Looking for a genius way to boost employee morale and your social media content? At Dowco Enterprises in Chesterfield, MO, we stumbled into a photo contest idea that does exactly that—and trust us, it’s way more fun than chasing down that perfect Instagram shot.
Like most landscape companies, we have a text thread for crew updates—think, “Hey, we’re starting late today.” But one day, someone dropped a photo into the chat. Then another. Soon, a casual thumbs-up turned into a weekly vote and a $20 Amazon gift card prize.
The problem? Not everyone was in on the fun—only the iPhone crowd (mostly crew leaders and drivers). So we brought the contest to the warehouse. Now, we toss the weekly photo submissions up on the big screen, hand out ballots, and let the whole team vote. The winning crew (not just one person) walks away with gift cards. Our biggest crew is three people, so it’s budget-friendly and super engaging.
The admin team, who usually live behind computers, now gets a glimpse into the gorgeous work our crews do. It’s become a weekly moment of pride and celebration. Plus, there’s always a wildcard photo—like a snake surprise or bat cameo—that sparks laughs and builds camaraderie.
Let’s face it: Authentic field photos > stock photography. And this contest? It serves up fresh, real content every single week. Our team naturally improved their photo and video skills—without me ever having to say a word. Some added borders, others experimented with angles, even mounted phones on mowers for action shots. The creativity is infectious.
Yes, even a great idea needs a refresh now and then. We’ve started tossing in themes: “Shoot content for a reel,” or “Give me long-form YouTube footage this week.” It keeps submissions from getting stale and ensures we’re gathering content in different formats for different platforms.
Once this contest takes off, you'll have more content than you know what to do with. I use Google Drive, organize everything by folders, and delegate editing and newsletter duties to others. Think of yourself as a general contractor of marketing.
We’re not trying to become TikTok stars. This is about connection. Some of our most-loved Reels are just raw field sounds—mowers, shovels, blowing leaves—with a simple caption. Yes, we still hire pro photographers for polished pieces, but for consistent content, your team’s phone photos are gold.
When content creation is part of the daily workflow—and there’s a gift card up for grabs—it doesn’t feel like a chore. It builds pride, sparks creativity, and makes your team feel seen and valued.
Here’s the best part: I don’t run the contest. Someone on my team owns it. Delegating is key. If you’re a small team, this might feel like “one more thing,” but it doesn’t have to be. Find that one person who loves using their phone and give them ownership. It builds leadership and spreads the workload.
You’re looking at $30 to $60 per week. Voting takes about 10 minutes. And the ROI? Huge. A closer team, more pride in your work, and an endless stream of share-worthy content that’s actually real.
The photo contest isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s about celebrating what you do every day, creating shared moments, and showing the world (and potential hires) who you are—authentically.
So yes, steal this idea. Make it your own. And watch how something as simple as a weekly vote can transform your company culture—and your content game.
Photo: Dowco
Learn More:
Donna Delaney
President, Dowco Enterprises Inc.
Chesterfield, MO
donna@dowcoinc.com
Read the article in the digital issue here.