Step 1: Fill out the skills form and grab your $25 ticket for either—or both—Saturday (10/25) and Sunday (10/26).

Step 2: Teams are revealed day-of, so you won’t know your collaborators until the Lab kicks off. (That’s why you can—and should—join both days!)

Step 3: Collaborate to create a photo editorial based on October’s theme, Couch Potato. It doesn’t have to be fashion-focused—your team could even create an abstract or non-figure-based editorial.

Step 4: Submit 1–5 final images within one week, following the provided guidelines.

Step 5: Be featured across Beacon’s digital platforms—and possibly published in our hardcover book series.

Step 6: Celebrate at the season-end party on Dec. 12 at The Virgin Hotel, where winners are announced and cash prizes awarded!

Can’t Attend in Person? Submit Remotely!

Love the theme but can’t make it to the live Labs—or don’t live in NYC? Prefer to work with your own dream team and creative direction?
We’re now accepting open submissions for those who can’t join in person.

Submit your editorial remotely and still compete for cash prizes and industry recognition.

Work at your own pace (within the deadline), use your preferred team, and bring the theme to life—on your terms.

See Remote Submission Guidelines for details

Creative Challenge: Step out of your comfort zone and into the unknown—this is fast-paced, real-time collaboration at its most raw.

Professional Growth: Work with new creatives, build your portfolio, and possibly get published in Beacon’s hardcover book series.

Community: Connect with stylists, photographers, models, and artists from across NYC and beyond.

Recognition: Get your work judged by industry pros and voted on by the public. Top teams win spotlight features and seasonal prizes.

This is a Lab, not a luxury shoot—expect to pivot, adapt, and make it work with what you’ve got. Sometimes a teammate may no-show, or your concept might need to shift mid-shoot. That’s all part of the creative challenge.

Energy: High-speed, collaborative chaos. Teams have just a few hours to concept, style, shoot, and execute an editorial. Think Chopped, but with creatives.

Conditions: Labs happen outdoors or on-the-go, so prepare for sun, sweat, and the unexpected. Bring snacks, water, sunscreen, and wear comfortable shoes.

Flexibility: People may get sick or cancel last minute—teams are expected to adapt and adjust on the fly. This isn’t a flaw, it’s the format.

Spotlight: Finished editorials are published on Beacon’s website, social, and more. Select teams will be featured in our hardcover book series.

Judging: Winners are chosen through a mix of community voting and a panel of industry professionals.

Themes: Each Lab is built around a theme inspired by negative idioms (like “Bad Apple” or “Nut Case”). These are open-ended prompts that explore identity and culture—and don’t have to be fashion-based.

Participants complete a quick skills form during registration so we can curate balanced teams for each day.

Teams are revealed on the day of the Lab—keeping things flexible and dynamic. Each team (2–10 people) includes a photographer and a mix of roles like art directors, stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, models, and assistants.

You can attend one or both days; each Lab will have entirely new teams and dynamics.

The $25 participation fee goes toward production costs and the season-end prize pot.

The Edit Lab happens monthly, building up to a season-end showcase + celebration on December 12, where the top editorial is crowned, winners take home the cash prize pot, and standout work is featured across Beacon’s platform.

Each Lab kicks off at a central meeting spot. Participants gather to meet their team, review the rules, and ask questions before heading out into the city, nature, or local businesses to bring their editorials to life.

October Lab Details:

• Dates: Saturday, 10/25 & Sunday, 10/26

• Time: ~5 hours per Lab (exact duration is up to each team)

• Meetup Spot: Washington Square Park — under the arch 👉 Check your email, our website, or Instagram for day-of updates (e.g., “look for the team in bright blue”).

To qualify for prizes, teams must:

• Work respectfully, stay kind, and collaborate in good faith.

• Sign an IP agreement granting Beacon ownership of all content created.

• Sign a release consenting to being filmed or photographed for promotional use.

• Sign a liability waiver acknowledging that participation is voluntary and at your own risk.

Please review our Terms of Participation – click here to read in full before completing your registration form.

We understand that plans change! If you realize you can no longer attend, please consider not requesting a refund unless absolutely necessary. As an independent business, your $25 ticket helps cover production costs, team coordination, and backend fees that are already in motion by the time you register.

Refund Eligibility:

You are eligible for a full refund up until Thursday, October 23 at 11:59 PM EST. After that, your team assignment and ticket fee are locked in and non-refundable.

After the deadline:

• Your team has already been curated,

• Your ticket fee has been processed toward production costs,

• And your spot can’t be easily reassigned.

For this reason,no refunds will be issued after the signup deadline.

We appreciate your understanding and support—it helps us keep The Edit Lab sustainable and community-driven.

To ensure fairness, we use different rubrics for in-person Labs and remote submissions:

Live Lab Submissions

Judged on:

• Creativity under constraint

• Collaboration & adaptability

• Concept & originality

• Execution & storytelling

• Adherence to theme

Remote Submissions

Judged on:

• Concept & originality (heavier weighting)

• Technical execution (lighting, composition, retouching)

• Styling, art direction, and layout

• Cohesion & narrative flow

• Adherence to theme

Note: Remote teams have more time and flexibility, so expectations for polish and presentation are higher.