How to Find Photography Contests for Your Specialty

By Char Webster

1. Use Niche-Specific Platforms

Nature/Landscape: Look at sites like Nature's Best Photography, International Landscape Photographer of the Year, or Outdoor Photographer.

Portrait: Try Portrait of Humanity by 1854 Media (also behind British Journal of Photography).

Street/Documentary: LensCulture, Magnum Photography Awards, and Miami Street Photography Festival.

Fine Art/Creative: ND Awards, IPA (International Photography Awards), or Fine Art Photography Awards.

2. Search Contest Aggregator Sites:  These sites list contests across genres:

Photocontestguru.com

Photo Contest Insider

ViewBug

GuruShots

Pixcontests

Filter by category or tags like “macro,” “black and white,” “travel,” etc.

3. Follow Industry Hubs

Follow Instagram accounts like @photocontests, @photocompete, or @shoot_the_frame.

Join Facebook groups or Reddit communities (e.g., r/photocritique or r/photocontests).

Sub to photography newsletters like from 500px, Fstoppers, or PetaPixel.

4. Check with Photography Associations

Organizations like:

PSA (Photographic Society of America)

FIAP (Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique)

National Geographic’s Your Shot

They often have themed calls for entries.