(updated December 2019)

Did you know that an editor can help you home in on the right images for contests and grants?

An objective, outside opinion and fresh look at work can help you craft a contest or grant entry that connects with the judges.

I've created contest edits for numerous photographers who went on to win World Press Photo, POYi, Communication Arts, and PDN Photo Annual awards.

Contests... Some are great. Some feel like they only exist to rob photographers of their precious income. Before you enter, carefully consider if it's worth your money. Stick with contests that have, in the past, recognized photographers whose work you admire.

Remember, the primary (commercial) benefit of entering a contest is getting your work in front of industry bigwigs who otherwise might not have seen it. You don't even have to win to enjoy that benefit, although, winning is preferred.

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Here's a general timetable of contest deadlines throughout the year. Things change so make sure you go straight to the source for definitive info on deadlines, entry fees and eligibility.

Know of others? Connect on facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram and let me know.

January

Andrei Stenin International Photo Contest
American Illustration-American Photography
Aperture Portfolio Prize (entries accepted December through early February)
Art Directors Club Photo Contest
Days Japan
Hillman Prize for Photojournalism
Inge Morath Prize - Recognizing outstanding female photographer under age 30
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)
NPPA Best of Photojournalism
Pictures of the Year International (POYi)
Pulitzer Prizes
Sony World Photography Awards
The Syngenta Photography Award
World Press Photo Contest

February

Dorothea Lange–Paul Taylor Documentary Prize (entries accepted February through May)
Foam Magazine Talent Call
CENTER awards (The Choice Awards, Project Competition, & Project Launch)

March

Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition
Leica Oskar Barnack Award
Communication Arts Magazine
Spider Awards B&W Photo

April

Imagely Fund
Px3 Photography Competition

May

Burn Magazine Emerging Photographer Grant
Canon Female Photojournalist Award
W. Eugene Smith Fund (entries accepted January through May)
Getty Images Grants
Howard Chapnick Grant
ICRC Humanitarian Visa d'Or
POYi Emerging Vision Grant

June

CDS/Honickman First Book Prize in Photography - Biennial book prize
PDN Photo Annual
Visa pour l'image - Visa d'Or award and Pierre and Alexandra Boulat Association Grant
The Bayeux-Calvados Award for war correspondents

July

Ian Parry scholarship
Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize
New Orleans Photo Alliance

August

Critical Mass by Photolucida
Moran Contemporary Photo Award - Portrait and documentary prizes (up to $150,000) for Australian photographers

September

Alexia Foundation
ASMP/NY Annual Photo Contest
BJP International Photography Award
Graphis Photography Annual
The Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Female Photographers
FotoEvidence Book Award

October

Hasselblad Masters Awards
Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar Contest

November & December

Aftermath Project
Feature Shoot Emerging Photography Awards
Louis Roederer Discovery Award
Magenta Flash Forward
Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award
International Color Awards

Please note that grant availability and application criteria may change over time, so it's always a good idea to check the respective organizations' websites for the most up-to-date information.

Magnum Foundation Emergency Fund: Supports independent documentary photographers who are covering critical issues around the world.
https://www.magnumfoundation.org/emergency-fund
Getty Images Grants for Editorial Photography: Provides financial support to photographers working on compelling social, political, and cultural stories.
https://wherewestand.gettyimages.com/grants
W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund: Awards annual grants to photographers working on humanistic documentary projects.
https://smithfund.org/
The Aftermath Project: Offers grants to photographers exploring the aftermath of conflict and promotes constructive storytelling.
https://www.theaftermathproject.org/
Women Photograph Grants: Aims to support the work of women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming photographers worldwide.
https://www.womenphotograph.com/grants
Alexia Foundation Grants: Supports photographers and visual journalists addressing social justice and humanitarian issues.
https://www.alexiafoundation.org/
Open Society Foundations Documentary Photography Project: Funds photographers documenting social issues and human rights.
https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/documentary-photography-project
Pulitzer Center Grants: Provides funding for journalism projects, including documentary photography, with a focus on underreported issues.
https://pulitzercenter.org/grants
International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF): Offers reporting grants for female and gender non-conforming journalists, including photographers.
https://www.iwmf.org/programs/reporting-grants-for-women/
CatchLight Fellowship: Supports visual storytelling that drives social change and amplifies underrepresented voices.
https://www.catchlight.io/fellowship
The Documentary Project Fund: Grants for photographers and filmmakers working on projects that shed light on social, political, and environmental issues.
https://www.documentaryprojectfund.org/
World Press Photo Foundation: Offers grants, fellowships, and other programs to support visual journalism and storytelling.
https://www.worldpressphoto.org/activities/grants-programme
The FENCE Grant: Provides financial support and exhibition opportunities for photographers participating in The FENCE, an outdoor photography exhibition.
https://fence.photoville.com/
The Ian Parry Scholarship: Aims to support young documentary photographers and offers mentorship, equipment, and cash prizes.
https://www.ianparry.org/

Remember to visit each organization's website for specific details on application deadlines, eligibility criteria, and grant amounts.

Here are some grants specifically tailored for Indigenous photographers:

Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) - National Native Media Awards: NAJA provides grants to Indigenous photographers and journalists for their work in covering Native American communities. Website: https://najanewsroom.com/programs/awards/
IllumiNative - Native Storytelling Fellowship: Offers financial support to Native American and Alaska Native artists, including photographers, to create and share authentic narratives. Website: https://www.illuminatives.org/native-storytelling-fellowship
Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) - Mentorship Program: ISO provides grants and mentorship opportunities for Indigenous photographers and filmmakers working on storytelling projects. Website: https://www.screenoffice.ca/
N7 Fund - Nike: N7 Fund supports Native American and Aboriginal communities through grants for various artistic and sporting endeavors, including photography projects. Website: https://www.nike.com/n7
First Peoples Fund - Cultural Capital Program: Offers grants to Indigenous artists, including photographers, to support the continuation and revitalization of traditional art forms. Website: https://www.firstpeoplesfund.org/grants/cultural-capital
National Geographic Society - Indigenous Storytelling Grants: Provides grants to Indigenous storytellers, including photographers, to document and share stories from Indigenous communities worldwide. Website: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/funding-opportunities/grants/what-we-fund/indigenous-storytelling/
The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation - Artist Fellowship: Offers fellowships to Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian artists, including photographers, to support their artistic development and projects. Website: https://www.nativeartsandcultures.org/grants-fellowships/artist-fellowship
Ford Foundation - Indigenous Art and Culture Initiative: Supports Indigenous artists and cultural practitioners, including photographers, through grants that foster the revitalization and celebration of Indigenous cultures. Website: https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/indigenous-art-and-culture-initiative/