Every photographer wonders whether or not their work is capable of being the best. If you have been wondering the same then entering a photography contest can help you out. While the acclaim of winning a photo contest can be exhilarating and help your career out a ton, even if you don’t win, participating can be beneficial. Photography contests are a fantastic way of networking and gaining exposure when you are looking to make your mark in the world of photography.
We published a list of upcoming photography contests for 2023-2024 and we have decided to do the same this year! Let us take a look at some of the best upcoming photo contests for 2023-2024 that you can enter for your chance to win, but first, let us talk about what are photo contests and why should you enter them?
Here are the Top 20 Photography Contests
- The iPhone Photography Awards
- The Nikon Small World Prize
- Rebecca Vassie Memorial Award
- reFocus Awards - Black & White Photo Awards
- Tokyo International Foto Awards
- Boudoir Photography Awards
- Siena Drone Photo Awards
- Eugene Smith Grant
- Julia Cameron Award
- reFocus Awards - Color Photography Contest
1. The iPhone Photography Awards
The iPhone Photography Awards first launched in 2007 and aims to promote and honor photographs taken by iPhone users. This is a very unique award in that it does not require participants to use DSLRs or other professional film cameras but specifically encourages and awards photographers who use accessible mobile devices like iPhones and iPads.
In that, it is also one of the most accessible photography contests on this list. All you need to enter the IPPAwards is an iPhone or iPad.
Entry Fee: 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 in the number of entries however we recommend that you only submit your best ones.
Eligibility Requirements: All entries must be shot on an iPhone or iPad.
Award: Major Awards: Each submission is in the running for the coveted title of IPPA Photographer of the Year. The three most outstanding participants will secure a yet-to-be-disclosed award.
14 Gold Bars: The individual seizing first place across the 14 defined categories will be awarded a Gold Bar, courtesy of a highly distinguished private gold mint globally.
14 Platinum Bars: Participants landing in second and third places within the 14 categories will each receive a Platinum Bar, also from the world's most notable private gold mint.
Deadline: March 31, 2024
2. The Nikon Small World Prize
The Nikon Small World Prize is a unique entry in this list in that it focuses especially on photomicrography, that is photographs taken through a microscope.The contest has two parts, the Nikon Small World Prize and the Nikon Small World in Motion Prize. The former focuses on still photomicrography while the latter focuses on digital videos or timelapses taken through a microscope.
You can use any microscope to take your photographs and the final entries are judged by a panel of four to five judges with expertise in varying areas relevant to the competition including imaging, science and scientific communications.
Entry Fee: Free
Eligibility Requirements: Open to anyone over the age of 18 years who is not an employee of Nikon, their agencies, affiliates or any competing microscope or camera manufacturers.
Award: 1st Prize - USD $3,000, 2nd Prize - USD $2,000, 3rd Prize - USD $1,000
Deadline: Apr 3, 2025
3. Rebecca Vassie Memorial Award
The Rebecca Vassie Memorial Award is awarded by the Rebecca Vassie Trust. Rebecca Vassie was a photographer and photojournalist who dedicated her life to using photography as a medium of communicating the narratives of marginalized people and raising awareness around their issues. Vassie passed away from an asthma attack when photographing a refugee camp in Uganda in 2015.
The memorial award is a bursary award for upcoming photographers in the UK undertaking narrative photography focusing on human stories within a socio-political context.
Entry Fee: Free
Eligibility Requirements: UK citizens or photographers residing in the UK working on documentary photography.
Award: £2,000 bursary, mentorship and £500 print credit
Deadline: Closed
Note: The 2025 award will be open for submissions in late 2024.
4. reFocus Awards - Black & White Photo Awards
Beyond awards and prizes, the reFocus Awards offers three annual competitions and a novel, artist-first online gallery designed to not only share the unique power of photography but to encourage the discovery of artists and the stories behind the winning images.
Celebrating the timeless nature of black and white photography, this contest accepts both single image and series entries. Our world-class jury, from some of the most prestigious institutions in the photography, art, and publishing world, will judge entries to all reFocus contests.
Entry Fees:
Professional: Single Image: $30
Non-Professional: Single Image: $25
Professional: Series: $50
Non-Professional: Series: $40
Entrants also receive 5% back in rewards & 50% off entry to additional categories. Student discounts are available.
