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Photo Contests

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Photo Contests for Every Skill Level

There are great photo contests for every skill level ranging from total beginner to top professional. Some of these photography contests promise only the glory of having your photo posted on a website, while other photo competitions pay out thousands of dollars in exotic trips and fabulous equipment and software packages.

Getting Creative

Are your photos contest worthy?

Sunset 2 - Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge by ex_magician

Rain - Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge by ex_magician

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Why Enter Photo Contests?

Prizes, fame and glory are ONE reason!

The prizes range from small cash prizes to major prizes that include professional photography equipment and photo software (PhotoShop sells for over $800).

Several of the larger photo contests give away HUGE travel prizes, including very exotic locations such as the Galapagos and Antarctic.

Some of the "glory" prizes are amazing, such as Kodak's Picture of the Day winners which appear on Kodak's Giant Video Screen in Times Square in the heart of New York City. Other glory prizes are more modest!

Apart from winning prizes, you also get a chance to develop your own real-world portfolio and depending on the contest, a win (or even a good finish!) can help launch your photo career.

Here are a few other benefits of entering photo contests:

a) Showcase your photography skills
b) Be judged by experts and critics (or your peers)
c) Get published on-line or in some of the most prestigious photo magazines in the world.

Ready to Enter?

Entering Great Photo Contests

LISTS OF CURRENT PHOTO CONTESTS

Entering photography contests can be a very rewarding hobby that can pay off big time. Challenge yourself to get out every week and learn something new about using your camera and some new concept or technique to improve your work. Then enter, enter, enter until you WIN!

LISTS OF CURRENT PHOTO CONTESTS

WE have a HUGE list of Ongoing Photo Contests for you below. These include weekly and monthly contests ... and even some daily contests. This is a great place to get started because the ongoing contests often have low entry fees or are FREE to enter. They usually have smaller prizes.

Deadline Photography Contests range from small and local to huge International contests sponsored by some of the largest photo companies in the world. They can have huge prizes including trips to exotic places, professional camera packages and loads of software goodies. There can be cash prizes exceeding $10,000.

We know of several photographers who have launched their studios and their careers by winning a few of these bigger contests.

Click the link below to find a big list of deadline contests.

Over FIFTY Photography Contests With Deadlines

Ongoing Photography Contests

Monthly Recurring Contests - Part ONE

Australian Digital Photo: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Australia, 18+
Description: To submit an entry you must first become a member.
Prizes: Winning images may be featured in the monthly publication.
Entry Fee: None
Digital Image Cafe: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility:Description: Enter your photography and win great prizes!
Prizes: Monthly prizes. Over $65,000.00 worth of prizes awarded.
Entry Fee: There is an Annual Membership cost $29.00.
Foto Fanatic: Deadline: 25th of the month
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: FotoFanatic.com has monthly contests with diverse categories that you can suggest and get to help select.
b> There are cash prizes associated with the monthly photo contests. The current cash prizes are $50 for first, $25 for second and $10 for third.
Entry Fee: None
FotoSurf Monthly Photo Contest: Deadline:Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: Would you like to enter the photo contest? We will have a new contest every first of the month.
Prizes: The prize for the winner: the portfolio of Willem Diepraam, a great Dutch photographer, a book with 200 pages and text in English.
Entry Fee: None
Funny Photos Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to All, 18+
Description: If you like taking photos, you may want to enter our photo contest and submit your best photographs.
Prizes: Win $20 twice a month for a funny photo. Win $10 twice a month for a cute photo. Each month, the staff's favorite photo wins a gift form www.picajet.com
Entry Fee: None
Global Traveler Journal Photo Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: USA (50+) & D.C.
Description: Send us your best photos, along with a short journal-style entry that captures the mood of the moment, and you could see your work published in an upcoming issue of Global Traveler.
Prizes: You could see your work published in an upcoming issue of Global Traveler. An added bonus: If your photo is selected for publication, you will receive 10,000 Priority Club® Rewards points. Not a Priority Club® Rewards member? Enroll for free. You'll also receive one of Graphic Arts Books "Portrait of a Place" series publications profiling the visual highlights of destinations renowned destinations.
Entry Fee: None
JPG Magazine Competition: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: Submit your your best photos & your favorite photos.
Prizes: One year subscription and $100 if your photo is published.
Entry Fee: None
Kolo Monthly Photo Contest 2010: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Worldwide, 18+
Description: Contestants may enter up to 10 photos per month (per theme).
Prizes: The grand prize and six second-place winners will be announced on Feb. 1, 2011.
Monthly winners will be automatically eligible to win the grand prize of $500 cash and Kolo photo books and boxes worth $500 retail.
Six second-place winners will receive $100 cash and Kolo products worth $100 retail.
Fifteen winners per month will receive a $50 Kolo gift card redeemable at
www.kolo.com.
Entry Fee: None
Million Places on Earth - Photo of the Month Awards: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Worldwide, 18+
Description: Register on the website. You will automatically be given 1000 credits when you confirm your email address. This will show you how many photos you've uploaded.
Prizes: Each Photo of the Month shall win a prize to be determined by MPOE from time to time.
Entry Fee: None
MyLargescale Monthly Photo Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: You are be required to register at myLargescale.com to enter the contest and vote.
Prizes: First place winner a $50 US gift certificate.
Entry Fee: None
National Geographic My Shot: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: To get your own My Shot page, start by submitting your best photo to Your Shot.
Prizes: Two Your Shot photos are selected for publication each month in National Geographic magazine.
Entry Fee: None
New Scientist Monthly Photo Competition: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: The competition is themed. A new theme will be set every month and clearly displayed on the photo entry page.
Prizes: The winning entry will be used as a Picture of the Day, and will be displayed on www.NewScientist.com.
Entry Fee: None
Ongoing Photo Tournaments: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: To enter you need to register, it is free.
Prizes: Publication of works
Entry Fee: None
Pampered Puppy Monthly Dog Photo Contests: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: USA & Canada, 18+
Description: Send in your photos of your pets and you have a chance to win a variety of our prizes.
Prizes: 15 different dog-themed prizes (from $35 to $150 value each).
Entry Fee: None

