The Daylight Photo Awards 2025 is an international photography competition organized annually by Daylight Books. Open to photographers worldwide, this contest seeks exceptional photographic talent capable of producing strong, cohesive bodies of work. Participants have the chance to earn recognition, significant exposure, and valuable professional development opportunities. With an entry fee of $35 per portfolio submission, photographers can compete to win attractive prizes, including a top cash prize of $2,500, coupled with the creation of a digital portfolio showcasing the winner’s work. Additionally, selected photographers will benefit from promotional campaigns and a potential collaboration with Daylight Books on a monograph project.
For the 2025 edition, submissions are accepted online starting March 1st, with the final entry deadline set for May 1, 2025 (extended to May 15th) . Participants must submit a cohesive series of 15–20 digital images along with captions, a one-page artist statement, and a professional bio and CV. Winners will be announced in August 2025, following the evaluation process carried out by a prestigious jury consisting of renowned professionals such as Elizabeth Avedon, Emily Bogle or Asha Iman Veal.
The competition does not feature separate thematic categories; instead, participants are encouraged to submit portfolios that reflect a strong and cohesive artistic vision or narrative. The judging panel will assess entries based on artistic merit, originality, thematic coherence, and technical quality, regardless of the photographic process—traditional or digital. The Daylight Photo Awards 2025 represents a good opportunity for photographers seeking both financial reward and industry recognition.
The Daylight Photo Awards 2025 Prizes
Winning the Daylight Photo Awards is coveted primarily due to the professional opportunities and prestige it brings rather than just financial incentives. Here’s what the winners will receive:
- Top Prize: A cash award of $2,500, alongside the creation of a professionally curated digital portfolio of the winning series.
- Juror Picks: Selected photographers will benefit from promotional efforts through Daylight Books’ internal and external marketing campaigns. They will also be considered for a collaborative monograph publication, substantially elevating their professional profiles within the photography community.
Related Photo Contests
Daylight Photo Awards 2025 Dates and Entry Fees
The following are key dates and details regarding entry fees for the Daylight Photo Awards 2025:
- Submission Period Opens: March 1, 2025
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2025 (8 p.m. EST)
- Extended Deadline: May 15, 2025
- Winners Announcement: August 2025
Entry Fees
- Cost per submission: $35 per portfolio entry
- Multiple submissions are allowed, but each must represent a distinctly different body of work and requires a separate fee.
About the Jury
The jury for the Daylight Photo Awards 2025 is composed of highly respected figures in the photography and visual arts fields, including:
- Elizabeth Avedon (Independent Curator and Photo-Book Designer)
- Emily Bogle (Senior Visual Editor at NPR)
- Bridget Harris (Director of Photography Creative at Airbnb)
- Oscar Rivera (Managing Director at En Foco)
- Asha Iman Veal (Associate Curator at MoCP Chicago)
These professionals bring diverse expertise to ensure a fair and insightful evaluation process, rewarding originality and excellence.
Why Enter the Daylight Photo Awards 2025?
The Daylight Photo Awards 2025 offers photographers an excellent chance to gain valuable exposure and professional recognition. By participating, photographers have their work reviewed by industry-leading experts, providing an opportunity for critical evaluation and visibility. Additionally, winning or being recognized in this contest can lead to further professional opportunities, such as collaborations on book projects, increased visibility through Daylight’s extensive networks, and connections with influential figures in the industry.
The $2,500 prize, the professional benefits, prestige, and promotional support provided by Daylight Books make the contest particularly appealing for photographers looking to establish themselves or expand their reach within the photography community. While the Daylight Photo Awards may not be as well known as the best photography competitions globally, it remains a solid contest for photographers looking to build professional relationships, increase visibility, and gain critical evaluation of their work.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Daylight Photo Awards 2025 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest, we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules Highlights
- Entries must be submitted digitally by the photographers themselves.
- Daylight staff members are ineligible to participate.
- Submission implies acceptance of contest rules, including personal data use for competition management purposes.
Copyright
- Photographers retain full copyright and ownership of all submitted images.
- Winners consent to their images being used to promote the Daylight Photo Awards, with appropriate credit.
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For more information and to enter the competition, visit: the oficial website.
