The Portrait by SE Center for Photography

Portraits can preserve a memory, challenge perceptions, or reveal something unexpected about the person being photographed. The Portrait by SE Center for Photography explores these possibilities through an international juried exhibition open to traditional and contemporary approaches to portraiture. Photographers have until November 15, 2026, to submit their images for consideration by juror Aline Smithson, a Los Angeles-based photographer, educator, and founder of LENSCRATCH.

There are no geographic or age restrictions. The SE Center for Photography will select approximately 35 to 40 photographs for an online exhibition scheduled from December 15, 2026, through January 30, 2027. Selected works will also receive additional presentation through the center’s social media channels and archived exhibition materials.

Entry fees start at $35 for up to five images, with discounted rates for SE Center members. The Portrait by SE Center for Photography focuses on juried exhibition opportunities and potential artwork sales, with photographers retaining the full sale price. Among the portrait photography contests available to international entrants, its open approach to technique and presentation is particularly relevant to artists working beyond conventional portraiture. Photographers looking for more opportunities can explore Deartline’s photo contest calendar, where competitions covering a wide range of themes and photographic styles are collected in one place.

Prizes and Exhibition Opportunities

The Portrait by SE Center for Photography offers selected photographers the opportunity to showcase their work in a juried online exhibition, gain additional exposure through the center’s promotional channels, and sell their photographs while retaining 100% of the sale price.

• Selected Photographers: Approximately 35 to 40 images will be included in the center’s virtual gallery exhibition, running from December 15, 2026, through January 30, 2027.
• Additional Online Exposure: Selected photographs will be featured through the center’s social media accounts, an archived online slideshow, and a video walkthrough of the exhibition.
• Artwork Sales: Photographers receive 100% of the sale price of any works sold. The SE Center charges no sales commission, and prints are ordered from the photographer when a sale occurs.

The online exhibition format allows selected work to be viewed without requiring photographers to travel or ship prints for display. The archived slideshow and exhibition walkthrough also provide an opportunity for the work to remain accessible after the scheduled exhibition dates.

These benefits place The Portrait among photography contests with exhibition opportunities.

Categories and Theme

The competition has a single overarching theme: The Portrait. There are no separate subject categories or restrictions limiting submissions to a particular photographic style.

The SE Center considers portraiture in its many forms, from traditional likenesses and personal representations to images that explore memory, identity, emotion, and the relationship between photographer and subject.

Analog and digital photography, historical processes, monochrome images, color photographs, and manipulated work are all welcome. This flexibility also creates room for photographers whose work intersects with conceptual photography contests, particularly when the portrait serves as a vehicle for a broader artistic idea.

Dates and Entry Fees

Entries opened in September 2026. The exhibition will begin in December, following the announcement of selected photographers.

Entry fees:

• Standard Entry:
  • $35 for up to five images.
  • $6 for each additional image, up to a maximum of 15.
• SE Center Members:
  • $28 for up to five images.
  • $5 for each additional image, up to a maximum of 15.

How to Enter

Photographers must submit their images online through the Smarter Entry platform, accessible from The Portrait by SE Center for Photography official page.

The organizer recommends JPEG files in the sRGB color space, sized to 1,200 pixels along the longest edge at 72 dpi. Files should follow the naming format Port.LastName.FirstInitial_Image#.jpg, such as “Port.Smith.J.Image1.jpg”.

About the Jury

Aline Smithson is the juror for The Portrait by SE Center for Photography. Based in Los Angeles, she is a photographer, visual artist, educator, and editor whose work frequently explores conceptual portraiture, humor, and the performative possibilities of photography.

Her photographs have been exhibited internationally, including at the Griffin Museum of Photography, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and photography festivals in China. Her work has also appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Communication Arts.

Her experience as both an exhibiting artist and photography editor provides a relevant background for evaluating a competition that allows such a wide range of approaches to portraiture.

Why Enter The Portrait by SE Center for Photography ?

The Portrait by SE Center for Photography brings together a broad interpretation of portraiture and the perspective of juror Aline Smithson, whose artistic practice frequently explores unconventional approaches to photographic representation. From traditional portraits to conceptual and experimental images, the competition welcomes a wide range of techniques and creative interpretations.

The SE Center will select approximately 35 to 40 photographs for its online exhibition. Selected works will also be featured through the center’s promotional channels and archived exhibition materials, extending their visibility beyond the exhibition dates. Photographers can also offer their work for sale while retaining 100% of the sale price.

For photographers working with portraiture, the competition offers an opportunity to present their work to an experienced juror and a photography-focused audience. Those interested in discovering opportunities across other genres and photographic styles can explore Deartline’s listings to find the best photo contests to enter based on their interests and creative goals.

Rules and Copyright

We reviewed the official rules of The Portrait by SE Center for Photography to summarize the key participation requirements, copyright terms and image usage conditions. Before entering, we recommend checking the complete rules published by the organizer.

Rules

The competition is open to photographers of any age, location, or experience level. Membership in the SE Center is not required, although members receive discounted entry fees.

Images previously selected for an SE Center for Photography exhibition within the two years preceding the current exhibition are not eligible.

Photographers may submit up to 15 images, subject to the applicable fees. The organizer accepts analog, digital, and antique photographic processes, including manipulated images. The prospectus does not establish a specific policy for AI-generated imagery.

Late submissions are not accepted, and entry fees are not refunded when images are unsuccessful.

Copyright and Image Usage

Photographers retain copyright in their submitted images. Artists selected for exhibition grant the SE Center permission to reproduce their photographs for promotional purposes, including publicity for the exhibition, the artist, the center, and its programs.

This permission also covers promotion of current and past exhibitions, including the use of photographs on social media and in promotional features. The organizer states that these uses do not require additional compensation.

The published terms do not specify whether the license is exclusive or non-exclusive, nor do they establish an expiration date. The permission applies to selected images rather than expressly covering every submission.

For artwork sales, the SE Center charges no commission. Photographers retain the full sale price, and any prints sold are ordered directly from the artist at the time of purchase.

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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.