CASH PRIZE FOR THE BEST PORTRAIT AND PHOTOGRAPHER OF 2025 | PUBLISHED AS THE BEST PORTRAIT OF THE YEAR 2025 | GREAT EXHIBITION OF YOUR WORK | CERTIFIED AS BEST PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY OF 2025
WELCOME TO A NEW CHAPTER IN CELEBRATING THE GREATNESS AND DIVERSITY OF PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY.
AFTER THE OVERWHELMING SUCCESS OF PREVIOUS EDITIONS, WE RETURN THIS YEAR WITH RENEWED ENERGY, EAGER TO DISCOVER AND HONOR PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO CAPTURE THE HUMAN ESSENCE IN ALL ITS COMPLEXITY.
Within the world of photography, portraiture holds a privileged status: its ability to reveal personality, history, and emotion in every subject is an art form unto itself. Hence, the Portrait Awards 2025 is the ideal space for both emerging and established artists to showcase their most authentic vision.
Throughout history, portrait photography has served as a witness to various eras, cultures, and lifestyles. From early daguerreotypes to contemporary digital compositions, every image offers a unique perspective on who we are—individually and collectively. With that same passion and curiosity, we invite you in this third edition of the Portrait Awards to share your finest explorations of the human spirit. Our goal is to bring together images that transcend flawless technique to become visual narratives powerful enough to resonate deeply with viewers.
In the 2024 edition, we witnessed photographs that ventured into unfamiliar territories, conveyed profound messages with subtle gestures, and captured faces that told universal stories. The finalists and winners last time showcased the remarkable versatility of the portrait genre: classic portraits evoking tradition at its best, conceptual compositions pushing the boundaries of form, and self-portraits that became statements of personal identity. Thanks to the vast global participation, we discovered a cultural richness that emerges when styles, backgrounds, and perspectives from around the world blend into one collective showcase.
For 2025, we aim to go even further by fostering a dialogue between new and traditional approaches, between bold creativity and formal elegance. In a world where immediacy and the sheer volume of images can render faces almost invisible, the Portrait Awards are committed to reminding us of the importance of pausing, observing, and empathizing. We want photographs that make our hearts stop for a moment, that draw us closer to different lives, and that remind us of our shared humanity.
Thus, we invite you to dive into this open call and present your interpretation of portrait photography—whether through reflective insight, symbolic play, or a spontaneous stolen moment. Each face is a universe, and each image can serve as a bridge connecting deeply personal narratives with universal emotions. In the Portrait Awards 2025, your camera becomes the key that unlocks these worlds and shares them with an audience eager to feel, discover, and be inspired.
Are you ready to showcase your vision? This is the perfect stage to highlight the power contained in a single face, the intensity of a gaze, or the subtlety of a smile. We’re not only looking for technical excellence, but also for storytelling, authenticity, and creative boldness.
By participating in this third edition, you join a global community of photographers who, through portraiture, are shaping a new chapter of contemporary photography.
WELCOME TO THE PORTRAIT AWARDS 2025; WHERE FACES COME ALIVE, STORIES ENDURE, AND YOUR TALENT FINDS THE PLATFORM IT TRULY DESERVES. WE INVITE YOU TO BECOME PART OF THIS GRAND CELEBRATION OF THE ART OF PORTRAITURE!
DEADLINE EXTENDEDAPRIL 15, 2024
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CASH PRIZE FOR THE BEST PORTRAIT AND PHOTOGRAPHER OF 2025
The absolute winner will receive as prize THE AMOUNT OF 1000 EUROS to be delivered in a maximum of 5 days after the jury's decision. The funds will be transferred through
Paypal or bank transfer.
You will also receive the gold diploma that will accredit you as the best photographer of 2025 plus a preferential presentation in the book "Portrait - Best Photographers of 2025.”, and exposure in our online gallery for 12 months.