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all. Must be over 18 years of age.
Award:
$2500 in Cash Prizes, Global Exposure, Public Artist Profile, Feature in Winner’s Gallery, Custom Press Release & Winner’s Assets, Winner’s Interview, & More
Deadline:
Closed
5. Tokyo International Foto Awards
The Tokyo International Foto Awards, first awarded in 2016, aim to recognize, discover, honor, and connect experienced professional photographers, young and emerging photographers as well as student photographers from around the world.
The awards offer a unique opportunity for photographers to meet and network with photographers across the globe, especially within the Tokyo creative community. The awards are open to photographers from around the world and accept entries in various categories including advertising, architecture, editorial, fine art, nature, science and more.
Entry Fee: $20 per single entry and $30 per series for professionals, $15 for single entries and $20 for series for non-professionals and $10 for single entries and $15 for series for students.
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all
Award: TIFA Photographer of the Year: USD $3,000 cash prize and TIFA trophy, New Talent of the Year :$2,000 cash prize and TIFA trophy
Deadline: EB Deadline – 10% discount: May 30, 2023
Regular Deadline: Closed
6. Boudoir Photography Awards
A photography contest organized by Boudoir Inspiration, the most established magazine all about boudoir photography, celebrating the creativity of boudoir photographers from all around the world with their sensual and mesmerizing photography.
A book in high-quality print will be available for sale after the announcement of the winners. The book will consist of winners and shortlisted entries.
Boudoir Inspiration is a magazine and platform dedicated to providing delicately curated inspiration for Boudoir Photography. A beautiful collection of Boudoir Photography featuring the best boudoir photographers and beautiful models. It is about all aspects of boudoir photography, giving inspiration, advice, and favorite trends in the boudoir community to those interested in venturing into the world of boudoir, photographers, and muses alike.
Entry Fees: Earlybird Deadline: $19.50, Final Deadline: $24.50 (discounts for multiple entries)
Prizes: There is a majestic vacation prize in a Cave Hotel in Cappadocia and a Beach Resort & Spa in the Mediterranean in addition to cash prizes for the winner ($500), 2nd ($300), and 3rd place ($200). A print copy of the contest book is provided to the winners together with special promotions through their website, magazine, and social media.
Submission Dates: Closed
7. Siena Drone Photo Awards
The Siena Drone Photo Awards is one of the more niche photography contests on this list and is specifically geared towards aerial photography and videography. While the name mentions drone photography, the awards actually accepts all kinds of aerial photography including those taken from fixed wing aircraft, balloons, unmanned craft of any kind, blimps, dirigibles, kites and parachutes etc. The competition accepts entries from both professional and amateur photographers and includes different categories of aerial photography including urban, wildlife, wedding, abstract, animals, people and sports.
Entry Fee: Single image is free to enter, 3 images (including the free one) are € 20, Each additional image € 10, Series entry fee is € 35, and videos are € 35
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all
Award: €500,000 worth of photography equipment to the winner of the Drone Photographer of the Year.
Deadline: 2024 contest ended. See the website for current dates.
8. Eugene Smith Grant
The Eugene Smith Grant is awarded in honor of the American photojournalist W. Eugene Smith whose work documenting World War II and the Minamata disease in Japan is considered to be some of the most pioneering work in the genre of documentary photography.
The grant is awarded annually to a photographer working in photojournalism or documentary photography, whose past work and proposed project follows the tradition and honors the legacy of Eugene Grant as judged by a panel of experts. Aside from sample photographs, entrants to the grant must also include a written proposal and a description of the photographs submitted.
Entry Fee: USD $50, fee waiver available for certain categories of entrants.
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all. Students should apply to the student grant only.
Award: $40,000 and an additional $5000 fellowship
Deadline: 2024 contest ended. See the website for current dates.
9. Julia Cameron Award
Julia Cameron (1815-1869) was a British photographer and one of the foremost portraitists of her era. She was known for iconic photographs of figures such as Charles Darwin and Alfred Tennyson as well as for her sensitive, illustrative photographs of young women and children.
The Julia Cameron Award honors her legacy as a pathbreaking female photographer and is therefore only open to women photographers. Any woman photographer over the age of 13, working in any medium, style or school is eligible to enter. The 2022 photography contest will be adjudicated by a panel of past Julia Cameron Award winners.
