What juries look for in documentary photography
- A clear story and access that others did not have.
- A coherent sequence where each picture earns its place.
- A statement that explains why the story matters now.
How to prepare your entry
Spend as much time on the edit and the text as on the pictures. Grants often ask for a project plan and budget; prepare them before the deadline week.
Before you pay a fee
Prefer calls that are clear about rights and that credit the photographer prominently. Be wary of calls that ask for unpaid exclusive use of reportage.
Every listing on Photographers First shows the deadline in your time zone, the fee in your currency, the prize as stated by the organizer, and a direct link to the official rules. Pro members also get advanced filters by fee, prize and country, unlimited saved contests, and an entry tracker for deadlines and spending. See what Pro adds.