“I have been up against tough competition all my life.
I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.”
― Walt Disney
Step onto a global stage and let your work speak.
The NAPCP International Image Competition is a prestigious annual online photography competition created to celebrate the extraordinary talent, artistry, and vision within our Member Community. Each year, this competition shines a spotlight on photographers who are pushing creative boundaries, refining their craft, and creating work that leaves a lasting impression. More than simply a chance to enter your images, this is an opportunity to place your work in front of respected judges, gain meaningful recognition, and stand confidently among some of the industry’s finest artists.
The International Image Competition is designed for photographers who are ready to challenge themselves, raise the bar, and be seen. It’s a place where artistry and excellence are honored—where compelling storytelling, emotional connection, technical precision, and creative interpretation all come together. Whether your work is bold and conceptual, softly emotive, richly detailed, or beautifully understated, this competition is an opportunity to celebrate the unique voice and perspective only you can bring.
We’re looking for images that stop viewers in their tracks—work that immediately captures attention and lingers in the mind long after it’s been seen. Images that reflect powerful impact, creative vision, refined style, technical excellence, and unmistakable distinction. This is the kind of work that not only represents where you are as an artist today, but also points to where you’re headed.
To enter is to say yes to growth, visibility, and the pursuit of excellence. It’s a chance to share your work with intention, to honor how far you’ve come, and to be recognized for the artistry you’ve worked so hard to develop. If you’ve created images you’re proud of—images that feel like you—this is your invitation to let them be seen.
Why should you enter?
Global Recognition: Stand out among photographers worldwide and gain visibility within a respected professional community.
Be Published: Nine Best in Category winners are featured in Inspired Magazine, with additional winners and Images of Merit showcased in our online galleries.
Stand Out in a Competitive Industry: Differentiate yourself with award-winning work that builds trust, attracts ideal clients, and elevates your brand above the crowd.
Professional Growth: Receive optional critiques designed to help you refine your eye, strengthen your technique, and grow as an artist.
Meaningful Rewards: Winners receive medallions, priority directory placement, vendor endorsements, press opportunities, and valuable Photographer of the Year points.
Compete for the Top Honor: Earn points toward NAPCP Photographer of the Year, one of the most respected honors in our community.
Entry Details & Pricing
This competition is exclusive to NAPCP Members—join NAPCP today to become eligible, take advantage of early savings, and get your images in front of judges.
EARLY BIRD SUBMISSIONS
April 13 – April 19
Enter for $15 off — just $10 per image!
Add an Image Critique for $25
REGULAR SUBMISSIONS
April 20 – April 27
$25 per image
Add an Image Critique for $25
2026 Categories
Submit your strongest, most compelling work across the eight categories you love most—images that reflect your unique style, creative vision, and technical excellence. Whether you specialize in storytelling, emotion-driven moments, or beautifully crafted studio imagery, this is your opportunity to showcase the work that best represents you as an artist.
Baby + Toddler (6 weeks to 3 years)
Child (4 years to 15 years)
Family
Maternity
Newborn (Birth to 6 weeks)
Senior (16 years to 18 years)
Siblings
Studio Portraiture (People of any age)
How Scoring Works
Every image submitted to the competition is carefully evaluated through our secure NAPCP online scoring system by a panel of commissioned judges. To ensure fairness and objectivity, all entries are judged anonymously—entrant names are never visible—and images are reviewed at full size for accurate, detailed assessment.
Each image you submit will receive an individual score, giving you clear insight into how your work performs at a professional level. Scoring is based on three core criteria designed to recognize both artistic vision and technical excellence: Impact (40%), which reflects the emotional and visual strength of the image; Creativity & Style (30%), which evaluates originality and artistic voice; and Technical Merit (30%), which considers execution, lighting, composition, and overall quality.
Entries are submitted across eight categories, and photographers should select the category that best aligns with the image’s overall story, style, and intent. Within each category, the top three scoring images will be awarded First, Second, and Third Place honors. In addition, Merit Recognition is awarded to the top 5% of scoring entries in each category—ensuring that exceptional work receives the recognition it deserves.
Whether you’re aiming for top honors or simply want to understand how your work measures up, the scoring process is designed to be both rewarding and informative for every entrant.
Add a Professional Critique
Take your images—and your artistry—to the next level.
In keeping with NAPCP’s commitment to education and growth, you have the option to add a professional image critique to any competition entry.
For an additional $25 per image, you’ll receive thoughtful, written feedback from one of our highly respected competition judges—giving you valuable insight into what’s working and where you can refine your craft.
WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE
Expert Written Feedback
Along with the score each image receives, adding a critique unlocks personalized, professional feedback tailored to your work—helping you enhance visual impact, refine technical skills, and elevate your unique artistic voice.
Actionable Insight for Growth
Walk away with guidance you can immediately apply to future sessions and submissions
Photographer of the Year
The Photographer of the Year award represents the highest level of achievement within the NAPCP community—honoring not just a single image, but a body of work, a commitment to growth, and meaningful contribution to the industry.