Entry Fee:
Regular fees starting October 2:
Each set of 3 single images: $48
Each additional single image: $10
Each series of 6 images: $60
Each additional series: $30
Eligibility Requirements: Open to women photographers worldwide, over the age of 13.
Award: Fully paid solo exhibition, travel and lodging costs, gallery representation and exposure in Artsy.
Deadline: October 29, 2023
10. reFocus Awards - Color Photography Contest
Beyond awards and prizes, the reFocus Awards offers annual competitions and a novel, artist-first online gallery designed to not only share the unique power of photography but to encourage the discovery of artists and the stories behind the winning images.
Celebrating distinctive color photography, this contest accepts single-image entries and is judged by reFocus's world-class jury representing some of the most prestigious institutions in the photography, art, and publishing world.
Entry Fees:
Professional: Single Image: $30
Non-Professional: Single Image: $25
Entrants also receive 5% back in rewards & 50% off entry to additional categories. Student discounts are available.
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all. Must be over 18 years of age.
Award: $4,000 in Cash Prizes, Global Exposure, Public Artist Profile, Feature in Winner’s Gallery, Custom Press Release & Winner’s Assets, Winner’s Interview, & More
Deadline: Closed for 2024
II. WORLD PHOTO ANNUAL
A) For Top Photography List
reFocus Awards - World Photo Annual
Beyond awards and prizes, the reFocus Awards offers three annual competitions and a novel, artist-first online gallery designed to not only share the unique power of photography but to encourage the discovery of artists and the stories behind the winning images.
The World Photo Annual is their most prestigious contest awarding the honor of Photographer of the Year, for professionals, and Discovery of the Year, for non-professionals, within each category. Our world-class jury, from some of the most prestigious institutions in the photography and art world, will judge entries to all reFocus contests.
Entry Fees:
Professional: Single Image: $28
Non-Professional: Single Image: $22
Professional: Series: $40
Non-Professional: Series: $32
Entrants also receive 5% back in rewards & 50% off entry to additional categories. Student discounts are available. Eligibility Requirements: Open to all. Must be over 18 years of age.
Award: $5,000 in Cash Prizes, Global Exposure, Public Artist Profile, Feature in Winner’s Gallery, Custom Press Release & Winner’s Assets, Winner’s Interview, & More
Deadline: Closed for 2024
11. CAP Prize
The CAP Prize or the Contemporary African Photography Prize has been awarded since 2012 for photography centering in and and around the African continent.
To be eligible for the CAP Prize your photographs should have been taken on the African continent or should engage in some way with the African diaspora outside Africa. The entries are reviewed by a panel of international curators, publishers, editors and artists and of the 25 shortlisted entries, 5 are awarded the prize. The competition is open to anyone irrespective of age or descent.
Entry Fee: Free
Eligibility Requirements: All entries must engage with Africa as a continent or the African diaspora.
Award: International exposure at major global exhibitions and networking opportunities.
Deadline: Closed
12. ND Awards
The Neutral Density Awards or ND awards is a photography contest dedicated to a modern approach towards photography coupled with a respect for tradition. The photo contest is open to both professional and non-professional photographers and accepts entries in the categories of architecture, fine art, editorial, nature, people and special.
The special category is specifically for genres such as advertising photography, street photography, aerial photography etc. The jury includes gallery owners, editors, publishers and acclaimed photographers.
Entry Fee: Non-Professional - Single image entry fee: $15
Non-Professional - Series entry fee (from 2 to 5 images): $20
Professional - Single image entry fee: $20
Professional - Series entry fee (from 2 to 5 images): $25
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all
Award: USD $2500 for winner of professional category and USD $1300 for winner of non- professional category
Deadline: 2024 Submission Closed
13. Earth.Org Global Photography Competition
If you are a wildlife or nature photographer then the Earth.Org Global Photography Competition may be the best platform for you to showcase your work and gain more exposure in the world of nature photography. The competition encourages entrants to celebrate the richness and diversity of natural life on earth through their photography.
The competition’s jury is chaired by award winning conservation photographers and nature photographers. If you have a passion for wildlife, biodiversity and conservation then this photography competition is definitely for you.
