Photography Contest

PERSONAL ESSENCE - INTERNATIONAL PORTRAIT EXHIBITION

Deadline |

CLOSED

Theme |

Portrait

Territory |

Worldwide

Eligibility |

Open to all photographers internationally.

Entry Fees |

$50

Prizes |

Exhibition
Photographing the visual essence of a person as well as capturing the genuine quality of someone is a decisive documentation to mark a moment in a persons life. One of the rewarding challenges of portrait photography is to have the ability to viscerally communicate observations of a person and translate that into the photograph. Recording the fleeting moments of mannerisms, expressions and gestures of someone in a click of the shutter is a compelling experience, as time is always changing. The act of observing a moment in time and successfully recording that act by pointing the cameras gaze on someone is one of the most complementary gestures that a person can give. This exhibition will represent interesting aesthetic visual likenesses of people as the focus of the art of portraiture, featuring the human likeness in all of its forms, whether it is a documentary approach, a snapshot genre, if it is a fashion statement, an editorial statement, or simply a straight forward compositional body study, we are looking to exhibiting the photographs of a wide range of people.

Selection will be based upon the individual images entered by each artist. Selected artists will have their work featured in the exhibition and online.

Featured Photo Contest

AAP Magazine #54 / Nature

Our 54th printed issue of AAP Magazine will feature the best projects showcasing the theme: Nature. Capturing the Splendor of Landscapes, Wildlife, Flora & Fauna

Best Photography Contests in 2025

Each year, there are hundreds of photography competitions all over the world, so we've decided to select for you the best of the best! Our selection of the best photo contests in 2025 is thoroughly curated to help you, whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur, to help find your next creative breakthrough. These all-star competitions offer the greatest opportunities for international exposure and/or incredible financial benefits. Some of them are closing soon, so get your photo submissions in!

ENDS 12/09/25
Publication in AAP Magazine 54 Nature + $1,000 Cash Prizes
ENDS 12/15/25
Do you believe the world could be a kinder place? It can, through your photography! The 2025 Our World Is Kind global photography contest is now accepting submissions.
ENDS 12/16/25
Be Featured in our January 2026 Online Juried Solo Exhibition!
ENDS 12/17/25
Winners will be exhibited in New York during The Photography Show + Cash Prizes
ENDS 12/31/25
If you're a passionate amateur or professional photographer, we invite you to share your photographic project with us.
ENDS 01/06/26
Rewarding the best single images! Enter for free and you could win $5,000, top Sony digital imaging equipment plus more!
ENDS 01/06/26
Dedicated to young photographers under 19 years-old - first prize is top Sony digital imaging equipment plus benefit from global exposure
ENDS 01/06/26
First place receives Sony Digital Imaging equipment and inclusion in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book
ENDS 01/09/26
All Finalists: All five finalists participate in a group exhibition organized by Aperture at AIPAD in New York in April 2026.
ENDS 01/09/26
First-place winners in each category will receive $3,000, while second and third places will get $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.
ENDS 01/13/26
Rewarding the best photo series worldwide! Enter for free and you could win $25,000, a range of Sony digital imaging equipment plus more!
ENDS 01/17/26
The annual photo contest rewards photographers for the best single exposure pictures contributing to the past year of visual journalism.
ENDS 02/15/26
Art is born out of passion. Fine Art photography is a perfect instrument, which allows a person to communicate with the world and share their vision. It results from the author's deep sensitivity, a need to express feelings through image.
ENDS 03/01/26
Full Tuition, a Leica camera system on loan for the academic year and an opportunity to present their work at the Leica Store in New York City’s Meatpacking District.
ENDS 03/02/26
The biennial Belfast Photo Festival provided the perfect platform for gaining exposure to an international audience, with previous editions having welcome over 100,000 visitors from all over the world
ENDS 03/04/26
BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS is an international platform for photographers from all levels and genres to share their best images with the creative community in Hungary and Eastern Europe.
ENDS 03/31/26
Entries are open worldwide to photographers using an iPhone or iPad. Photos should not be published previously anywhere. The posts on personal accounts (Facebook, Instagram etc.) are eligible.
ENDS 05/17/26
MonoVisions Photography Awards are an international open call for photographers using black and white medium to express their visual language.
ENDS 07/22/26
Submit your best work to our photo competition for a chance to win up to $11,500 in cash prizes, be selected by our curators for the PX3 exhibition in Paris and inclusion in the Annual PX3 book.