Silhouettes Photography Competition returns this November with a single, striking theme: silhouettes. Organized by The Motif Collective, the contest is international in scope and offers cash awards that can reach $10,000, plus software prizes for the top entries. Submissions are open now and close on December 7, 2025, with winners announced on 14 December 2025. Entry fees start at $12 and scale for multiple images. If you track photography challenges and competitions on Deartline, this is one of the month’s most focused themes.
The competition accepts a wide range of subjects as long as the silhouette concept is clear, from people and nature to architecture and even abstract forms. Awards include a growing cash pool shared by the top three entries, a copy of ON1 Photo RAW for first place, and Retouch4Me plugins for first, second, and third.
Everything is submitted online, and shortlisted and winning images are showcased in The Motif Collective gallery and highlighted on social media. For photographers building a profile in niche contests (and those looking for events with cash prizes) this is a concise, theme-driven opportunity.
Prizes
The cash awards scale with participation and are capped at $10,000 across the top three placements. In addition, first place receives editing software, and all three top placements receive retouching tools.
- First Place: 25% of all entry fees collected, plus a free copy of ON1 Photo RAW and three paid copies of Retouch4Me plugins.
- Second Place: 15% of all entry fees collected, plus three paid copies of Retouch4Me plugins.
- Third Place: 10% of all entry fees collected, plus three paid copies of Retouch4Me plugins.
Winning and shortlisted images are published in The Motif Collective Winners Gallery, with focused social media publicity for added visibility.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
The Silhouettes Photography Competition centers on a single theme: “Silhouettes”, welcoming subjects that range from people and nature to architecture and abstract forms. This makes it relevant to photographers working in portrait, landscape, architecture, and abstract work, among others.
Dates and Entry Fees
Entries are open now.
- Submission deadline: 07 December 2025.
- Winners announced: 14 December 2025.
Entry fees:
- 1 entry $12
- 2 entries $18
- 3 entries $24
- 4 entries $28
- 5 entries $32
- 6 entries $36
How to Enter:
Submit images online through the official entry form on The Motif Collective’s website. Follow the theme, prepare JPG files around 1200×900 (max 1MB), and avoid watermarks. Keep your original files in case verification is requested.
Why Enter Silhouettes Photography Competition?
What makes the Silhouettes Photography Competition 2025 stand out is its clarity of focus. With just one theme and a well-defined judging process, photographers can concentrate on composition, shape, and emotion without distractions. The theme celebrates pure form and contrast, qualities that work across black and white, color, and even conceptual work. Combined with cash rewards and curated online exposure, it’s an appealing opportunity for photographers seeking international recognition. For those exploring best photography challenges to participate, this contest offers a clean, focused brief with strong visual potential.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Silhouettes Photography Competition 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
The competition is international and open to entrants aged 18 and over. Submissions must follow the silhouettes theme. Images must be JPG, approximately 1200×900, no larger than 1MB, and free of watermarks. Only photographs taken by the entrant are eligible; AI-generated content or AI elements within a photograph are not allowed. A previous Motif Collective cash-award winner cannot win another cash award with the same image. Judging focuses on creativity, composition, technical ability, originality, interpretation of the theme, and clarity of form. Three winners are selected; decisions are final, and feedback is not provided unless noted on the entry form.
Copyright and Image Usage
Entrants retain full copyright and moral rights. When images are published by the organizer, proper credit is intended. By entering, photographers confirm authorship, rights clearance, and any required permissions for depicted persons. The organizer receives a non-exclusive, revocable license to use winning or shortlisted works for judging and for marketing and promotion of this and future editions, including display on the website and in contest materials. Prize money is paid via PayPal; winners have 45 days to provide valid payment details. If a competition is cancelled, entry fees are refunded and submitted images are not used.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