Entry Fee: Free
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all
Award: Yet to announce
Deadline: April 26, 2024
14. Paula Riff Award
The Paul Riff Award is one of the most recently instituted awards in this list, the first one having been awarded just last year in 2021. This photography contest and award has been instituted in the honor of artist Paula Riff known for creating camera-less photographic work on paper incorporating bold colors, form and design.
The award is open to photographers who like to break the norms of convention through their photography and display the artist’s hand in what they create either through conventional photographic techniques or through physical interventions of the photographer’s hands through cutting, sewing or other techniques.
Entry Fee: Free
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all
Award: USD $1000 and an opportunity to be featured on Lenscratch and the Center for Photographic Arts website.
Deadline: 2023 Submission Closed
15. The Isem Grand Prize
The Isem Grand Prize for documentary is endowed to photographers in order to develop and complete a documentary project that is a work in progress. The finished work will be exhibited in 2023 during the award of the next edition of the award.
There is also the Isem Young Photographers Award which is for photographers residing on French soil under the age of 26. These photography contests are perfect for documentary photographers.
Entry Fee: Free
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all. The Young Photographers award is only open to photographers under the age of 26, residing on French soil.
Award: Endowment of €8000 for the Isem Grand Prize and €2000 for the Young Photographers Award
Deadline: Submission Closed
16. World Nature Photography Awards
The World Nature Photography Awards celebrates the world’s best nature photographers. The philosophy behind this photography contest is that small efforts to shape the future of our planet in a positive way and photography can go a long way in influencing people to see the world from a different perspective and change their own habits for the good of the planet.
The competition is open to both professionals and amateurs who are above 18 years of age and focuses on nature and wildlife photography and nature photojournalism.
Entry Fee: £25 per entry + UK VAT. Up to 6 entries allowed.
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all.
Award: USD $1000
Deadline: Submission Closed
17. Creative Photo Awards
The Creative Photo Awards aim to recognize, celebrate and honor photographers and artists using photographic processes and techniques to create creative and artistic works that communicate a unique vision. This photography contest focuses on pushing the photographic medium, experimenting with different techniques or creative approaches.
The contest is open to both amateur and professional photographs and all entries are judged by a distinguished jury of photographers, curators, artists, publishers and editors.
Entry Fee: Single image free to enter, 3 images (including the free one) € 20, Each additional image € 10, Series entry € 35
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all.
Award: €500,000 worth of photography equipment to the winner of the Creative Photographer of the Year.
Deadline: 2023 contest ended. See the website for current dates.
18. RPS International Photography Exhibition
The RPS International Photography Exhibition is the world’s longest running and prestigious photography exhibition. It is awarded by the Royal Photographic Society which was founded in the year 1853 with the first exhibition taking place in the year 1858 in the Victoria & Albert Museum.
The open-call exhibition accepts entries from everyone and everywhere irrespective of age or expertise. The final selection for the exhibition is kept anonymous, including from the winners themselves. Images across all genres are accepted.
Entry Fee:One free single image submission is available to all entrants. Standard entry of four images: £30 per person, RPS Member entry of four images: £24 per person, Entry of four images for anyone Under 30: £18 per person
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all
Award: Opportunity to be featured in the Royal Photographic Society Exhibition.
Deadline: Submission Closed
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19. Monovisions Photo Awards
The Monovisions Photography Awards are a photography competition aimed at black and white photography and photographers who work in monochrome images. Hosted by the Monovisions Photography magazine, a leading magazine in the world of photography, this photo contest accepts both digital and traditional film photography.
The photo contest accepts entries in 12 different categories including abstract, architecture, conceptual, fine art, landscapes, nature and wildlife, nude, people, photojournalism, portrait, street photography and travel.
Entry Fee: Series: USD $30, Single: USD $25
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all
Award: USD $3000 for Black & White Series of the Year, USD $2000 for Black & White Photograph of the Year
Deadline: MAY 19TH, 2024
20. Monochrome Photo Awards
The Monochrome Photo Awards is another extremely prestigious black and white photography contest. The awards are given out in 13 different categories including abstract, architecture, conceptual, fashion / beauty, fine art, landscapes, nature, nude photojournalism, photo manipulation, portrait, street and wildlife.
