What juries look for in portrait photography
- Connection between photographer and sitter.
- Light and setting that say something about the person.
- For series, variety of sitters held together by a consistent approach.
How to prepare your entry
Collect signed model releases before you enter, especially for calls that lead to exhibitions or publication. Many juries prefer an honest, quiet portrait to a heavily retouched one, so check whether the rules limit editing.
Before you pay a fee
Read how the organizer may use the portraits. Your sitter agreed to your picture, not necessarily to an advertising campaign by a sponsor.
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.