Photography Contest
Head On Photo Awards 2025
Deadline |
07/27/25Theme |
Portrait, Landscape, ExposureTerritory |
WorldwideEligibility |
Open to allEntry Fees |
AUD $30/imagePrizes |
Cash PrizeHost |
Head On Photo Festival
Since 2004 we have helped photographers worldwide to create, exhibit and inspire, awarding over $930,000 in cash and prizes.
The Head On Photo Awards represent a global selection of the best work from emerging and established photographers across three categories: Portrait | Landscape | Exposure
The Head On Portrait, Landscape and Exposure Awards are open INTERNATIONALLY to photographers of all levels.
Judged without artists’ names to ensure equal opportunity
$75,000 prize pool – cash and product
One overall winner and two runners-up per category
100 finalists
200 semi-finalists shown in a digital exhibition
Featured exhibition of all finalists’ works in Head On Photo Festival 2025 in print and online
Inclusion in the Head On Photo Awards 2025 hard-cover catalogue
The Head On Photo Awards puts your photos on the world stage!
EXPOSURE AWARDS
The Head On Exposure Awards reveal new perspectives. Photographers are invited to unleash their creativity and submit their most important work, of any genre, style, technique, or medium, beyond the portrait and lLandscape categories
Entries may be of any subject and may fit into any field of photography such as fine art, fashion, wildlife, street, food, sports, still life, pet, travel, architecture, advertising and more. Portraits and landscapes should be entered in their respective categories.
20 finalists
1 winner
1 Australian runner-up
1 international runner-up
The overall winner will receive
AUD$5,000 cash
Camera kit – OM-1 Mark II + 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO RRP AUD$5,898
Portrait Awards
The image must feature or reflect the essence of a person or group of people and must be photographed by the Applicant. Group portraits, self-portraits and collages are accepted. We encourage all photographic styles and interpretations of photographic portraiture.
40 finalists
1 winner
1 Australian runner-up
1 international runner-up
The overall winner will receive
AUD$5,000 cash
Camera kit – OM-1 Mark II + 45mm F1.2 Pro RRP AUD$5,698
Landscape Awards
Our approach to ‘landscape’ is very broad and encompasses ‘large vista’ images of the natural environment (land or sea), urban or industrial settings. It may include people, but these should be ‘incidental’ rather than the main subject matter. We encourage all photographic styles and interpretations of ‘landscape’.
40 finalists
1 winner
1 Australian runner-up
1 international runner-up
The overall winner will receive
AUD$5,000 cash
Camera kit – OM-1 Mark II + 7-14mm F2.8 Pro RRP AUD$5,798
The Head On Photo Awards 2025 winners share an incredible prize pool in excess of $75,000, including $15,000 in cash. All finalists have their work exhibited in print and online in Head On Photo Festival 2025!
Winners will be announced in November at the Festival Launch in Sydney.
Benefits for all finalists (all categories)
their printed image will be included in the ever-popular Finalists exhibition at Head On Photo Festival 2025
inclusion in the Head On Photo Awards 2025 book publication at no additional cost
a dedicated webpage on headon.org.au
Head On pursues further exhibition/publication opportunities
SEMI-FINALISTS
200 semi-finalists will have their work presented in a rolling slideshow situated at a major festival venue.
The Head On Photo Awards represent a global selection of the best work from emerging and established photographers across three categories: Portrait | Landscape | Exposure
The Head On Portrait, Landscape and Exposure Awards are open INTERNATIONALLY to photographers of all levels.
Judged without artists’ names to ensure equal opportunity
$75,000 prize pool – cash and product
One overall winner and two runners-up per category
100 finalists
200 semi-finalists shown in a digital exhibition
Featured exhibition of all finalists’ works in Head On Photo Festival 2025 in print and online
Inclusion in the Head On Photo Awards 2025 hard-cover catalogue
The Head On Photo Awards puts your photos on the world stage!
EXPOSURE AWARDS
The Head On Exposure Awards reveal new perspectives. Photographers are invited to unleash their creativity and submit their most important work, of any genre, style, technique, or medium, beyond the portrait and lLandscape categories
Entries may be of any subject and may fit into any field of photography such as fine art, fashion, wildlife, street, food, sports, still life, pet, travel, architecture, advertising and more. Portraits and landscapes should be entered in their respective categories.
20 finalists
1 winner
1 Australian runner-up
1 international runner-up
The overall winner will receive
AUD$5,000 cash
Camera kit – OM-1 Mark II + 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO RRP AUD$5,898
Portrait Awards
The image must feature or reflect the essence of a person or group of people and must be photographed by the Applicant. Group portraits, self-portraits and collages are accepted. We encourage all photographic styles and interpretations of photographic portraiture.
40 finalists
1 winner
1 Australian runner-up
1 international runner-up
The overall winner will receive
AUD$5,000 cash
Camera kit – OM-1 Mark II + 45mm F1.2 Pro RRP AUD$5,698
Landscape Awards
Our approach to ‘landscape’ is very broad and encompasses ‘large vista’ images of the natural environment (land or sea), urban or industrial settings. It may include people, but these should be ‘incidental’ rather than the main subject matter. We encourage all photographic styles and interpretations of ‘landscape’.
40 finalists
1 winner
1 Australian runner-up
1 international runner-up
The overall winner will receive
AUD$5,000 cash
Camera kit – OM-1 Mark II + 7-14mm F2.8 Pro RRP AUD$5,798
The Head On Photo Awards 2025 winners share an incredible prize pool in excess of $75,000, including $15,000 in cash. All finalists have their work exhibited in print and online in Head On Photo Festival 2025!
Winners will be announced in November at the Festival Launch in Sydney.
Benefits for all finalists (all categories)
their printed image will be included in the ever-popular Finalists exhibition at Head On Photo Festival 2025
inclusion in the Head On Photo Awards 2025 book publication at no additional cost
a dedicated webpage on headon.org.au
Head On pursues further exhibition/publication opportunities
SEMI-FINALISTS
200 semi-finalists will have their work presented in a rolling slideshow situated at a major festival venue.
Featured Photo Contest
AAP Magazine #50 / SHAPES
$1,000 cash prizes | Winning image(s) published in AAP Magazine #50 | Extensive press coverage and global recognition
© Jo Fields
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!
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ENDS 08/15/25
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ENDS 09/05/25
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ENDS 09/15/25
We are excited to offer one (1) $20,000 grant and six (6) $5,000 grants to help bring these vital stories to life.
ENDS 09/15/25
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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.