Whether you're a seasoned photographer, a beginner just getting started or simply someone who loves capturing beautiful moments, submitting your work to photography competitions is one of the best ways to gain exposure and recognition.
Entering competitions isn't just about winning – though prizes and publicity are great bonuses! It's also a chance to dive into your archives, rediscover your best images and refine your personal style. Even if you don't make the shortlist, the experience itself is rewarding and can push your photography to the next level.
In fact, many photographers say competitions were the stepping stone that helped them build a name, grow their audience or land their first big feature. And with so many open calls across all genres – from astrophotography and macro, to wildlife, travel, food, portrait, or conceptual photography – there's something for everyone.
The best part is that most competitions offer multiple categories, so you're likely to find a perfect match for your work. To help you get started, I've put together a list of photography competitions with open calls that are accepting submissions through at least October until February next year. It's a small selection to spark inspiration, but there are countless others out there…
Chromatic Awards
Deadline: October 26
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Focus: Color photography, featuring 20 categories:
Fee: $25 for single entries (amateurs), $35 for professionals, discounts for multiple categories
Prizes: $3,000 cash prizes, global recognition, and publication in the Chromatic Awards Official Book
For more information, visit the Chromatic Awards website.
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Photography Contest
Deadline: October 31
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Theme: "Each entry should consist of a series of five photographs, showcasing the creator’s storytelling ability through images. The theme is self-chosen."
Fee: Free to enter
Prizes: 1st prize $5,000, 2nd prize $2,000, 3rd prize $1,000, Special Jury Award (2 winners), Ricoh GR IIIx, Outstanding Work Award (5 winners), Fujifilm Instax Pal + Instax Mini Link3 smartphone printer, Selected Work Award (10 winners): Fotopro X Go Mini 2 Tripos, SPecial Award of the Year (3 winners), SL1 320DN LED Video Light – all awarded works may participate in the showings of the "2026 SKM Photography art fair", one "2026 Shin Kong Mitsukoshi International Photography Contest Commemorative Album", a "Certificate of merit," and tickets to the "SKM PHOTO Art Fair"
For more information, visit the SKM website.
KLPA – Autoportrait Portrait Prize
Deadline: October 31
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Focus: "Experimental Self-Portraits. Often involving a stretch of the imagination and pushing beyond the practice of traditional self-portraiture, experimental self-portraiture may utilise unconventional techniques and materials to explore identity, emotion, and the self in new and abstract ways. KLPA welcomes the use of diverse methods and processes, be it analogue or digital techniques, to create thought-provoking portraits. Note that AI-generated images are not allowed."
Fee: 1 image €10, 2 images €20, 3-6 images €45, 7-10 images €65, Students: 1 image free, 3 concessionary (free) entries to photographers based in countries where credit and debit cards are unavailable
Prizes: 1st prize €1,000, 2nd prize €500, 3rd prize €300, Students: €200 for the best three entries
For more information, visit the Autoportrait Portrait Prize website.
Female in Focus
Deadline: November 6
Open to: Women, non-binary and woman identifying photographers of all levels
Theme: 'On the Cusp'. "This theme looks at both personal and international turning points, whether that be moments of revolution, revelation, or transformation. It considers ideas such as ageing, climate change, rapid developments in technology, and political shifts. The anticipation of what comes next."
Fee: One portrait for free, to increase your chances, become a Full Access Member and submit up to 10 single images or one series.
Prizes: Group exhibition, Z Series mirrorless camera, along with two NIKKOR Z lenses of choice, chance of international press coverage
For more information, visit the British Journal of Photography website.
Nature Photography Contest
Deadline: November 15, 2025
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Categories: Natural landscapes, Wildlife, Macrophotography, Underwater, Birds, Plant Life, Night World, Environmental Impact, Sharing the Planet, Funny Nature
Fee: €10 per image
Prizes: Prestigious "Photographer of the Year" title, €2,000 cash prizes, and more
For more info, visit the Nature Photography Contest website.
Monochrome Awards
Deadline: November 16
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Categories: Abstract, Architecture, Conceptual, Fashion / Beauty, Fine Art, Landscapes, Nature, Nude, Photojournalism, Photomanipulation, Portrait, Street, Wildlife
Fee: Professional: $27 per entry, Amateur: $22 per entry
Prizes: Monochrome Photographer of the Year: $2,000, Monochrome Discovery of the Year $1,000 cash, winners of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category will be showcased at the online winners galleries, included in the Monochrome Photography Awards Annual book, and receive a winner's logo and certificate
For more information, visit the Monochrome Awards website.
Anthology Photography Competition
Deadline: November 30, 2025
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Focus: 'The World As You See It' – "Photography styles can include street photography, landscapes, natural world & wildlife, macro photography, lifestyle, object and still life and architectural. Technically manipulated images, such as abstract, panoramic, stitched, and composite, are also permitted."
Fee: Standard €18 from May until November 2025
Prizes: The winner will receive a €500 cash prize and editorial coverage in a future issue of Anthology magazine
For more info, visit the Anthology magazine website.
Sony World Photography Awards
Deadlines:
Student Competition: November 28 2025
Open and Youth Competition: January 6, 2026
Professional Competition: January 13, 2026
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Categories:
Student Competition: Together
Open Competition: Architecture, Creative, Landscape, Lifestyle, Motion, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Portraiture, Street Photography, Travel
Youth Competition: Open Call: Show us your best images!
Professional Competition: Architecture & Design, Creative, Documentary Projects, Environment, Landscape, Perspectives, Portraiture, Sport, Still Life, Wildlife & Nature
Fee: Free to enter
Prizes: Global press exposure, $25,000 cash prize, Sony gear, solo exhibition at the Sony World Photography Awards London exhibition, and more
For more info, visit the World Photography Organisation website.
World Street Photo Awards
Deadline: November 29
Open to: Photogrtaphers of all levels
Categories: Reflection, Weather, Geometry, Black & White, Color, Silhouette, The Decive Moment, Minimalism, Movement & Motion, Open Theme, Light & Shadow, Light & Lo Light, Mobile, Animals, Transport
Fee: €15 for the first photo, with a 10% discount automatically applied to each additional photo
Prizes: Winners will be featured in the Official Winners Gallery, published in the annual World Street Photo Awards Book, and promoted through global media and social channels, Photographer of the Year receives €500, each category winner will receive €100
For more information, visit the World Street Photo Awards website.
Annual Photography Awards
Deadline: December 14
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Focus: Architecture, Fine Art, Nature, People, Special – each divided into 25 subcategories
Fee: $30 for single photo / $40 for series (up to 8 photos)
Prizes: Grand Prize: $2.500 in cash for the overall winner + Annual Photographer of the Year 2025 title, Category Winners: $500 for each of the 5 category winners + Category Annual Photographer of the Year 2025 title
For more information, visit the Annual Photography Awards website.
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