The PHI Photography Awards 2025, also presented as the Phi International Photography Awards 2025, is an international photography contest built around one central idea, the golden ratio at the heart of strong images. Established by Bayt Visual in Dubai, this competition is not merely about technical correctness, it searches for images where craft, composition, and vision align in perfect harmony. Whether you are a commercial shooter or a fine art creator, this award offers a sophisticated platform to have your work judged seriously.
If you are looking to join photography challenges online that prioritize quality over quantity, this event is a standout choice. With a clear focus on elevating photography to gallery standards, the organizers have committed to producing a high-quality hardcover book, the Phi Photography Annual, which serves as a tangible record of the best submissions. Open to photographers worldwide at any career stage, the competition offers substantial cash awards and global visibility. The final extended deadline to submit your most balanced and compelling work is March 15, 2026.
Contents
The PHI Photography Awards Prizes
The prize structure for this competition is designed to offer both financial support and lasting professional assets. The Grand Prize winner receives not only a significant sum but also the “Photographer of the Year” title, which comes with a dedicated feature and interview. Perhaps most importantly, the top winners and category standouts are celebrated through the publication of the Phi Photography Annual, a hardcover book circulated to industry professionals.
The specific rewards are distributed as follows:
- Photographer of the Year (Grand Prize):
- $1,000 in cash
- The official Phi Trophy
- Dedicated spread in the Phi Photography Annual
- Leading spot in the virtual exhibition
- Phi Golden Ratio Award:
- $500 for an outstanding image in the PHI Category
- Special distinction and promotion.
- Category Winners:
- $100 per category
- Digital certificate
- Feature in the online gallery
- All Accepted Entries: Inclusion in the virtual exhibition and eligibility for selection in the Annual book.
Beyond the cash prizes, winners earn the right to use the Phi Winner mark, a valuable tool for client communications and portfolios.
Related Photo Contests
The Categories of the PHI Photography Awards
The competition is structured to accommodate a wide range of photographic styles. A unique highlight is the “PHI Category,” which is dedicated specifically to images that demonstrate the Golden Ratio.
The main categories include:
- Advertising
- Architecture
- Black & White
- Editorial
- Fine Art
- Minimalist
- Nature
- People
- Special
- PHI Category
PHI Photography Awards Dates and Entry Fees
The PHI International Photography Awards 2025 follows a calendar of four submission periods, each with its own fee level. All fees are in US dollars and are calculated automatically in the online panel.
| Submission Period | Dates (2025 to 2026) | Single Image | Series (up to 5 images) | Additional Category (Image) | Additional Category (Series) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Bird | November 15 to December 25, 2025 | $18 | $25 | +$10 | +$15 |
| Regular | December 25, 2025 to January 25, 2026 | $20 | $30 | +$12 | +$15 |
| Late | January 25 to February 24, 2026 | $25 | $35 | +$15 | +$17 |
| Final Extended | February 25 to March 15, 2026 | $30 | $37 | +$15 | +$20 |
A single image is one photograph in a chosen category. A series is a set of up to five related images judged as a unit. Additional category fees allow the same work to be entered in more than one category. Fees are non refundable and support the jury, platform, virtual exhibition and annual book.
How to Enter:
Participation is managed through the official online portal. Images must be JPEGs using sRGB or Adobe RGB color profiles. Crucially, the files must have a minimum dimension of 2,500 pixels on the longest edge and a maximum file size of 5 MB. Ensure your filenames contain only letters, numbers, dashes, or underscores. You can choose to enter a single standalone image or a cohesive series of up to five images. Select the category that best fits your work and complete the payment process to finalize your submission.
About the Jury
The review process is conducted anonymously by a panel of distinguished international figures. The 2025 jury includes:
- Babak Mehrafshar (President of Phi Photo Awards)
- Mohammad Domiri (renowned curator)
- Rémi Masson (nature photographer)
They are joined by fine-art specialists Patrizia Burra and Gigi Chung, drone photography expert Tomáš Neuwirth, and multidisciplinary artist Alessandro Scali. This diverse group ensures that every genre, from architectural to conceptual, is judged with expert insight.
Why Enter PHI Photography Awards 2025?
Entering the PHI International Photography Awards 2025 places work in front of a jury that looks closely at how photographs are built and not just at who took them. Judging is anonymous, which keeps attention on the images themselves. The contest is open worldwide to photographers aged 18 or over and there is no limit on how many images or series can be submitted. This flexibility makes it easy to bring together editorial, advertising, fine art, nature or minimalist projects.
Recognition is shared across several levels rather than focused only on the top prize. The overall winner receives a substantial cash award and a dedicated feature, while category winners, finalists and accepted entries gain clear, citable benefits, from certificates and a curated virtual exhibition to possible inclusion in a gallery standard annual. For photographers who already browse the best photo challenges online to build a long term portfolio strategy, PHI offers a mix of careful judging, defined categories and golden ratio focus that can sit naturally on a CV, grant application or portfolio page without feeling like a one off event.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the PHI Photography 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.
Eligibility & Restrictions:
The competition is open to photographers aged 18 and over from all over the world. Notably, for the 2025-2026 edition, the rules explicitly state that entries with explicit nudity are not accepted. Images must not contain any watermarks, borders, or identifying marks to preserve the anonymity of the judging process.
Usage Rights:
By entering, photographers grant the PHI Photography Awards a limited, non-exclusive license to use the submitted images for promotional purposes related to the competition. This includes the virtual exhibition, the printed Annual book, and online galleries. However, the photographer retains full copyright and ownership of their work. The organization emphasizes that images will not be used for commercial purposes without explicit consent.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