Tips on How To Win Photo Contests

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CafePress

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More Ongoing Photography Contests

Monthly Recurring Contests - Part TWO

Photoburst - Daily. Weekly. Monthly Contest: Deadline: Daily. Weekly. Monthly
Eligibility: Worldwide, 18+
Description: Photoburst is looking for striking photos and/or bursts exhibiting what TRAVEL is all about.
Prizes: Monthly winners will receive a B&H US$100 gift card.
Entry Fee: None
Photoburst Travel Photography Daily Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: Photoburst is a travel photography daily contest site! Here you can submit either photos or bursts (sequences of photos).
Prizes: Monthly winners will be awarded with a B&H USD$100 gift certificate!
Entry Fee: None
Photography Corner's Monthly Contests: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Worldwide, 18+
Description: There are several online monthly contests, with different themes for each contest.. Vote for yournfavorite photos.
Prizes: There are a variety of prizes from camera bags and vests, software and memberships to small Photography Corner bonus items such as key chains.
Entry Fee: $10 for a lifetime membership
PhotoLife Showtime: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Canada, 18+
Description: Theme changes every edition.
Prizes: Showtime photo contest sponsored by Epson Canada Ltd. This issue's first place winner will be awarded an Epson Stylus Photo 1400 Ink Jet Printer (retail value: $299.99).
Entry Fee: None
Racing Photo of the Month Competition: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to All, 18+
Description: Have You Taken A Great Horse Racing Photo? Enter it into the Photo of the Month Competition to be in with a chance of winning a great prize.
Prizes: A hard back copy of 'The Complete Encyclopedia Of Racing' by Bill Mooney and George Ennor priced at 25 BP.
Entry Fee: None
SnapItTo.Me Front Page Photography Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: SnapItTo.Me is looking for photographs that will be displayed on the front page of the site, photos that will be attributed to you as the photographer and linked to your SnapItTo.Me Front Page Photography Contest.
Prizes: The first place winner will receive $20. 20 other photos will be chosen to be displayed on the front page as well, and the photographers will be featured with the photo.
Entry Fee: None
SoaPhoto Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Worldwide, 18+
Description: Register as a photographer, you can submit your photos for editorial and peer review.
Prizes: We have exciting monthly prizes for the winner.
Entry Fee: None
Soaphoto Free Amateur Digital Photo Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to all, 18+
Description: Here at Soaphoto, we want to give the amateur and professional photographer alike the chance to show off their photography skills and win fantastic prizes.
Prizes: Every month we have a winner of our photo contest than can win a fantastic prize.Four (4) prizes monthly; digital cameras
Entry Fee: None
The Graphics.com Photography Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: A monthly contest devoted to photography, with the prize being a subscription to Photos.com. Each month the creator of the winning image, as picked by staff, receives a three-month subscription to the Photos.com stock photo subscription site.
Prizes: One three-month free subscription to Photos.com. No assignment, transfer or substitution of prize is permitted. Taxes and other fees are the sole responsibility of winner.
Entry Fee: None
The Great Photo Content: Deadline: Weekly and monthly
Eligibility: USA & Canada, 18+
Description: Do you enjoy taking pictures? Have you created photographs that really grab the attention of your friends and family? Do others tell you that you have an "eye" for photography?
Prizes: Weekly winners receive $25
Monthly winners receive $100
The yearly winner gets $1000
Entry Fee: None
The Nerve Amateur Photo Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: The Nerve Photo Contest is our way of welcoming the rest of you into our community of creative hedonists. Much more importantly, the contest is the excuse you've been waiting for - now you can ask that really hot girl/guy who lives down the block to pose for you.
Prizes: $500 for first place
Entry Fee: None
The Times Monthly Travel Photo Competition: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: U.K
Description: Submit your best shot as a Jpeg e-mail attachment along with your name, address and telephone number to travelpictures@thetimes.co.uk.
Prizes: The monthly prize is a self catering holiday worth up to £500 from cottages4you.
Entry Fee: None
WeSay.com Monthly Photo Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: International, 18+
Description: We want photos of all the interesting people you see, the beautiful landscapes that surround you, the animals that you have befriended, performances and concerts you have experienced%u2026
Prizes: Each month, 30 members will be chosen to receive $500, $100 or $25.
Entry Fee: None
White Star Cruises Monthly Photo Competition: Deadline: Monthly rounds and final in Jan 2012
Eligibility: Open to all, 18+
Description: Enter your favourite cruise related photo and win a luxury Cunard Transatlantic cruise with White Star Cruises.
Prizes: The winner of each monthly heat will win a prize from our selection included a case of fine wine, luxury goods and even a £250 credit voucher to spend on board.
Entry Fee: None
YourShot National Geographic Contest: Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: Open to all, 18+
Description: Submit a favorite photo of your own on any topic of your choosing for possible publication in an upcoming issue of National Geographic. To submit an entry you must first become a member.
Prizes: Publication in an upcoming issue of National Geographic.
Entry Fee: None

