9 Top Photographers Opportunities 2025 | A photographers’ competition is a creative contest where photographers showcase their skills, capturing stunning images based on a given theme.
These competitions provide exposure, networking opportunities, and potential prizes. Participants range from amateurs to professionals, competing in categories like nature, portrait, and street photography. Winning boosts credibility and career prospects.
1 Photo Oxford Contest 2025;
Photo Oxford is an international festival of photography that takes place biannually. The dates for our next edition are 25th October to November 2025. As the name suggests it takes place in the beautiful and historic city of Oxford which is a short train ride away from London.
Benefit:
- Prominent inclusion of up to 8 of your winning series images in a dedicated exhibition hosted at Modern Art Oxford, an internationally recognised contemporary arts institution.
- Prominent inclusion on the Festival website and social media
- A 30 minute Zoom meeting with the juror of your choice.
- 10 day Jury Curated Instagram Takeover of Photo Oxford IG account
2) The BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition 2025
BigPicture is chaired by award-winning conservation photographer Suzi Eszterhas. BigPicture encourages photographers from around the world to contribute their work to this competition that will both celebrate and illustrate the rich diversity of life on Earth and inspire action to protect and conserve it through the power of imagery.
Benefit:
- One Grand Prize winner receives $5,000, Each category 1st place winner receives $1,000 and will be featured in the California Academy of Sciences exhibit. One People’s Choice winner receives $300.
3) Hellerau Photography Portraits Award 2025
Hellerau Photography Award and its new theme, “Echoes of Truth”. For the first time, you can apply either with a series of up to 20 images or with single works. There is an early-bird student discount of 50% for both categories
Their traditional venue of previous years, Dresden’s Museum of Science and Technology which also holds the vast collection of the city’s former Museum of Photography, will host our finalist exhibition for the sixth time.
Benefit:
- 1st Prize: 5000 EUR. 2nd prize: 2000 EUR. 3rd prize: 1000 EUR. Residency Prize at HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts. Or a jury invitation to one of our many solo shows.
4) Revela’T PORTFOLIO REVIEW 2025
All those photographers of any nationality, origin or place of residence,who carry out their activity in the field of chemical, digital or analog photography, may apply
Experience the Revela’T Festival Portfolio Review. Dive into personalized one-on-one sessions with 10 industry experts, including gallery owners, curators, and festival directors. Unlike traditional portfolio reviews, where photographers explain their projects to a group, this exclusive opportunity allows you to spend 20 minutes individually with each expert.
Benefit
- Unique prize of production and Exhibition at REVELA’T FESTIVAL 2026
- All 18 participants: Will have a FULL PASS that will give them access to all the activities and exhibitions held during Revela’T 2025.
5) Kranj Foto Fest Open Call for Exhibitions 2025
Kranj Foto Fest, an international festival of contemporary photography based in Slovenia, announces its Open Call for projects to be exhibited during the 5th edition of the festival in August 2025.
The jury will select one winner, who will receive a solo exhibition at Kranj Foto Fest 2025, a €1,000 cash prize, travel expenses to Kranj (up to €400), and accommodation for three nights during the festival’s opening week.
6) NPPA TV News Video Workshop Awards 2025
The National Press Photographers Foundation Inc. (NPPF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is charged with advancing photojournalism through education and awarding scholarships and fellowships to deserving individuals who have demonstrated ability or promise in the field of visual journalism. NPPF supports the work of photojournalists who play a critical role in the free flow of visual information in a healthy democracy
Benefit:
- Yoder recipient will receive waived workshop registration and $1,000 for workshop expenses. Hutchison Wheeler recipient will recieve $2,000 towards discounted registration and other workshop related expenses.
7) Artists on Photography Contest 2025
Artists on Photography. Open call for a collaboration between art and science, Artists on Photography is a new initiative by the Photography Collection which seeks to enhance its historical holdings by introducing current perspectives from artists and academics in the fields of gender theory and postcolonialism.
This fellowship will be awarded annually over a period of five years commencing in 2025 to one artist and one academic, judged by an expert jury
Benefit:
- one year project to develop new art work and research one of the broadest photography collections in Europe
8) Belfast Photo Festival 2025
Belfast Photo Festival hosts an annual, world-leading, popular cultural event at locations citywide. We catalyse local debate, creative development and financial opportunities with a combination of commissions, exhibitions and global arts leadership. “One of the best photography festivals in the world”
They invite photographers of all nations and backgrounds to apply to the Open Submission, to have their work viewed by an international panel of highly influential photography industry experts, with career enhancing opportunities on offer.
Benefit
- Large format print exhibition (Produced by Belfast Photo Festival) in June 2025 at city centre locations receiving over 100,000+ visitors
- Publication in the printed festival programme, website and marketing materials
- Partner exhibition and exposure at the 2026 Photo Schwiez Festival in Switzerland
- Festival representation and promotion in our award winning media and PR campaign. In 2024 we had a combined reach of 115 million including multiple features in the Guardian, Creative Review, Irish Times and more
- Participation in our Instagram residency scheme
- Dedicated feature on the festival website with full online gallery
- Inclusion in the festival issue of Abridged Magazine
9) ProfiFoto Photographer New Talent Award 2025
With the support of the NEW TALENT AWARD, photographers can turn their “images in their imagination” into reality. The search is not for finished projects on a given theme, but for image ideas that arouse curiosity for more. All winning entries will be published by the German photographers magazine ProfiFoto and will be part of a group exhibtion.
Benefit
- A jury of experts will award prizes to five photography projects.
- The jury will also select the three best works from the total of ten winning works in the two competitions of each year.
- These will receive cash prizes totaling 3,000 euros (1st place 1,500 euros, 2nd place 1,000 euros, 3rd place 500 euros).
- All winning entries will be published in ProfiFoto and be part of group exhibitions.
Leave a Reply