Awards are rewards in exchange for a person’s determination, dedication, passion, and skills. They are the highest form of validation. So, it is understandable for a lot of photographers to aim for such a goal – to receive a prestigious award from respected photography organizations or groups.
There are a lot of photography awards all over the world, but some of them are considered a cut above the rest because of several factors like credibility and the level of professionalism. These prestigious international photography awards are also well revered and respected by both amateur and professional photographers, as well as by industry leaders.
Why Awards Mean a Lot to Photographers
As mentioned earlier, awards serve as proof or validation. They are an indication that a photographer has skills and creativity that’s more than just the ordinary. Awards are for photographers who strive to do better than the rest.
Another reason why photographers work hard to get an award is so they can be noticed. Once they are recognized for excellence in their work, a photographer’s reputation and confidence [1] improves.
This will have a positive effect on the photographer’s career and open a lot of windows of opportunity. Eventually, word will go around and more and more individuals and companies will want to be listed on that photographer’s client list. An award will boost the image and branding of the winning photographer.
The World’s Top 4 Most Prestigious International Photography Awards
If you are a photographer and are aiming to get an award for your skills and hard work, these are some of the most prestigious international photography awards you should watch out for (listed in no particular order).
1. The IPA or International Photography Awards
The International Photography Awards [2] is an annual award that chooses three photographers as winners who will then get the opportunity to show off their work in a New York City exhibit, which will take place before the Lucie Awards Gala, a yearly event that honors photography’s greatest achievements.
A renowned curator chooses the IPA winners. At the start of the selection, there are 45 professional and non-professional photographers vying for the award. The top three photographers will be brought to different countries where their work will be exhibited in various photography events including festivals and galleries.
There are entry fees for those who want their work to be included in the list. In addition, the competition is open not only to professional and non-professional photographers, but also to students. Photographers can enter in more than one category but they have to pay a certain amount for each added one.
The International Photography Awards categories are:
- Fine Art
- Architecture
- People
- Nature
- Advertising
- Moving Images
- Editorial
- Event
- Sports
- Deeper Perspective
- Special Category
Aside from the major awards, IPA also hands out titles like Fine Art Photographer of the Year, Advertising Photographer of the Year, People Photographer of the Year, Editorial Photographer of the Year, Architectural Photographer of the Year, and Photography Book of the Year, among others.
2. Sony World Photography Awards
This annual award is given to contemporary photographers from all over the world. It is open to all photographers, of all levels, and for free. In other words, both professionals and non-professionals – and even students – are eligible to receive an award.
The Sony World Photography Awards [3] has several categories: travel, landscape, sports, street photography, culture, portraiture, documentary, and architecture, among others.
You can join according to your skill-level:
- Professionals: Has around 10 categories and a body of work is used for judging who the winner/s will be.
- Open Category: There are 10 categories for this contest.
- Youth Category: This contest is open for photographers who are 12 to 19 years old.
- Student Focus Category: This is a category intended only for individuals who are studying photography.
Photographers who win or are shortlisted will get the chance to experience the following:
- Possible inclusion in a number of international exhibits
- Showcase their work in London’s Somerset House
- Possibility of working with Sony and its partners on several projects
- Works will be included in Sony’s World Photography Awards book
Judges for the Sony World Photography Awards are respected names and leaders in the industry.
3. Monovisions Photography Awards
The Monovisions Photography Awards [4] is intended for photographers who focus on monochrome photography. Photographers from different parts of the world will get the chance to win more or less $5,000 cash. Photography level and background are not essential for joining; anyone can enter the contest.
There are two main contests monochrome photographers can choose from:
- Black and White Photo of the Year, and
- Black and White Series of the Year.
Monovisions Photography Awards has 12 categories: People, Landscapes, Abstract, Photojournalism, People, Fine Art, Architecture, Conceptual, Travel, Nature & Wildlife, Street Photography, Portrait, and Nude.
There are several things to consider when joining the said contest:
- Photos should be in black and white. However, toned photos are acceptable (which means photographers can submit images in sepia, gold, and selenium). In addition, entries can be post-processed.
- All entries should be in JPEG format.
- There is a fee for joining the contest.
- Photographers can submit photos in two sections (single or series). A photographer can enter more than one category provided that the additional fees are paid ($10 per category).
Prizes are $3,000 for the Black and White Series of the Year and $2,000 for the Black and White Photo of the Year.
4. The National Geographic Photo Contest
Of course, the National Geographic Photo Contest [5] should be on this list! After all, this award is given by one of the most respected, revered, and popular medium for photographers from different parts of the world.
The award is given to photographers who join various categories in the professional and non-professional levels. There are usually changes in the categories, but their basic concept usually revolves around people, nature, and places.
There is an official entry form and an entry free. In addition, the photo to be submitted must be properly captioned. The winner will be featured on National Geographic’s Instagram account and will be published on the National Geographic Magazine.
These are just four of the most prestigious international photography awards in the world. If you’re serious about improving your craft and building your brand and reputation as a photographer, joining one or two photography contests is the best thing to do to collect experiences and learning.