This article highlights the most notable photography competitions of the year, providing information on their deadlines, categories, entry fees and prizes.
In the dynamic world of photography, competitions are not just contests; they are opportunities for global recognition and artistic development. They allow you, as a photographer to display your talent and connect with a vibrant community.
Explore our handpicked selection of prestigious photography contests, organized by deadlines and frequently updated. Make sure to save this page to stay informed about the latest opportunities.
Remember: Act swiftly, as some deadlines are approaching soon!
See the Competitions of 2025 with open entries here.
The Awards are presented by Independent Photographer, a global community dedicated to celebrating photography through esteemed monthly competitions, an online magazine and curated digital art collections. Open to photographers of all styles, the platform invites submissions across a wide range of genres. Artists are encouraged to share their best work without any limits and restrictions.
Entry fees: 1 image - $15, 3 images -$30, 6 images - $40
Categories: Portrait, Travel, Street Photography, Documentary and others
Prize: $2000 cash prize, international exhibition and other prizes
Deadline: Dec. 31th, 2024
The Sony World Photography Awards, organized by the World Photography Organisation and now in its 18th year, stand as a cornerstone of the international photography community. This competition showcases modern photography and offers outstanding opportunities for both experienced and emerging photographers to achieve international acclaim for their work.
Entry fees: up to three single images for free
Categories: Architecture, Creative, Motion, Landscape, Lifestyle, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Portraiture, Street Photography, Travel
Prize: $5,000, Sony digital imaging equipment, certificate, global press exposure, etc.
Deadline: Jan. 3th, 2025 at 13.00 GMT
The Awards celebrate the art of photography by showcasing a diverse array of images from photographers worldwide. SIPA is recognized as one of the most popular and widely attended international photography competitions.
Entry fees: free to enter for one image, 3 images (including the free one) - € 20, each additional image - € 10. In the category Story-Telling - € 35, Videos - € 35
Categories: Journeys & Adventures, Fascinating faces and characters, The beauty of nature, Animals in their Environment, Sports in Actions, Sory-Telling, Documentary & Photojournalism, Street Photography, Underwater Life, Short Documentary Film
Prize: up to €1.500,00 worth of photography equipment and other prizes
Deadline: Jan. 9th, 2025
The annual World Press Photo Awards competition recognizes photographers for their exceptional single-exposure images that have made a significant impact on visual journalism over the past year.
Entry fees: free to enter
Categories: Singles, Stories, Long-Term Projects
Prize: €1,000 for each of the winners and an additional €10,000 for the World Press Photo of the Year winner
Deadline: Jan. 10th, 2025 at 13.00 CET (Amsterdam time)
Now in its 11th year, the Istanbul Photo Awards aims to recognize and support the dedication of press photographers. The competition is open exclusively to professional photographers, including both staff and freelance journalists. Participants are invited to submit images that capture key events making global headlines in 2024.
Entry fees: free to enter
Categories: Single News, Story News, Single Sports, Story Sports, Single Nature & Environment, Story Nature & Environment, Single Portrait, Story Portrait, Single Daily Life, Story Daily Life
Prize: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd category winners receive 3,000 USD, 1,500 USD, and 1,000 USD respectively. The Single News 1st prize winner will be nominated as the 'Photo of the Year,' and the laureate receives 6,000 USD in total
Deadline: Jan. 10th 2025 at 23:59 UTC+3 (Istanbul time)
The Aperture Portfolio Prize aims to identify trends in modern photography, showcasing and elevating deserving artists. To select winners, Aperture's editorial team seeks innovative, less widely showcased bodies of work. Exclusive to Aperture magazine print subscribers, the prize offers a platform for emerging talent. The Aperture Portfolio Prize seeks to highlight emerging trends in contemporary photography by showcasing and promoting talented artists. The prize focuses on selecting innovative and lesser-known bodies of work, chosen by Aperture's editorial team. Exclusively available to print subscribers of Aperture magazine, the award provides a platform for emerging photographers.
