Calling All Photographers, Videographers, Content Creators, and Festival Fans!
Are you ready to capture the magic of Dominion Energy Riverrock? Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or videographer, a YouTube enthusiast, licensed drone pilot, a passionate hobbyist, or someone with a creative spark, we want YOU to showcase your unique vision of the biggest outdoor sports and music festival in the country! From epic outdoor adventures and breathtaking stunts to incredible live music and vibrant festival vibes, Dominion Energy Riverrock is a feast for the senses—and now’s your chance to showcase it through your lens.
PHOTO CONTEST
You have the freedom to shoot for as long as you’d like and photograph any Dominion Energy Riverrock personality, competition, activity, or venue that sparks your creativity.
Here's How It Works
- Register for the photo contest. You’ll receive behind-the-scenes access, a festival shirt, and a drink ticket*.
- Attend the festival (happening May 16-18) and shoot your experience.
- Capture the energy, excitement, and creativity of Riverrock: think impressive athletic pursuits, scenic riverfront beauty, buzzing crowds, and unforgettable performances.
Rules
This competition is open to photographers of all ages. Submit your five best photos from the entire event weekend!
Photo Submission details: Photographers must submit no more than five (5) images as high resolution .jpeg files via email to riverrockphotocontest@gmail.com by 11:59 PM on Monday, May 19. All file names should include the photographer’s name and image number (i.e. Joe Millionaire – 1, Joe Millionaire – 2, etc.). Please include contact information in the email. Late submissions will NOT be accepted. No more than one image per photographer will be eligible for prizes. DO NOT include watermarks on the images.
A panel of judges will be looking for the one overall image that captures the spirit of Dominion Energy Riverrock. Photographers will be responsible for providing their own equipment. Organizers will not be responsible for incomplete, late, or damaged submissions. Photographers agree to share rights to all images submitted with Sports Backers and Venture Richmond. By entering a photo in the Digital Photo Contest, the entrant is granting Sports Backers and Venture Richmond a nonexclusive, transferable, royalty-free license to publish the photo for advertising, marketing, and promotional purposes without attribution (in some cases), compensation, permission or further notification to the entrant. Employees of the Sports Backers and Venture Richmond are ineligible for the contest.
Awards
Prize money will be awarded to a first, second, and third place winner.
- 1st Place: $450
- 2nd Place: $300
- 3rd Place: $150
The first, second, and third place winners, along with honorable mentions, will be announced on Thursday, May 22 on the Dominion Energy Riverrock website.
VIDEO CONTEST
You have the freedom to film any Dominion Energy Riverrock personality, competition, activity, or venue that sparks your creativity.
Pro Tip: Let the music and energy guide you! Pair your visuals with the electric vibe of Riverrock to create something unforgettable
Here's How It Works
- Register for the video contest. You’ll receive behind-the-scenes access, a festival shirt, and a drink ticket*.
- Attend the festival (happening May 16-18) and film your experience.
- Capture the energy, excitement, and creativity of Riverrock: think impressive athletic pursuits, scenic riverfront beauty, buzzing crowds, and unforgettable performances.
- Edit your footage into a :15, :30, or 60 second masterpiece that tells the story of the festival through your eyes.
Rules
Videographers must submit their edited video via email to riverrockvideocontest@gmail.com by 10:00 AM, Tuesday, May 20 using the following guidelines:
- Videos should be no longer than 60-seconds
- Videos are accepted in either a 16:9 or 9:16 aspect ratio
- Videos must be submitted in .avi, .mov, .mpg or .wmv format
- Videos should not contain text. Voiceovers and music are allowed but profanity cannot be used. Any mention of the festival needs to be the full name of “Dominion Energy Riverrock”
- You may send us a link from which to download large files.
Please include contact information in the email. Late submissions will NOT be accepted. No more than one video per contest entrant will be eligible for prize money.
A panel of judges will be looking for the video that captures the spirit of Dominion Energy Riverrock. Videographers will be responsible for providing their own equipment. Organizers will not be responsible for incomplete, late, or damaged submissions. Videographers agree to share rights to all videos submitted with Sports Backers and Venture Richmond. By entering a video in the Dominion Energy Riverrock Video Contest, the entrant is granting Sports Backers and Venture Richmond a nonexclusive, transferable, royalty-free license to publish the video for advertising, marketing, and promotional purposes without attribution (in some cases), compensation, permission or further notification to the entrant. Employees of Sports Backers and Venture Richmond are ineligible for the contest.
Awards
Cash prizes are up for grabs for the most creative, engaging, and memorable videos!
- 1st Place: $450
- 2nd Place: $300
- 3rd Place: $150
- Honorable Mention(s): up to three $100 prizes
Results will be announced on Thursday, May 22 on the Dominion Energy Riverrock website. The winning videos will be featured on our official channels, so your work could inspire and entertain thousands.
Help Us Maintain Our World Class Trail System
The James River Park System and the Richmond Riverfront is an extremely important asset to Richmond, and Dominion Energy Riverrock provides the opportunity to celebrate the Park System and Riverfront and all of the outdoor recreation opportunities RVA has to offer. Please consider donating to Friends of James River Park System to help fund recreational access improvements to James River Park System. Your donation helps park staff manage the impact of events in the park system. This nationally acclaimed trail system would not be what it is today without the hard work of countless volunteers throughout the year and it is donations like yours that make this work possible. In the past Dominion Energy Riverrock donations were able to support not only general trail maintenance through RVA More’s tireless efforts but also very specific infrastructure and equipment improvements like a donation to the universal access ramp at Huguenot Flatwater, two new trail ramps, and the replacement of all bike pumps at the bike repair stations around the James River Park System. The James River Park System and riverfront continues to see heavy use so donations to maintain and make improvements are important to the overall sustainability of this RVA asset.
Our Story
We live and work by Richmond’s picturesque riverfront. With a network of trails and amazing views just steps away from a vibrant downtown, we knew we had to let everyone in on the secret that was Richmond, VA. And what better way to celebrate than with the nation’s premier outdoor sports and music festival?!
Sports Backers and Venture Richmond both work to make RVA a vibrant place to live. Bringing our two nonprofit organizations together to create one of the nation’s most beloved outdoor festivals was a no-brainer! Venture Richmond provides the entertainment, and Sports Backers brings the athletes. It all adds up to a great showcase of Richmond’s riverfront and all it has to offer!
Sports Backers is a nationally recognized nonprofit whose mission is to inspire people from all corners of our community to live actively. Since 1991, Sports Backers has fostered a culture of active living in Central Virginia through its participatory sporting events and community-based programs that have inspired hundreds of thousands of people in the region to set fitness goals and pursue an active lifestyle. In everything that we do, we strive to promote health equity and create accessible opportunities for active living throughout our region. We fulfill our mission by: (1) advocating for bike and pedestrian infrastructure; (2) energizing the community through events; and (3) building a network of community-led group fitness programs in schools and neighborhoods.
Venture Richmond is a nonprofit organization formed to engage business and community leaders in partnering with the City to enhance the vitality of the community, particularly Downtown, through economic development, marketing, promotion, advocacy and events, to include: Friday Cheers, the 2nd Street Festival, the Richmond Folk Festival, and more.
Cancellation Policy
Entries are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-deferrable, even in the case of a event cancellation, postponement, event format changes, and/or if you are unable to participate.
Questions? Feedback?
Questions or Feedback please reach out below
