Contest entry form with file upload (photo, art, film)
Updated 2026-10-17. Every fact links to its source; prices are as published on each vendor's page on that date.
Short answer: for a photo or art contest, use a Google Form for the entrant's details and either (a) a short-answer field for a link to the entry, which is free, or (b) a no-login upload link for the files. Don't put a File upload question in a public contest form: Google makes every entrant sign in to answer it (Google). For video contests, collect unlisted video links.
Why entries go missing with Google Forms uploads
Entrants who don't use Google, or who are on a phone that isn't signed in, hit a sign-in screen before they see your form. Contest organizers mention it themselves: “All image uploads on this site are now done via Google Drive and you will need to login using your Google account to upload” (Outdoor Photography magazine), and “The upload requires a free Google account; if you don’t have one, email your photo” (Crown Point Ecology Center). Every emailed entry then has to be saved and logged by hand.
Pick the entry method by contest type
| Contest | Best free method | When to pay for a tool |
|---|---|---|
| Photo contest (JPGs, 1 to 20 MB) | Form + “link to your photo” field, or a Dropbox File Request | You want originals in your Drive with a log of who sent what |
| Art / drawing contest (photos of artwork, kids' entries) | Same as photo; parents can upload from a phone | Many entrants have no Google account (children, schools) |
| Film / video contest | Unlisted YouTube/Vimeo link in a short-answer question | Paid festivals: FilmFreeway (free with no entry fees, 12% commission with fees) |
| Writing contest (PDF/DOCX) | Short-answer link, or email | Blind judging with files collected centrally |
Set up a free contest entry form (5 minutes)
- Create a Google Form with name, email, entry title, category and a consent checkbox for the rules.
- Instead of File upload, add a Short answer: “Link to your entry”, with Response validation → Text → URL.
- Leave “Limit to 1 response” off and email collection on “Responder input” so the form stays open to everyone.
- Test the link in a private window, or paste it into our sign-in checker.
Direct uploads without sign-in, into your Drive
CatchFolder gives you one upload link for the contest. Entrants open it on any phone or computer, add their name and email, and upload without a Google account. The files land in a folder in your own Google Drive, and a Google Sheet logs each entry. $12 one-time covers a 30-day contest (up to 500 uploads, 50 MB per file); clubs and magazines with monthly contests can take the $59 annual plan.
Related
- Open call submission form for artists
- Google Drive photo upload link
- Google Form file upload without sign-in
- Upload button and embed snippet generator
FAQ
Can I use Google Forms for a photo contest?
Yes, but a File upload question forces every entrant to sign in to a Google account (Google), and you can't turn it off. For public contests, ask for a link instead or use a no-login upload page that saves into your Drive.
How do I collect video entries?
Ask for an unlisted YouTube or Vimeo link in a short-answer question. Video files are usually too big for most upload tools (CatchFolder's limit is 50 MB per file). Film festivals with entry fees often use FilmFreeway, which is free for festivals without entry fees and takes 12% of entry fees otherwise.
How do I stop people entering more than allowed?
Google's 'Limit to 1 response' also forces sign-in. Without sign-in, ask for an email and de-duplicate in the response sheet; CatchFolder logs every upload with the entrant's name and email so you can spot duplicates.
How do I keep original photo quality?
Upload pages keep the original file; messaging apps and some social links recompress images. Ask entrants to upload the original JPG and check the file size in your Drive.