Entry fees: To enter the Portfolio Prize, you only need to be a subscriber to Aperture magazine in print
Categories: Portfolio
Prize: The top winner will have their work featured in Aperture magazine, participate in a New York City exhibition organized by Aperture and receive a $3,000 cash prize, along with a $1,000 gift card for gear from mpb.com
Deadline: Jan. 10th, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (EST)
Acknowledged by Capture Magazine, the Belfast Photo Festival's international Open Submission is considered one of the leading photography festivals worldwide. It offers a distinguished platform for showcasing work to a global audience, with past editions attracting over 100,000 visitors. Photographers and artists have the opportunity to exhibit their creations in the main Festival gallery alongside some of the most esteemed figures in the industry.
Entry fees: £23/ €29 per project (up to 15 images)
Categories: Photographs, Photo-Books
Prize: £2,000 (approx $2,700 / €2,300), exhibition and other benefits
Deadline: Early Bird: Dec. 1st 2024, Final Deadline: Jan. 31th, 2025
The International Photography Awards (IPA) seeks to recognize the world’s leading photographers, nurture emerging talent and promote the appreciation of photography. Its annual competition invites entries from professional, amateur, and student photographers from around the globe, making it one of the largest and most inclusive photography contests in the industry.
Entry fees: Professionals Non-Professionals Students
Single image $40 $30 $20
Series (2-9 images) $65 $55 $35
Additional categories 20% off 20% off 20% off
Categories: Advertising, Analog/Film, Architecture, Book, Editorial/Press, Event, Fine Art, Nature, People, Special, Sports and their subcategories
Prize: $12,000 'Photographer of the Year' and a $6,000 'Discovery of the Year' cash prize
Deadline: Jan 31th, 2025
Previously called the Food Photographer of the Year, the World Food Photography Awards is a distinctive competition that honors the finest in food photography globally. It invites participants from all backgrounds, whether professional or amateur and of any age.
Entry fees: The competition entry fee is £35.00 per adult entrant, allowing up to 6 photographic entries. Additional entries may be submitted at an extra fee of £7 per entry. Entry to the Young (under 18) and Student Food Photographer of the Year categories is free of charge, with a maximum of five entries allowed in each category.
Categories: World of Drinks, Food Influencer, Champagne Taittinger Wedding Food Photographer, MPB Award for Innovation, Hotel Art Group Food Stylist Award, The James Beard Foundation Photography Award, unearthed® Food for Sale, Bring Home the Harvest, Champagne Taittinger Food for Celebration, Claire Aho Award for Women Photographers, Production Paradise Previously Published, Tiptree Cake Award, Cream of the Crop, Street Food, The Philip Harben Award for Food in Action supported by Salon Culinaire, Food for the Family supported by The Felix Project, Politics of Food, World Food Programme Food for Life, On The Phone in support of Action Against Hunger, Fortnum & Mason Food at the Table, Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year, Marks & Spencer Food Portraiture, Food in the Field, Student Food Photographer of the Year supported by the Royal Photographic Society, Young
Prize: The top prize is £5,000 GBP, category winners receive up to £1,000 GBP along with other benefits.
Deadline: Feb. 9th, 2025 midnight GMT
The Fine Art Photography Awards is an international competition that celebrates outstanding achievements in Fine Art Photography. It is open to both amateur and professional photographers from all over the world, regardless of their origin.
Entry fees: Single entry - 24 USD, Series - 29 USD for Amateurs, Single entry - 29 USD, Series - 34 USD for Professionals
Categories: Abstract, Architecture, Conceptual, Experimental, Fashion, Fine Art, Landscape, Nature, Night Photography, Nudes, Open Theme, Panoramic
People, Photojournalism, Photomanipulation, Portrait, Seascape, Street Photography, Travel, Wildlife / Animals
Prize: Grand Prize Winner will receive $2000 as an Amateur and $3000 as a Professional
Deadline: Feb. 16th, 2025
The Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024-2025 is a global competition open to both professionals and amateurs, celebrating creativity in photography and filmmaking. Organized by Nikon, a leader in imaging technology, this 40th edition highlights the brand's commitment to both communities, offering a platform for diverse visual storytelling. The theme for this year, "Inspire," invites entries that provoke thought, evoke emotions, and encourage new perspectives.
