Welcome to Deartline’s photo contest calendar. Improve your skills with these amazing photo contests. Find a contest for any style and skill level. Whether you’re an amateur or a pro, explore our list of photography contests below and unleash your creativity. Discover the best photo competitions in the world and prove your talent and passion for the art of photography. Enter now and take the first step to winning photo awards and showcasing your work to a wider audience. It’s a great way to learn, grow and connect with other photography enthusiasts. Don’t miss your chance to participate and shine!
Best photography contests to enter in 2024 & 2025
December 2024
January 2025
What are photography contests and why are they important?
Photo contests invite photographers of all levels to submit their best work for review and recognition. These contests can cover many subjects, like landscapes, portraits, nature, and urban photography. They are a great way for photographers to show their talent, gain recognition, and win exciting prizes.
The Importance of Photo Awards
Photo competitions play a crucial role in the photography community. They offer a platform to exhibit their work and be acknowledged for their skills. These events offer the chance to win cash prizes, photography equipment, and other rewards. They also provide visibility and exposure for participants. Photography contests are also a great way to get feedback from experts and connect with other passionate photographers.
Types of Photo Contests
There are many types of photography contests and challenges. Some are based on the different subjects they focus on and others on specific techniques. There are photo open calls for entries that focus on subjects such as nature, portraits or street photography. Others are centered on technical aspects such as composition, lighting or post-production. In addition, there are photo contests online, at local events or even internationally. All these types of picture awards offer a wide variety of options to participants.
How to Join Photography Challenges and Contests
Entering a photo competition is easy and exciting. Most photo challenge prizes have relatively simple requirements; just submit original images and agree to their rules. In-person events will ask you to send your photos to an address with simple instructions, but these days, most are online photography contests. So, you just have to enter the platform that the organization has chosen and follow a few steps that are usually as simple as registering, submit your photos and pay the participation fee (if there is one).
Once the submission deadline has passed, there are several options. It is customary for a jury to review all entries and select the winners based on the creativity, composition and originality of the images. But the photo contest may have a popular vote or other methods to find the winner.
The advantages of entering photo contests
Entering photography competitions can be exciting, yes, but these offer so much more. Beyond the thrill of the challenge, photography awards can help photographers improve their skills and elevate their careers. Here are some of the main advantages:
Recognition and exposure:
A photography contest gives you the opportunity to have your work seen and recognized by a wider audience. This can include photographers, experts and potential clients. An opportunity not to be missed.Chance to win prizes:
Many photography open calls offer cash prizes, equipment, scholarships, or gallery exposure. Some of these rewards are mostly symbolic; but in other cases they are really impressive. This can be an important economic and professional boost.- Skill Development:
Taking part in a pictures competition is a great reason to push the boundaries of our creativity. These events are a perfect reason to discover new techniques and improve our technique, both behind the camera and in image processing. - Networking and connections:
Any photography challenge can be a great way to expand our contacts. In some cases because of the possible direct interaction with other amateurs, but in many cases one of the most common photography prizes is media exposure. This level of exposure offers a great reach for photographers’ work and it is not uncommon for other colleagues or companies to contact them. - Constructive Feedback:
It’s not entirely common, but thanks to some photography competitions you can receive valuable feedback on your submitted images. These comments can be an extraordinary possibility to improve and perfect your technique. This, by itself, would be a good enough reason to enter photography contest.
Entering a photo comp can be a truly rewarding experience. Not only will it help you grow as a photographer, but it will also give you the chance to stand out, learn, and even make money with your photos.
Don’t you think that’s reason enough to take a look at our photo contest list?
Tips for standing out in photography awards
Entering photography contests can be exciting, but it’s also a very competitive world. Here are some tips to help you stand out and improve your possibilities of winning the best photo contests online:
Know the contest rules: Yes, it’s not a big tip, but I assure you that many more photographers than you’d imagine stumble here. Before you submit your photos, make sure you read and understand all the rules and requirements of the contest. This includes the theme, categories, submission format and deadlines.
Choose your best photos: Select your best images to submit to the contest. Choose those that are visually stunning, technically sound and fit the contest theme.