The jury consists of a panel of renowned and distinguished photographers. The competition is open to everyone and there are different categories for amateur and professional photographers.
Entry Fee: Professional: 20 USD/Single Entry, Amateur: 15 USD/Single Entry is submitted by early deadline. Professional: 25 USD/Single Entry, Amateur: 20 USD/Single Entry by final deadline
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all
Award: USD $3000
Deadline: NOVEMBER 12TH 2023
21. Chromatic Awards
Unlike the Monovisions and Monochrome Photo Awards, the Chromatic Photo Awards is all about color and color photography. The awards aim to promote, recognize and honor the best among the photographers of the world and recognize emerging talent in the world of photography. Chromatic awards include gold, silver, and bronze medals for each level in each category.
The 20 different categories for the chromatic awards include abstract, architecture, cityscapes, conceptual, culture, environmental, fashion and beauty, fine art, landscapes, nature, nudes, people, photojournalism, photo manipulation, portrait, sports, still life, street, travel, wildlife and animals.
Entry Fee: Professional: 20 USD/Single Entry, Amateur: 15 USD/Single Entry is submitted by early deadline. Professional: 25 USD/Single Entry, Amateur: 20 USD/Single Entry by final deadline.
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all
Award: USD $2000 for the winner of the professional category and USD $1000 for amateur category.
Deadline: 22 OCTOBER 2023
22. IPA Awards
The International Photography Awards is one of the largest and most prestigious photography competitions for professional, amateur and student photographers on a global scale.
This photo contest accepts entries in 13 different categories including advertising, analog or traditional film photography, architecture, photo books, editorial, narrative,event, fine art, nature photography, people, sports and even videos, slideshows and stop motion photography.
The entries are judged by a diverse and distinguished jury consisting of curators, photographers, artists, publishers, editors, and other judges of diverse professional and personal backgrounds.
Entry Fee: $35 for a single image for professionals, $25 for amateurs and $15 for students. For a series of 2-9 images, professionals are charged $60, amateurs $50 and students $30.
Eligibility Requirements: Open to all.
Award: USD $1000 for winners in the professional category and USD $500 for winners in the non-professional categories. USD $10,000 cash prize for the winner of the International Photographer of the Year (Professional) and USD $5000 cash prize for Discovery of the Year (Non-Professional)
Deadline: Closed
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Why should you enter photography contests?
Photography contests provide the perfect platform for all kinds of photographers, whether professional or amateur, new or experienced, to show off their skills, gain exposure, promote their work and grow professionally.
One of the most difficult aspects of becoming a professional photographer is gaining enough exposure and building up a reliable enough network to ensure you always have a job.
This is especially the case in niche genres like fine art photography, conceptual photography, documentary photography etc. Photography contests are helpful for upcoming photographers who haven’t been noticed yet. There are obviously other ways of boosting your career as a photographer and if clients are what you are after then you should read our guide to getting photography clients.
However, if you want to be noticed and known around the larger world of photography then photo contests help you cast a wider net.
Do check out these articles on photography
Even for established photographers, participating in photo contests can not only help in padding your CV, it also lets the professional photography world know that you are active and constantly working on your photography.
Regularly participating in photography workshops is another good way of keeping yourself up to date with the latest trends and techniques and keeping up with networking. Here are some of the best photography workshops that you can participate in 2023. Here are also some of the most important photography magazines that you should be reading if you want to be always in the know about what is happening in the world of photography.
So now that you know why photography contests are important, let us get straight into the most important and prestigious photo contests coming up this year that you can participate in!
Conclusion
These are some of the best photography contests that are still open to entries in 2023. If you want to test your mettle and compete against some of the best photographers, both professional and amateur, then this list is perfect for you.
Photography contests are the right way to go when you are starting to get serious about your photography career. However, if you are interested in establishing yourself as a professional photographer and gaining clients beyond just contests then what you need is a photography portfolio website. Check out these examples of the best photography portfolios to inspire you!
Creating a photography portfolio is easier than you think. Try out Pixpa’s 15-day, full-featured free trial and see for yourself! No credit card required for sign up. Pixpa also offers a 30-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with your experience. With the perfect, professional photography portfolio website you can embark on your journey as a professional photographer!