From My Bookshelf

If you plan on entering more than one photo contest be sure to Get the Winning Digital Photo Contests book. It will give you a definite advantage over your competitors.

Weekly Photography Contests

BabyZone Weekly Photo Contest: Deadline: Weekly
Eligibility: USA, Any ages
Description: Upload your child's photo to our server via our website.
Prizes: The winner may be featured on BabyZone's home page for the duration of the following month and will also be the "cover kid" in one or more of BabyZone's newsletters. Winners of the year-end finale will receive a $100 prize.
Entry Fee: None
Best Australian Photograph: Deadline: Every 6 months
Eligibility: Australia, 18+
Description: Send in your favorite photographs of Australia to Australian Explorer.
Prizes: The Winner of the Best Australian Photograph competition can select any of the experiences featured on the Australian Explorer website within the Experiences Section up to the value of $500. Choose from Rally Driving, Sailing, Hot Air Ballooning and much more %u2026
Entry Fee: None
BytePhoto Weekly Digital Photo Contests: Deadline: Weekly
Eligibility: Open to all, 18+
Description: Enter the weekly digital Photo Contest by submitting two of your best photos and you may receive valuable feedback on your work from a friendly digital photography community.
Prizes: A copy of ACDseePro to each weeks winner for the next 24 weeks
Entry Fee: None
Digital Image Cafe: Deadline: Weekly
Eligibility: Worldwide, 18+
Description: Enter your photography and win great prizes!
Prizes: Monthly prizes. Over $65,000.00 worth of prizes awarded.
Entry Fee: There is an Annual Membership cost $29.00.
Kate Day's Photo Competition: Deadline: Weekly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: This is a weekly photo competition that runs on Kate Day's photo blog. It is a place to share photos and ideas and everyone is welcome to join.
Prizes: Your photograph will be published on Kate Day's blog and might be used in a book/calendar that relates to the competition.
Entry Fee: None
Our Common Experience Weekly Contest: Deadline: Each Sunday
Eligibility: Open to All, 18+
Description: Through the sharing of the everyday details of life around the globe, Our Common Experience fosters a better understanding of the interconnectedness we all share as citizens of our planet.
Prizes: T-shirts, charity donations, cash.
Entry Fee: None
PC World's Digital Focus Photo Contest: Deadline: Weekly
Eligibility: USA & Canada, 18+
Description: Entrants may enter once every week until the close of the Contest.
Prizes: The winning photographer will have his or her Entry published on the PC World Web site, along with the winner's name and location. Publication of the winner's name on the PC World Web site will constitute notification of the win.
Entry Fee: None
PhotoEnter.com Weekly Photo Contest: Deadline: Weekly
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 18+
Description: PhotoEnter offers the amateur photographer the opportunity to compete in our weekly competitions entry is free!
Prizes: US$50 per competition weekly
Entry Fee: None
PhotoRush Photo Contest: Deadline: Weekly
Eligibility: Worldwide, 16+
Description: Submit your photos and win!
Prizes: 70, 250, 500 Euro
Entry Fee: 10 Euro
Pictory Weekly Call for Entries: Deadline: Weekly
Eligibility: Worldwide, 18+
Description: Share the most impressive bridges, tunnels, airports, power plants, and other monuments to our ability to reshape and reconnect our world.
Prizes: If it is selected, it will show up on the Pictory showcase blog with your name and website listed next to the caption.
Entry Fee: None
Subject Matters Photo Contest: Deadline: Every 2 weeks
Eligibility: Open to ALL, 14+
Description: Submit your photographic interpretation of the current topic. Then see others and at the end of two weeks we'll pick and post a few of our favorites.
Prizes: See contest site for full list of prices.
Entry Fee: None