Be original and creative: If you want to catch the attention of the judges of an open call photo contest, you better be original and creative. Even if you think your photo looks great, if there are 50 of the same ones in the contest, it will be more difficult for them to notice yours. Stay away from the typical and look for a unique and original perspective in your photos.
Pay attention to composition: Composition is key in photography. So make sure you deliver photographs with strong, balanced compositions. And don’t limit yourself to the obvious, composing with line, with color, with shape and texture is something that can make you stand out in the best photography awards.
Mind the lighting: Having the right lighting or not, can totally change the value of your photograph. Take advantage of natural light whenever you can and pay attention to the direction, intensity and quality of the light in your images.
Edit your photos judiciously: Post-processing a photograph is essential. But, just as it can improve an image, a bad use of it can spoil it if you overdo it. Edit judiciously and knowing what you are doing; it is better to underdo it than overdo it.
Be consistent in your style: One of the best characteristics a photographer can have is to have his own recognizable style. This is something that can help you stand out in a sea of images and leave a lasting impression on contest judges.
Seek feedback: Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback on your images from other photographers or photography experts. Constructive comments can help you identify areas of improvement and refine your work.
If you follow these tips, have confidence in your talent and creativity, and put in the work, you will increase your chances of standing out and succeeding in photography contests.
How to choose the best photography challenges online for you
With so many photography contests and competitions available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is right for you. Here are some tips to help you choose the right challenge and raise your possibilities of
success:
Research the competitions: Take the time to research and explore different photography competitions. Examine the themes, categories, prizes, and rules of each competition to determine which ones align best with your interests and skills.
Consider your strengths and weaknesses: Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a photographer. Choose competitions that focus on your areas of expertise and provide an opportunity to showcase your unique skills.
Assess the competition level: Consider the competition level of each competition and choose those where you feel comfortable competing. Some competitions may be more suitable for beginner photographers, while others may be more challenging and demanding.
Read reviews and experiences of other participants: Look for reviews and experiences from other photographers who have participated in the competition in the past. This can give you an idea of how the competition is run and what to expect if you decide to participate.
Consider the cost of participation: Some competitions may have entry fees or associated costs. Make sure to assess the cost of participating in each competition and determine if it fits within your budget.
Think about your goals: Define your goals when participating in photography competitions. Are you looking to gain recognition, improve your skills, or simply have fun? Choose competitions that help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
By following these tips and making informed decisions, you can choose the right challenge for you and increase your chances of success in the world of photography.
The different types of photo contests
Photography contests encompass a wide range of formats and approaches, each with its own unique characteristics. Here’s an overview of the main types of photo competitions:
Themed: These contests focus on a specific theme, such as landscapes, portraits, nature, architecture, street photography, travel photography, among others. Participants must submit images that fit the established theme.
Genre or Style-based: Some challenges are geared towards a specific genre of photography, such as black and white photography, abstract photography, documentary photography, fashion photography, among others. These contests allow participants to explore and showcase their preferred photographic style.
Technique-based: These photography contests focus on specific techniques, such as long exposure photography, macro photography, high-speed photography, HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, among others. Participants can demonstrate their mastery of a particular technique in their images.
Skill Level: Some prizes are designed for amateur photographers, while others are exclusive to professionals. There are also contests aimed at photography students or photographers of all ages. This allows for a more equitable and fair competition among participants with similar skill levels.
Geographical Location: Some photo awards focus on photography from a specific geographical region, such as local, national, or international contests. These contests highlight the cultural diversity and natural beauty of different places around the world.
Prizes and Recognitions: Some contests offer cash prizes, scholarships, exhibitions in art galleries, publications in specialized magazines, or the opportunity to work with renowned brands. These contests attract photographers looking for recognition and professional opportunities.
Presentation Format: Some contests require participants to submit individual images, while others accept image series or complete photographic projects. This allows photographers to present their work more comprehensively and contextually.
Each type of photography contest offers a unique experience for participants and presents different challenges and opportunities. When choosing a photography competition to participate in, it’s important to consider your interests, skills, and personal goals.