Top 25 Best Photography Competitions You Have To Enter

You're a photographer, you're getting good at taking photos, but what if you want to take it further? What about winning some prizes, and making some money along the way? If this sounds good then, photography competitions could be the perfect thing for you to start taking part in.

Here we round-up some of the best, most well respected, and worthy competitions you should look at entering, including some with prizes in the thousands. Most of the competitions, also, occur every year so you can pencil dates in your diaries for future entries. 

We've divided this article into different categories, including wildlife, landscapes/environment, portraits, global and international, monochrome, and mobile. Plus, where there are specific entry dates, we've included these, along with a link to the competition website so you can enter. Details of what you can win are included, too.

Before entering any competition, please read the terms and conditions on the website when you enter to make sure you're happy with them as some competitions ask for a fee or specify image usage. 

Wildlife Photography Competitions

1. Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Run by the Natural History Museum, this is an annual photography competition that's incredibly popular. Whether you shoot in the remote wilderness, an urban environment or on your doorstep, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is open to everyone.

When: October to December
Website: www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/wpy/competition
Prizes: Top prize is £10,000GBP

2. British Wildlife Photography Awards

The British Wildlife Photography Awards celebrate British Wildlife and everyone from amateur to professional photographers are encouraged to enter. There are also categories to encourage young people to connect with nature through photography.

There are entry fees for this competition which vary depending on age and the number of photos submitted.

When: November to April (new details to be announced)
Website: www.bwpawards.org
Prizes: Top prize is £5,000GBP

3. Comedy Wildlife Photographer

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards bring a bit of humour to the photography competition world with candid captures of wildlife. The competition also has a focus on wildlife conservation which you can learn more about on their website. 

When: May to June (new details to be announced)
Website: www.comedywildlifephoto.com
Prizes: One-week safari in Kenya is the 2019 prize so something similar may be given away next year. 

4. Bird Photographer of the Year

Marvel at some of the World's best bird images captured by photographers from all over the World. 'Bird Photographer of the Year' always attracts some of the best bird photographers out there and prizes include binoculars from Swarovski Optik, a camera system from Olympus, gimbal tripod heads from Gitzo and a top prize of £5000 (2020 competition).

When: August to November 
Website: www.birdpoty.co.uk
Prizes: Top prize is £5,000GBP

5. Dog Photographer of the Year

The Kennel Club runs the annual 'Dog Photographer of the Year' competition which receives thousands of entries from all over the globe. A photo of a 14-year-old rescue Podengo, sat amongst a magnolia setting, was the overall winner of the most recent competition and previously, an atmospheric shot of a Great Dane in a forest took the overall title. 

When: Opens Spring 2020
Website: www.dogphotographeroftheyear.org.uk
Prizes: See details on the DPOTY website

Landscapes / Environment Photography Competitions

6. Landscape Photographer of the Year (UK)

With a total prize fund worth £20,000, a full-colour book of best entries and a popular annual exhibition in Central London, Landscape Photographer of the Year celebrates all that is great about the British landscape and showcases the work of many talented photographers.

When: January to April 
Website: www.lpoty.co.uk
Prizes: Total prize fund worth £20,000

7. International Landscape Photographer of the Year 

Those with landscape images captured in other parts of the world, the 'International Landscape Photographer of the Year' competition is for you. 

When: Closes in October (check the website for entry opening dates)
Website: ilpoty.secure-platform.com
Prizes: Cash prizes of up to $5000

8. CIWEM - Environmental Photographer Of The Year

The 'CIWEM - Environmental Photographer Of The Year' photography competition showcases the best environmental photography from around the world. The competition welcomes entries from all over the world, it is free to enter, and each photographer can enter up to 10 photographs. 

When: Closes, usually, in July (check the website for entry opening dates)
Website: https://www.ciwem.org
Prizes: £2000 cash prize

9. Astrophotography Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year is the largest international competition of its kind. Every year they showcase the best space photography from a global community of astrophotographers. 

When: January to March 
Website: www.rmg.co.uk
Prizes: £10000 cash prize 

10. Underwater Photographer Of the Year

The Underwater Photographer of the Year competition is an annual competition, based in the UK, that seeks to celebrate photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes and even swimming pools. British photographer Phil Smith was the first underwater Photographer of the Year, named in 1965. Today’s competition has 13categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, as well as four categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. 

When: November to January 
Website: underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com
Prizes: Various prizes including dive holidays 

11. RHS Garden Photographer

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) photographic competition is another annual competition but this one celebrates all things garden. There are nine different categories in the competition, designed to have a broad appeal to aspiring entrants.