Entry fees: free to enter
Categories: Single Photo, Photo Story; Theme: Inspire
Prize: The Grand Prize includes 500,000 yen, a Nikon Z8 camera, and a NIKKOR Z lens. Excellence Award winners receive a Nikon Z6III camera, a NIKKOR Z lens, and video accessories. Special Encouragement Award recipients get a Nikon Z30 camera, a NIKKOR Z lens, and video accessories. General Public Award winners, chosen by public vote, will receive a Nikon Z50 camera and a NIKKOR Z lens
Deadline: March 7th, 2025
The reFocus Awards - Black & White Photo Contest is back this year to celebrate the timeless allure of monochrome photography. Open to anyone 18 years and older, the contest welcomes entries of both individual images and series. The judging panel consists of esteemed photographers, curators, directors, and industry experts, chosen for their prominent roles in the global photography community.
Entry fees: Professional: Single Image - $30, Series - $50; Non-Professional: Single Image - $25, Series - $40; 5% reward, 50% discount on additional categories. Special student discounts.
Categories: Abstract, Aerial, Architecture, Conceptual, Domestic Animals, Event, Fashion & Beauty, Film/Analog, Fine Art, Landscapes, Minimalism, Nature, People, Photojournalism, Portrait, Still Life, Street, Travel, Wildlife
Prize: Over $4,000 in cash prizes, global exposure, artist profile, winner's gallery feature, custom press release, interview and more.
Deadline: Dec 3 - Jan 23, 2025 (Early Bird), Jan 23 - Feb 13, 2025 (Regular), Feb 13 - Mar 14, 2025 (Extended)
OpenWalls Spotlight is a special edition of OpenWalls, showcasing emerging and established artists since 2019. In partnership with WePresent and Galerie Huit Arles, this photography award offers one series winner and three single-image winners the chance to exhibit at the historic Galerie Huit Arles. The exhibition, coinciding with the renowned Les Rencontres d’Arles photography festival in July 2025, offers a prestigious platform for international recognition.
Entry fees: £5-35
Categories: Single Image, Stories. Theme: Traditions and Transition
Prize: Up to £500 in prizes, Exhibition
Deadline: March 13th, 2025
The iPhone Photography Awards, known as IPPAWARDS, is an annual contest that honors the creativity and artistry of photographers who use iPhones and iOS devices to capture stunning images. Established in 2007, the competition has achieved international recognition.
Entry fees: 1 image - $5.50, 3 images - $12.50, 5 images - $18.50, 10 images - $37.50, 15 images - $55.50, 20 images - $67.00, 25 images - $75.50. There are no limits on the number of entries; however, it is recommended to submit your best ones.
Categories: Abstract, Animals, Architecture, Children, Citylife/Cityscape, Landscape, Lifestyle, Nature, People, Portrait, Series (3 images), Still Life, Travel, Other
Prize: The top three winners will receive a prize that will be announced later. The first-place winner in each of the 14 categories will receive a gold bar from the most prestigious private gold coin in the world. The second and third-place winners in each of the 14 categories will receive a platinum bar from the most prestigious private gold coin in the world.
Deadline: March 31th, 2025
The URBAN 2025 Photo Awards is a global photography contest that honors urban life and culture. It aims to showcase the beauty, intricacy, and diversity of urban settings through the eyes of skilled photographers. The awards strive to give photographers worldwide greater visibility and to enhance appreciation for urban spaces and their narratives. This international photo competition is focused on young talents.
