Apply STERN-Preis Photo Contest 2025 (Fully Funded)

The STERN-Preis Photo Contest 2025 portal are now open, The STERN-Preis 2025 – Photo Story of the Year will be awarded to a photo series for a photojournalistic work published in a German-language journalistic medium (newspaper, magazine, website) in 2024. Apply here

What’s the theme?

• STERN-Preis 2025 – Photo Story of the Year. Award for a photojournalistic work published in German-language media in 2024 masterfully depicting a major event or significant aspect of our social life.

The project should masterfully illustrate a major event of the year 2024, global and socially relevant topics, or a significant aspect of our social life. The photo series should demonstrate a high level of journalistic understanding and at the same time be visually convincing.

Single images will not be accepted, the published photo story from a magazine, weekly newspaper, daily newspaper or website must contain at least five images.

The award is based on the journalistic narrative and the multifaceted implementation of relevant content. The STERN-Preis recognises the dedicated photographic and journalistic work of professional photographers who tell a compelling story through outstanding images.

While we welcome submissions from international photographers, the STERN-Preis only accepts work that was published in a journalistic German-language journalistic medium (newspaper, magazine, website) in 2024.

Technical requirements:

Submissions of published photo stories from magazines, weekly newspapers, daily newspapers or websites must include a minimum of five images. All published photos must be submitted. In addition, unpublished images may be submitted up to a total of 20 photos per entry.

All images must be uploaded in jpg format at 300dpi with 3000 pixels on the long edge. For print submissions, a PDF of the layout of the published story must be included; for online submissions, the link must be included (valid until at least June 2024). For stories published behind a paywall, a PDF or free access must also be included.

What winners receive

• Winners will receive the STERN-Preis 2025 in the category Photo Story of the Year for the best photo story of 2024 and thus attention in the journalistic and photographic industry.

Who can submit?

• Professional photojournalists who in 2024 published a photo story in a journalistic German-language medium (newspaper, magazine, website) can submit.

What can be submitted?

• Photo projects/ series on worldwide social relevant topics, which were published in a journalistic German-language medium (newspaper, magazine, website) in 2024 can be submitted.

Click here and apply