Next time have her sign a copyright. FYL, the contest should have had a policy.

Make them split it.

True, but I would be so frustrated if that happened. I hate when people steal work and take the credit. Is there any way you can prove it's your photo OP? FYL indeed :/

Sounds like you're in a pickle... Betray best friend or win $1,000?

40- doesn't sound like she has a very good friend anyway. Maybe split it 50/50 since she was in the picture?

You know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand dollars

Yeah, unless it sucks.

50, isn't it words? And OP, not sure about the US, but in Australia, works are automatically copyrighted to the creator. I'd check if this applies in the US, and if it does, your picture is copyrighted to you and your friend has infringed the copyright law... Unless of course you gave them permission to use it and you're not telling us.

#78: giving permission to use doesn't equal signing over copyright. Giving permission to use doesn't include entering the image in a photocontest under your own name. And ANY photocontest has as one of the first rules of entry that the person entering the image should be the one holding the rights to the image and possibly having releades for any recognisable person or property in the image. Only a jury doesn't know whether an image is unrightfully entered until the rightful owner stands up and object. Hopefully OP didn't take the image with the camera of the "friend", otherwise it's hard to prove. To OP one wird: METADATA. Most cameras these days have image authentication, which will write your nane and copyright to a (for the amateur) uneditable part of the METADATA. Use it!

Ohmigosh I know how it feels OP. I'm a photographer and someone stealing your work is like being stabbed in the heart. D:

I agree with people above copyright could get u outta this problem... But it is money or friend and honestly... It really depends on how good they have been to you over the years... Is the other person worth it??????

Oh wait best friend nevermind

Didn't stop mark zuckerberg's best friend.

It's not even worth sue-ing for that cost...

43 small claims court. If they can prove they took the photo then it's not actually that troublesome.

39, Zuckerberg is a gazillionaire. Things are sometimes different depending on how much money is at stake.

Yeah, but Zuckerberg totally screwed him over.

This is why me and other Americans get teased about suing to much.

Only if he had rights to the photo

I would say a 99.9/.1 split would be fair, since OP did all of the real work

Bam! Right in the kisser!

"I am going to punch you right in the ovaries!"

Ok well you had "they're" correct, and then I'm not sure what happened after that

Well, that's depressing.

Nope. Totally right. They are you are best friend!

How do you sign a photo?

You get a pen, hold it in your hand, put it to the paper, and then.. you sign your name! :0