When: Closes to entries in January 
Website: rhs.org.uk
Prizes: £5000 cash prize 

12. Scottish Nature

The Scottish Nature Photography Awards celebrate nature, wildlife and landscape photography in Scotland with images captured by photographers from all over the world who are drawn to and are inspired by Scotland's landscape and wildlife.

When: September to November 
Website: scottishnaturephotographyawards.com
Prizes: £150 cash prize 

13. National Geographic Traveller

The National Geographic Traveller (UK) search for the UK's best travel photographers so the popular magazine can celebrate their skills and also award prizes to who think submit the best shots. 

When: Visit the website for up-to-date information 
Website: www.nationalgeographic.co.uk
Prizes: Wildlife photography adventures and more

14. Outdoor Photographer of the Year

The Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition is a popular contest with various categories and competition from around the world. 

When: Closes in December, check the website for info on new opening dates
Website: www.opoty.co.uk
Prizes: £2000 cash prize 

15. Nikon's Small World

If macro photography is your passion then the Nikon Small World competition will be right up your street. It's all about images captured with light microscopes so subjects are incredibly tiny but beautiful at the same time. 

When: "Nikon will begin collecting entries for the 2020 competitions soon"
Website: hnikonsmallworld.com
Prizes: Details TBC, visit their website 

Portraits / People Photography Competitions

16. Portrait of Britain Photography

Portraits of Britain have their work exhibited across Britain so your photograph could be seen by millions of people as they embark on their everyday journeys.

When: Entries close in April (visit the site to find out when submissions begin)
Website: www.portraitofbritain.uk
Prizes: Nationwide coverage and featured in a book 

17. Taylor Wessing Portrait Photography

The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize is an annual competition which celebrates and promotes the very best in contemporary portrait photography from around the world.

When: The 2019 winner has just been announced - visit the NPG website for more details
Website: npg.org.uk
Prizes: £15,000 award

You'll also find portrait and people photography categories in the majority of the global/international competitions as portrait photography competitions as a single theme are few and far between. 

Global / International / Brand Competitions

18. Sony World Photography Awards 

The Sony World Photography Awards are one of the world’s largest and most prestigious photography competitions and the 12th edition saw a record-breaking 326,997 submissions by photographers from 195 countries and territories. All winners received Sony digital imaging equipment, publication in the winners’ book and their work is also shown in an exhibition. 

When: June-January
Website: worldphoto.org
Prizes: $25,000 overall prize for the 'Photographer of the Year'

19. Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA)

Sponsored by the Prince of Dubai, this annual competition has an overarching theme each year and there's a huge grand prize up for grabs. Plus, there are special categories which include 'The Photography Appreciation Award'. 

When: Final entries are usually in October
Website: www.hipa.ae/en
Prizes: $120,000 grand prize 

20. Nikon Photo Contest

The Nikon Photo Contest has been held since 1969 and is designed to support photographers and filmmakers who wish to share important stories and influence the way people think through images.

When: Previously, the competition has run from October to January
Website: www.nikon-photocontest.com
Prizes: Award & prize money 

21. World Press Photo

The World Press Photo competition recognises and celebrates the best visual journalism produced over the last year. An independent jury selects the prize-winning photographs and productions, which are later assembled into our annual exhibition and yearbook. 

When: Opens to entries in December 
Website: www.worldpressphoto.org
Prizes: Visit website for details

Black and White Photography Competitions

22. Monochrome

The prestigious Monochrome Awards, honouring black and white photography, gives photographers the chance to win $3000 and receive international recognition. The winners of the Professional and Amateur categories will receive the titles: 'Monochrome Photographer of the Year' and 'Monochrome Discovery of the Year' along with cash prizes. 

When: The competition closes in November 
Website: monoawards.com
Prizes: $3000

23. Black and White Photographer of the Year

Black and White Photographer of the Year celebrates the art of black and white photography annually and past prizes have included a Fujifilm X-Pro2 camera. 

When: The new competition details are yet to be announced
Website: www.bpoty.com
Prizes: Cameras & Lenses

Mobile Photography Competitions

24. Mobile Photography Awards

The Mobile Photography Awards were founded in 2011 to recognise and celebrate the talent and imagery of the mobile photo & art communities. Various categories are available to enter but there is a $15 starting fee for one photo entry. 

When: October - December
Website: mobilephotoawards.com
Prizes: $3000

25. iPhone photography awards

If you're an iPhone owner, this competition is for you (sorry Android smartphone users) and it's a competition that's now picked up quite a bit of momentum. Since the inception of the awards in 2007, the winning photographer’s have gained worldwide exposure, and have been celebrated and acknowledged by the most respected media outlets around the world. 

Entry fees vary depending on how many images are submitted. 

When: Deadline for entries is March
Website: www.ippawards.com
Prizes: Prizes to be announced later

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