KAAF Photo Contest 2025

Looking for a serious stage to show your vision? KAAF Photo Contest 2025 opens three focused lanes: Street, Social Documentary, and Black & White, and invites global entries with a smart mix of free and paid submissions. Each category has its own format and judging flow, and the competition emphasizes fresh perspectives while keeping rules clear. One free submission per category is available to every entrant, with low-cost options for additional entries and expanded free slots for photographers under 25. Plan it alongside Deartline’s listings of best photo challenges online to pace your season.

The structure is straightforward. “Street Photography” and “Black & White” accept single photographs; “Social Documentary” requires a project of 8–15 images plus a short statement. After an initial rules check and a first round of judging, 24 single images are shortlisted in Street and Black & White, and 8 projects advance in Social Documentary. A final jury of six per category scores from 0 to 10 to determine the winners. Cash awards are listed in Iranian rials (IRR), with indicative dollar equivalents noted below for planning purposes.

The KAAF Photo Contest 2025 Prizes

Street Photography

First Winner: KAAF Trophy, Certificate of Honor, and 150,000,000 IRR (approximately $3,500 depending on the exchange rate at the time of conversion).

Second Winner: Certificate of Honor, and 120,000,000 IRR (approximately $2,800).

Black & White

First Winner: KAAF Trophy, Certificate of Honor, and 150,000,000 IRR (approximately $3,500).

Second Winner: Certificate of Honor, and 120,000,000 IRR (approximately $2,800).

Social Documentary

First Winner: KAAF Trophy, Certificate of Honor, and 180,000,000 IRR (approximately $4,300).

Second Winner: Certificate of Honor, and 150,000,000 IRR (approximately $3,500).

The Categories of the KAAF Photo Contest 2025

The contest runs three categories.

Street Photography accepts single images and allows color or black and white as long as edits don’t fundamentally alter the scene. This aligns well with street photography contests.

Social Documentary requires a cohesive photo project of 8–15 images with a statement and permits only basic edits, a natural fit for documentary photography competitions.

Black & White is a single-image category that allows extensive editing, including photomontage when all elements are photographed by the entrant, making it relevant to black and white photography awards.

KAAF Photo Contest 2025 Dates and Entry Fees

• Submission deadline: 27 November 2025.
• Announcement of finalists: 03 January 2026.
• Announcement of winners: 30 January 2026.

Entry fees:

• Each photographer may submit one free work per category (two single photos + one project in total).
• Additional submissions cost 10 EUR or $10 each, paid via PayPal with receipt upload.

Participants under 25 may submit up to two free works per category (four single photos + two projects in total). No limit on total submissions beyond the free allotments.

How to Enter:

Create an account on the official site, select the relevant category or categories, and upload files in JPEG/JPG up to 2 MB, with a recommended long side of up to 2000 px. For Social Documentary, include a statement of at least 100 words. PayPal receipts for any paid entries must be uploaded; approvals are typically processed within about one hour.

About the Jury

KAAF lists a large international jury panel with six judges assigned to each category. Among the named jurors are Rohit Vohra, Rehab Eldalil, Andrea Bruce, Lee-Ann Owage, Amelia Sagone Ratthew, Eduardo Ortiz, Kiana Hayeri, Ebrahim Alipoor, Ximena Echague, Catherine Auzuret, Misha Maslennikov, Pierrot Men, Valerio Bispuri, Maíra Erlich, Jamie Johnson, Sadik Ucok, Rui Palha, and Edas Wong.

Why Enter KAAF Photo Contest 2025?

KAAF is built around focused genres with clear formats, judge verification through RAW requests, and an awards structure that recognizes both single-image craft and long-form storytelling. For photographers planning an annual submission strategy, it complements festival and exhibition routes and can sit alongside Deartline’s tracker of photography challenges and contests to keep deadlines visible and manageable.

Rules and Copyright

This section about the rules and image rights of the KAAF Photo Contest 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

Participation is open worldwide. Street Photography and Social Documentary accept color or black and white; Black & White accepts only monochrome. Street allows moderate edits that don’t change the essence of the scene. Social Documentary allows basic corrections only; shortlisted entrants must provide RAW files within 8 days or face disqualification. Black & White allows extensive edits and photomontage, provided all elements are photographed by the entrant. AI-generated imagery is strictly prohibited. Files must be JPEG/JPG, max 2 MB, long side recommended up to 2000 px. Watermarks, borders, dates, signatures, and logos lead to disqualification. Organizers may request RAW files or additional frames in any category for verification.

Copyright and Image Usage

Entrants confirm they are the legal owners of submitted works and assume responsibility for legal or ethical issues. The organizers reserve the right to publish submitted works with the photographer’s name credited for contest-related promotion. The KAAF trophy is not shipped; winners should attend the ceremony or appoint a representative to collect it.

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