Proof Positive's Photo Contests

FROM THE ProofPositive.com BLOG: Photography contests for both amateurs and professionals

Subscribe to the Photo Contests RSS Feed
Subscribe to Proof Positive Photo Contests Updates by Email

Daily Photo Contests

Digital Image Cafe: Deadline: Daily
Eligibility: Worldwide, 18+
Description: Enter your photography and win great prizes!
Prizes: Monthly prizes. Over $65,000.00 worth of prizes awarded.
Entry Fee: There is an Annual Membership cost $29.00.
Earth Shots Daily Photo Contest: Deadline: Daily
Eligibility: Worldwide, 18+
Description: Submit now your photographs to Earth Shots for a chance to win the coveted "photo of the day" title!
Prizes: Winning photo of the day is therefore a fantastic springboard for getting your name out in front a global audience. Every winner is also given the opportunity to include a short biography and a link to their website under their photograph.
Entry Fee: None
PhotoRush Photo Contest: Deadline: Weekly
Eligibility: Worldwide, 16+
Description:Submit your photos and win!
Prizes: 70, 250, 500 Euro
Entry Fee: 10 Euro

Subscribe to the Photo-Video Newsletter

Over 50 Deadline Contests

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Photo Contest Feedback

... tell us about your photo contest experiences!

Be sure to let everyone know if you have won a photography contest! This is a great place to toot your own horn.

If any of the contest links above are broken or the contest no longer exists ... please let us know.

Reply

Moegly Aug 23, 2011 @ 2:44 pm | delete

The photography contest May the Best Photo Win is another great monthly contest to enter!

Reply

ProofPositive Aug 23, 2011 @ 2:52 pm | delete

Thanks for the info ... we'll add it to the list.

Reply

Joanne Candy Jul 16, 2011 @ 4:45 pm | delete

I've been following your lists for quite some time now, and have won a total of three contests. There is nothing that matches the thrill, even when a prize is a small one. And an even bigger thrill when you get a professional Nikon Camera! Thanks Proof Positive.

Reply

ProofPositive Jul 17, 2011 @ 2:31 pm | delete

Congratulations on all the wins!! And a great camera too. Love to hear from the contest winners.

Reply

MaxL Jul 1, 2011 @ 5:43 am | delete

Did alread some contests, but your lens was very helpful in finding more to apply to :)

Reply

ProofPositive Jul 17, 2011 @ 2:30 pm | delete

Keep on entering and be sure to let us know about your wins!!

Reply

Norma_Budden Apr 1, 2011 @ 8:56 pm | delete

I truly enjoyed my visit and will check out some of these sites/lenses.

Reply

watkins-lady Aug 21, 2007 @ 3:49 pm | delete

Cool, I must try this one day!

Reply

tipslady Aug 20, 2007 @ 6:57 pm | delete

I love your photo contest lens, Melanie. Great information for anyone wanting to win some very nice prizes. Something here for everyone really. Very cool that one of your subscribers won a prize!