Entry fees: Single Photo - 1 free photo, € 15 First photo, € 9 Every further photo
Portfolio €35, Book Award € 20, Zine Award € 10, Photo Arena (UNDER 35) Free
Categories: The general theme of the contest is Urban Life: Urban Photography. The contest is organized into 4 sections: Single Photos, Projects & Portfolios, URBAN Book & Zine Award, URBAN Photo Arena (Trieste Photo Young third edition). This section dedicated to single photos includes the following thematic areas: Street, People, Spaces, Creative
Prize: Trophies and medals by Venice Biennale artist Giorgio Celiberti: Value: 1.200 €, Over 10.000 € in Amazon Gift Cards, Free 2-night stay for 2 at the festival and gala dinner included, Media coverage on the best Photo Magazines
Deadline: April 1st, 2025
The Creative Photo Awards aim to honor photographers with deep sensitivity and a passion for expressing emotions through their images, providing a unique view of the world. The contest seeks photographs that stem from an authentic love for storytelling.
Entry fees: 1 image is free to enter, 3 images (including the free one) - € 20, each additional image - € 10, Series (5 to 9 images) - € 35
Categories: Animals/Pets, Advertising, Architecture, People, Fine Art, Wedding, Open Theme, Nature & Landscape
Prize: € 500,00 worth of photography equipment for the main winner and other benefits
Deadline: April 1st, 2025
The Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) celebrates and highlights exceptional photography from across the globe. It connects photographers with Tokyo’s vibrant creative community, offering a valuable platform to showcase their work to a new audience. We encourage photographers worldwide to join the TIFA photo competition.
Entry fees: $15 - $40
Categories: Advertising, Analog / Film, Architecture, Book, Editorial, Fine Art, Nature, People, Portfolio, Special
Prize: TIFA Photographer of the Year: $3,000 cash prize and TIFA trophy
New Talent of the Year: $2,000 cash prize and TIFA trophy
First Place Category Winners (Pro & Non-Pro): $200 cash prize (Paypal or Amazon gift card) for each category (Advertising, Architecture, Book, Editorial, Events, Fine Art, Nature, People, Portfolio, Science) — One prize per entry.
Deadline: April 8th, 2025
The Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3), seeks to promote the appreciation of photography, discover new talent, and link photographers worldwide with the artistic community in Paris.
Entry fees: For professional photographers: $30 for each photograph entered (single image), $50 for each series (2-8 images with a unifying theme) or book, 20% off per additional category if the same entry is submitted to multiple categories. For non-professional and student photographers: $20 per photograph entered (single image), $40 for each series (2-8 images with a unifying theme) or book, and 20% off per additional category if the same entry is submitted to multiple categories.
Categories: Advertising, Book, Fine Art, Nature, Portraiture, Press /Editorial, Architecture, Special, Sports and their respective subcategories
Prize: Professional photographers compete for the top award – the title of 'PX3 Photographer of the Year' and a $5,000 cash prize. Non-professional photographers compete for the PX3 Best New Talent Award and a $2,000 cash prize. First Place Category Winners (Professionals) receive a $500 cash prize, while First Place Category Winners (Non-Professionals and Students) receive a $250 cash prize
Deadline: Early Bird Deadline (10%): Feb. 12th, 2025; Regular Deadline: April 15th, 2025.
Gomma, with 20 years of experience, proudly launches a contest dedicated to monochrome photography. Winners will receive cash prizes, certificates, and global exposure. Finalists’ work will be celebrated in a Limited-Edition hardcover photo book, distributed worldwide. Gomma has a strong track record of connecting photographers with publishers and curators, helping past winners advance their careers professionally and artistically. Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your black & white photography to the world.
Entry fees: €25
Categories: Black and White theme
Prize: 1st Prize – €500 + Award Certificate + Complimentary Book
2nd Prize – €200 + Award Certificate + Complimentary Book
3rd Prize – €100 + Award Certificate + Complimentary Book
Finalists (≈30) – Finalist Certificate + 30% Book Discount
Deadline: April 25th, 2025
The Nikon Small World Prize is a renowned contest focused on still photomicrography, inviting participants to capture images using microscopes. It is open to individuals over 18, with the exception of Nikon employees and those from competing companies. Submissions are evaluated by a panel of specialists in imaging, science and scientific communication.
