash value, and is not redeemable for cash, travel, compensation, or exchange of any kind.
Receipt of Founding Class recognition is not automatic upon payment of an entry fee. Founding Class recognition is granted only to Entrants who successfully complete participation requirements and verification review, as determined solely by Sponsor.
Delivery of Founding Class credentials is subject to completion of the applicable Verification & Audit Period and may be withheld, delayed, denied, or revoked at Sponsor’s sole discretion.
Sponsor may revoke Founding Class designation at any time if fraud, disqualifying conduct, eligibility failure, chargebacks, payment disputes, or rule violations are discovered.
A “Golden Ticket” is a digital credential issued by Sponsor that may grant the Entrant access to a specified future contest feature, early access submission window, or participation benefit as described on the Submission Platform at the time of issuance.
Golden Tickets are honorary credentials and do not constitute cash, travel, or guaranteed prize eligibility.
Golden Tickets are not issued at the time of entry fee payment. Golden Ticket activations are issued only after the applicable contest phase has concluded and only after successful completion of the Verification & Audit Period.
Possession of a Golden Ticket does not guarantee winner selection, finalist placement, judging advantage, preferential scoring, or preferential access beyond what is expressly stated in writing by Sponsor.
All contest outcomes are determined solely by the judging criteria described herein.
Golden Tickets are strictly non-transferable, have no cash value, may not be sold or assigned, and may only be used by the verified Entrant associated with the account.
Sponsor reserves the right to revoke any Golden Ticket at any time if fraud, disqualifying conduct, eligibility failure, chargebacks, payment disputes, or rule violations are discovered.
Entrants retain full copyright ownership of all submitted works.
Entrant grants Sponsor a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to display, reproduce, publish, distribute, and use submitted works for promotional, advertising, marketing, educational, exhibition, editorial, and showcase purposes, including digital and print usage, without additional compensation.
Sponsor may use submissions in connection with Capture Caribbean, Caribbean Photo Contest, Caribbean Photo Contests, and related affiliated projects.
Sponsor will not sell prints, merchandise, or commercial products featuring Entrant submissions without a separate written agreement.
Entrant agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Sponsor, Hospitality Partner, and their respective affiliates, agents, contractors, service providers, and representatives from any claims arising from:
Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant for violations, modify, suspend, or cancel the Challenge, adjust the schedule, and verify eligibility and authenticity at any time.
Sponsor reserves the right to remove or exclude any entry from public display or promotional use for reputational, legal, or operational reasons, without affecting judging eligibility unless Sponsor determines the entry violates these Official Rules.
Entrants release Sponsor, Hospitality Partner, and all affiliated partners, contractors, service providers, and representatives from all liability related to participation, platform access, contest outcomes, judging decisions, prize use, travel fulfillment, and any claim arising from participation.
Sponsor’s total liability shall not exceed the entry fee paid by the Entrant.
Under no circumstances shall Sponsor be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive, or special damages.
By entering, Entrants grant Sponsor the right to use their name, likeness, voice, biographical information, division designation, and submitted works for promotional purposes where permitted by law, without additional compensation.
Entrants acknowledge that public announcement of winners may include publication of name, location (city/state/country), and winning entry.
Participation is subject to Capture Caribbean’s Privacy Policy and any applicable platform privacy terms.
Sponsor may collect and store entrant data for contest administration, verification, marketing, analytics, and promotional purposes consistent with the Privacy Policy.
These Official Rules are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to conflict of law principles.
All disputes shall first be subject to a thirty (30) day informal resolution period.
If unresolved, disputes involving claims greater than $10,000 shall proceed to mediation.
A Class Action Waiver applies. Entrants waive the right to participate in any class action, collective action, or representative action.
Exclusive venue and jurisdiction shall be Mercer County, New Jersey.
Requests for winner lists must be sent to winners@capturecaribbean.com by July 31, 2026.
For general support inquiries, contact: support@capturecaribbean.com.
END OF OFFICIAL RULES
Date of Publication: February 16, 2026