This prestigious designation is awarded based on a cumulative point system across both annual NAPCP Image Competitions. While competition results play a significant role, Photographer of the Year recognizes a well-rounded professional—someone who consistently creates exceptional work while actively engaging with and supporting the community.
HOW POINTS ARE EARNED
Photographers accumulate points through a combination of competition performance and community involvement. Points are awarded for all placing and merit images, with higher placements carrying greater weight. Additional points can be earned by sharing knowledge with the NAPCP community—through teaching, writing articles, video interviews, and other contributions—as well as through active participation in community spaces like the member Facebook group, blog, and surveys. A consistent, professional portfolio and strong online presence, including an up-to-date website and NAPCP Member Directory profile, also play an important role in the overall scoring.
MORE THAN A TITLE
Photographer of the Year is more than an award—it’s recognition of your artistry, your dedication, and your impact within the NAPCP community. It reflects not only how you create, but how you contribute, connect, and inspire.
- Entrant must be a member in good standing of the National Association of Portrait and Child Photographers
- Images may only be submitted one time for consideration. Images may not be used in multiple categories or for any future NAPCP Image Competition.
- There is no limit to the number of entries that may be submitted, but please refer to #6 in that all entries must be unique. Entrant has sole discretion, using the recommended age guidelines, to choose the the category that best suits the image being entered. It will be judged based on the category submitted, and NAPCP will not be responsible for images clearly placed in an incorrect category (ie: a maternity image placed in the newborn category, or a newborn image placed in the siblings category, etc).
- Entries must be the complete and original photographic work of the Entrant. This includes overall concept, posing, capture, exposure, and all post processing. Third party presets and actions may be used by Entrant to enhance the quality of an image (color, contrast, skin tone, etc) as long as they do not add elements that did not exist in the original image. Purchased texture screens are allowed as long as entering the image in the Competition doesn’t violate the copyright of the artist who created the texture. Images that are a result of a workshop, seminar, or under the guidance of an instructor are not eligible for competition. Images suspected to be generated by artificial intelligence (AI) are not eligible for competition.
- If any entry submitted is a result of multiple images to create a final composite image, all images used must be the original work of the Entrant. No purchased elements or stock images that are not of the Entrant’s original creation (including skies, trees, buildings, or other objects) should be used by the Entrant to create the final image (refer to #4 for additional details). All original image layers used for composite may be requested by NAPCP. Failure to submit all original images in a timely manner will result in immediate disqualification of the Entrant’s submission.
- All entries must be unique compared to your other submissions. No two entries should resemble each other (example: the same or similar subject in a similar pose, location, lighting).
- Images must not include Entrant’s name, logo, or signature. All judging is done anonymously, and the judge can’t the Entrant’s name.
- Images that violate copyright, trademark, or other applicable laws will be disqualified.
- Entrant must have a model release for any recognizable person in submitted entries and submit said release to NAPCP upon request.
- Submissions should be saved in JPEG format. The longest side of your image may not exceed 2000 pixels and the shortest side must be a minimum of 1000 pixels. Maximum size is 4 MB and resolution should be set to 72 DPI.
- Entries should be titled:YearMonth_Title_Category. For example: 2019December_SimpleThings_Maternity. Please keep in mind, names will be removed and judges will only see the Title when scoring images, please choose your title accordingly.
All scoring for the competition is done online in our secure NAPCP Scoring Dashboard by commissioned judges. Entrant names are not visible to judges. Images will be viewed at full size for scoring.
NAPCP has three main criteria for scoring images, outlined below.
1. Impact (40% Weight)
2. Creativity & Style (30% Weight)
3. Technical Merit (30% Weight)
There are eight categories available for submissions, outlined below. Entrant should choose the category that best suits the overall feel, impact, and story of each image.
1. Baby + Toddler (6 weeks to 3 years)
2. Child (4 years to 15 years)
3. Family
4. Maternity
5. Newborn (Birth to 6 weeks)
6. Senior (16 years to 18 years)
7. Siblings
8. Studio Portraiture (People of any age)
The top three scores for each category will be awarded First, Second, and Third Place. Merit Recognition will be awarded to the top scoring 5% of Entrants in each category.
NAPCP JUDGING PROCESS AND CRITERIA
All images are scored anonymously using the NAPCP Secure Online Scoring Dashboard. Judges are given ample time to complete the scoring of hundreds of images, usually about 30 days from commencement of scoring. Each image will be scored by a minimum of three different judges. Scores are then averaged using our weighted criteria below for final scoring. All entries will be judged and scored based on the category chosen by Entrant.
Impact (40%) – the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. To score high in this area, an image must have a very strong first impression. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. Storytelling also plays a part in overall Impact. This refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. What message does the viewer read, and what story does the image depict? While an image may be very impactful and memorable to your client, remember that your client is emotionally connected to the subject already, while the judges are not.