Entry fees: free to enter
Categories: Photomicrography
Prize: 1st Prize - USD 3,000, 2nd Prize - USD 2,000, 3rd Prize - USD $1,000
Deadline: April 30th, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET
MonoVisions seeks to discover outstanding monochrome photographers worldwide, offering them chances for recognition and rewards. This annual competition is inclusive, inviting participants from diverse backgrounds and skill levels, ranging from professionals to amateurs. It accepts all types of black and white photography, whether created using traditional or digital techniques.
Entry fees: Series - 25$, Single - 20$ before the early deadline; Series - 30$, Single - 25$ before the final deadline
Categories: Abstract, Architecture, Conceptual, Fine Art, Landscapes, Nature and Wildlife, Nude, People, Photojournalism, Portrait, Street Photography, Travel
Prize: $2,000 and $3,000 award for Black and White Photo of the Year and Black and White Series of the Year respectively
Deadline: Jan. 19th, 2025 (early deadline), May 18th, 2025 (final deadline)
The CEWE Photo Award, originally “Europe is Beautiful,” now inspires global photographers under the motto “Our World is Beautiful.” Open to all ages, nationalities, and experience levels, it promotes photography culture while supporting charitable causes. The competition values creativity, protects photographers’ rights, and connects a vibrant community of photographers, a dedicated jury, and major photo festivals.
Entry fees: free to enter
Categories: Nature & Wildlife, Animals, Landscapes, People, Travel & Culture, Architecture, Sports & Action, Cooking & Food, Street Photography, Close-up & Macro Photography
Prize: Grand Prize: Unique trip (€10,000), photo equipment voucher (€5,000), CEWE photo products voucher (€2,500).2nd-10th Place: Photo equipment voucher (€5,000), CEWE photo products voucher (€2,500).11th-30th Place: Photo equipment voucher (€2,500), CEWE photo products voucher (€1,000).31st-1000th Place: CEWE photo products voucher (€100).
Deadline: May 30th, 2025
The Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA), founded in 2011 under the patronage of Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum, is a prestigious global photography competition. HIPA strives to foster excellence in photography worldwide, providing photographers with a distinguished platform to showcase their talent.
Entry fees: free to enter
Categories: This year, the main theme of the HIPA contest is POWER.
Other categories are:
• General (subcategories: Colour and Black & White)
• Portfolio (5-10 photographs telling one story)
• Sports photography
• Drone (Video)
Prize: The awards for first, second, and third place are $40,000, $30,000, and $20,000, except in the Portfolio Category, where winners receive $50,000, $40,000, and $30,000. Color and Black & White will have separate placements. The Grand Prize winner will earn $200,000.
Deadline: May 31th, 2025
TNCJ Media Solutions proudly presents the 2025 Black and White Photo Awards, welcoming photographers from around the world, both amateur and professional, to take part. This competition seeks to recognize and celebrate outstanding talent in black-and-white photography across five thematic categories, offering a platform for photographers to display their creativity.
Entry fees: €15
Categories: Architecture, Street, Portrait, Fauna and Flora, Landscapes
Prize: €1,000 for the absolute winner. €8,000 in prizes for the best photographs
Deadline: June 15th, 2025
The Drone Awards, an integral part of the Siena Awards initiative, is a distinguished international contest focused on aerial photography and videography, setting itself apart from conventional photography. It invites entries from diverse aerial platforms, drawing participants from more than 100 nations. The judging panel, made up of esteemed photographers and industry specialists, assesses submissions on the basis of innovation and creativity.
Entry fees: free to enter
Categories: Wedding, Nature, People, Urban, Animals, Abstract, Sport, Videos, Series
Prize: € 500,00 worth of photography equipment for the Drone Photographer of the Year and other prizes
Deadline: June 15th, 2025
We also recommend checking out our blog post, "20 Exciting Photography Trends for Inspiration in 2025," to stay updated on the latest trends and maintain a competitive edge in photography contests.
Keep in mind that engaging in contests offers exposure and recognition, yet concurrently heightens the risk of potential photo theft. Therefore, it is crucial to stay informed about various facets of photography copyright and remain up-to-date on strategies to safeguard your creative work.
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