International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025

The International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025 (also known as the IWPOTY Awards or simply IWPOTY) invites both professional and amateur wedding photographers from around the globe to showcase their finest work. Submissions are open until 15 September 2025, offering entrants a shot at sharing in over $20,000 in cash and sponsor prizes.

At stake is the prestigious Grand Winner title—complete with a custom trophy, $1,000 cash prize, Harlowe MAX 40W Creator Kit, Studio Ninja 2-Year Master Plan and more. The Runner-Up and twelve Category Winners also receive distinctive trophies and prize packages valued between $600 and $1,600 each, ensuring recognition at every level.

Entries open on 1 February 2025, with an Early Bird deadline of 14 August and final closing on 15 September. Fees start at $20 per image ($15 for members; $10 for the Break the Rules category) and increase to $30 after Early Bird. All submissions are made via the IWPOTY Awards Platform. Recognized among the best photography contests, this competition promises transparent two-round blind judging, global exposure and invaluable creative inspiration.

The International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025 Prizes

Here’s what winners receive at each level:

Grand Winner – Photographer of the Year

• Custom engraved trophy
• $1,000 cash prize
• Harlowe MAX 40W Creator Kit
• Studio Ninja 2-Year Master Plan subscription
• Koi Knives set ($1,000 value)
• Pic-Time Pro Membership (1 year)
• Holdfast gear package ($400 value)
• ProGrade CF Express 4.0 Type A (480 GB) card & reader

Runner-Up – Photographer of the Year

• Custom runner-up trophy
• $250 cash prize
• Pic-Time Pro Membership (1 year)
• Holdfast gear package ($350 value)
• ProGrade CF Express 4.0 Type B (512 GB) card & reader
• Koi Knives set ($200 value)

Category Winners (12 Awards)

• Custom trophy for each category
• IWPOTY Membership (1 year)
• Prizes valued between $600 and US$1,600 per category (memory cards, subscriptions, gear)

The Categories of the International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025

The International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025 features 12 diverse categories, allowing photographers to showcase their strengths across the various disciplines of wedding photography. The categories are:

• Black & White
• Break the Rules
• Couple Portrait
• Dance Floor
• Emerging Artist
• Engagement / Non-Wedding
• Epic Location
• From Above
• I-Do Crew
• Lit!
• Single Capture
• Solo Portrait

Each category highlights a unique wedding-photography style—from timeless monochrome to aerial perspectives and dynamic dance-floor moments.

International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025 Dates and Entry Fees

IWPOTY 2025 structures its entry windows and fees to reward early submissions while remaining accessible to all.

Dates:

• Entries Open: 1 February 2025
• Early Bird Closes: 14 August 2025
• Final Entries Close: 15 September 2025

Entry Fees:

• Early Bird Fee: $20 per image ($15 for members; $10 for Break the Rules)
• Final Entry Fee: $30 per image ($15 for members; $10 for Break the Rules)
• Annual Membership: $95/year (includes $75 credit + member rates)

How to Enter:

Log in or create an account on the IWPOTY Awards Platform, choose your category, upload JPEG images (RGB, 8-bit, ≥3500 px on longest side, quality ≥10), and complete payment via Stripe or PayPal. Follow prompts to submit each image securely.

About the Jury

The 2025 IWPOTY Awards are judged by six leading wedding photographers, each selected for their expertise and artistic vision:

• Alan Law (TIR) – Founder of This is Reportage; Cornwall-based documentary specialist with over a decade in the field.
• Bettina Vass – Icelandic editorial and documentary photographer celebrated for her emotive storytelling.
• Kemran Shiraliev – Russia-based ISPWP and IWPOTY winner known for dynamic creative compositions.
• The Mateers – UK documentary duo renowned for their candid, narrative-driven imagery.
• Tinted Photography – New Zealand team famed for their innovative use of lighting and collaborative style.
• Van Middleton – Brisbane-based minimalist storyteller; 2023 category winner noted for evocative capture.

Why Enter IWPOTY Awards 2025?

As one of the popular photography challenges online, the IWPOTY Awards 2025 offers more than prizes—it provides global exposure through online galleries, international exhibitions and partner media coverage. With transparent two-round blind judging by six experts and generous membership benefits, it’s an ideal platform to expand your network, strengthen your portfolio and stand out among event photo competitions.

Rules and Copyright

This section about the rules and image rights of the International Wedding Photographer of the Year 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

• Open to all photographers; no restrictions on origin date or number of entries.
• JPEG only (RGB, 8-bit, ≥3500 px on longest side, quality ≥10).
• Blind judging in Round 1; top 15 per category advance to Round 2.
• Distinct Early Bird and Final entry windows; no late submissions.
• By entering, participants accept the Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy and South Australia law.

Copyright and Image Usage

• Entrants retain copyright but grant IWPOTY a non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license for promotional use.
• Winning and finalist images may feature in exhibitions, publications, galleries and partner promotions with credits.
• Entrants must secure any third-party permissions; IWPOTY assumes no liability for legal issues.

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