Creativity & Style (30%) – important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. The photographer’s style can be defined simply through their use of light, color, or any element that enables the audience to connect with the image. Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.
Technical Merit (30%) – the quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Post processing, manipulation, focus, appropriate depth of field, sharpness, exposure, composition, lighting, details in highlights and shadows, skin tone and correct color are all items that speak to the technical merit of an image.
IMAGE SCORING
Images will be scored using the following 1-10 numeric score for each criteria: Impact, Technical Merit and Creativity & Style.
1-2 Poor Quality
3-4 Below Average
5-6 Average
7 Above Average
8 Excellent
9 Outstanding
10 Exemplary, Exceptional, Best of Show
Professional feedback of Competition Entries is one of the best investments for learning and improvement. If an Entrant paid to have a critique of submitted images, this professional feedback will be provided in writing along with image scores after the judging process has concluded. The critique will be provided by a single judge who viewed and scored the image during the competition. All critiques will be provided in the same format as the Judging Criteria listed above, anonymously, with at least 2-3 sentences PER Criteria.
JUDGES COMMENTS:
Creativity & Style: Great overall tonal harmony to this maternity portrait from mom’s clothes to the environment. Love all the textures from her dress to the wood fence and vines – all work together to create a strong sense of style. The title is well thought out given the subject and use of environment and really adds to the story you are telling.
Technical Merit: I really like the use of the leading lines which draw the viewer in and right to your subject. Great use of the foreground to create visual interest and texture to the picture and tell the story. Watch for little things like the one vine to the right of mom that distracts from the image and mom’s left cheek which seems to be a bit too bright.
Impact: You have created a very visually interesting photo with your use of texture, leading lines and use of your foreground. Great job of engaging your subject and creating a genuine expression. In terms of improvement, Mom seems to float to almost the centre and I wonder if you had stepped back and placed her strongly either in the centre or in the third of the frame if it would have anchored your image a bit more and created an even stronger one.
IMAGE RELEASE AND USE:
Legal Disclaimer: Entrants agree that any entered photograph may be used by the National Association of Portrait and Child Photographers (NAPCP), in any of its publications, printed materials or electronic media, such as but not limited to, any of its websites or its affiliates’ web sites. Model releases must be available for all recognizable individuals in submitted photos. Do not submit these releases unless requested.
Winning entries may be used in connection with the Competition and by NAPCP for promotion in the future. Thus, winners grant a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, limited license to use, publish, reproduce, display, distribute, use for promotional purposes and cross-promotional purposes. Photographer retains all copyright for the images.
NAPCP reserves the right to disqualify any image for any reason and also to terminate the Image Competition at any time, based on it’s sole discretion.
Our 2026 Judges
Jennifer Kapala
Based in Calgary, Jennifer is a multiple award winning child and family photographer with an affection for good coffee, a passion for all things underwater photography and a not-so-secret ambition to own a horse again. Jennifer loves simple, honest and quiet moments, and builds relationships with her clients to draw out the connections and stories of who they are.
In 2015, Jennifer was honoured to receive the 2014 National Association Child Photographer of the Year. Always seeking to improve her craft, Jennifer maintains an active membership in the National Association of Professional Child Photographers (NAPCP), is an accredited member of the Professional Photographer of Canada (PPOC) and a Craftsman Member of the Masters Photographers International. In addition to her photography business, Jennifer loves to connect and help other photographers achieve their own success through her coaching for creatives program.
A passionate believer that community and competition aren’t mutually exclusive, Jennifer recently founded Underwater Kids, an IG account exclusively designed to feature underwater child and family photography, and with a mission to help grow that community. Jennifer is also the co-founder and proud contributor to Light Entwined, a multidisciplinary, collaborative effort, bringing together photographers and writers from across the world, each inspiring the other to co-create.
Lena Antaramian
Lena is an award-winning photographer and the owner of Live Love Laugh Photos. She is known for lifestyle family photography with a fine art touch and her boutique photography studio is located in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
Lena has a degree in Computer Science and her prior career as a business and IT consultant has been instrumental when she established Live Love Laugh Photos in 2008. Lena loves the business side of having a photography business and has been mentoring photographers in all things related to running photography business. She is known as an expert in pricing and is passionate about helping fellow photographers charge what they are worth.
Lena’s work has been featured in a number of publications and she has made several media appearances, including CBS New York and ON New Jersey sharing her tips for family photography. Lena was deeply honored to be named NAPCP 2023 Photographer of the year and seeing her images displayed in Times Square was definitely a highlight of her photography career. When not photographing clients, Lena can be found walking her dog, playing pickleball or traveling the world, camera in hand, with her husband and teenage twins – over 70 countries so far!
Your Work. Your Moment.
Whether you’re pushing creative boundaries or perfecting your signature style, this is your chance to be recognized for the artistry you’ve worked so hard to build. Don’t just create—compete, connect, and be celebrated.
Submissions open April 13th.