PUBLISHED AS THE BEST PORTRAITS OF THE YEAR 2025
The best 100 images along with the winning images will be published in the yearly book "Portrait - Best Photographers of 2025".
Each photograph will be presented with the name and contact links of the author. This book is designed for international expansion and the search for the best opportunities for the selected photographers. It has the support of the industry and will be distributed for free to the best agencies and galleries around the world.
GREAT EXHIBITION OF YOUR WORK
Become one of the best photographers of the year and get a unique privileged space for your work for 12 months.
Undoubtedly, Dodho Magazine has become a point of reference within the industry, creating valuable opportunities and being capable of giving your work the relevance it deserves.
The overall winner, the second and third prizes, and the first 25 finalists will be part of the selected club of the best photographers of the year. Their works will enjoy a special exhibition in our online gallery for a whole year. Our gallery receives thousands of visits from industry professionals every year. Thousands of eyes will see your work in a different and special way.
CERTIFIED AS BEST PORTRAIT OF 2024
The exclusive winner, the second and third place winners plus the two photographers with honorable mentions will receive an e-mail with the official Dodho Magazine certificate endorsing them as photographers of 2025.
You can get gold, silver, bronze, or one of the two honorary certificates for your career as a photographer. In addition, you will receive personalized badges with your name and the title of the image so that you can prove that your photograph was awarded with the Portrait Awards 2025
JUDGING PANEL
A great international judging panel will select the best images and portfolios from all possible points of view. All of them, with extensive experience will evaluate all projects from four basic factors: Technique, impact, composition, and style.
PORTRAIT AWARDS 2024 WINNERCarl Doghouse
LONDON- UNITED KINGDOM
Carl Doghouse is a renowned portrait photographer based in London, driven by a passion for capturing the authentic essence of people. His photographic style masterfully blends classic techniques with a modern approach, creating portraits that are both timeless and vibrant. Each image he crafts tells a unique story, reflecting the individuality and spirit of his subjects with remarkable depth and artistry.
GALERIE THIERRY BIGAIGNONThierry Bigaignon
PARIS- FRANCE
Thierry Bigaignon is not new to the art business, nor is he to photography. After studying Politics and History in London, and later on photography at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York, Thierry came back to Paris to work in a PR agency and then started his first venture at the age of 31. For the next 12 years, he focused all his efforts at bridging the gap that often separates the art scenes and the corporate world.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERHJIM Van Gasteren
AMSTELVEEN - NETHERLANDS
Award winning multimedia artist HJIMvanGasteren has been widely exhibited, throughout Europe and the U.S. She uses self-portraits to provide a commentary on the image of women today. Recurring themes in her work include identity, gender roles, freedom, equality, religion and the positive and negative aspects of human experience. Her work is sometimes humorous, often sensual, frequently confrontational, and always original and insightful.
DODHO MAGAZINEMaxim Panés
BARCELONA - SPAIN
Maxim Panés, editor and founder of Dodho Magazine, leverages his extensive experience in image and design to support photographers by fostering connections with leading agencies and publishers. The magazine publishes daily online for a broad audience and biannually in print for art and photography professionals, aiming to spotlight exceptional talent, promote outstanding projects, and provide effective tools for career advancement.
A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.”
– Richard Avedon-
PORTRAIT PACKAGES
The call is open to all amateur or professional photographers over 18 years old and from all over the world.
PACKAGES
PORTRAIT AWARDS 2025
Select one or more submission packages, access the registration form, and upload your images in a .ZIP or .RAR folder. It couldn't be easier. You can send as many works as you wish, with no limit on the volume of participation - the choice is yours!
Pack 3 images
€30
You can send from 1 to 3 images
- 1200 PX
- 72 DPI
- .ZIP or .RAR file
Pack 6 Images
€45
You can send from 4 to 6 images
- 1200 PX
- 72 DPI
- .ZIP or .RAR file
Pack 12 Images
€60
You can send from 7 to 12 images
- 1200 PX
- 72 DPI
- .ZIP or .RAR file
SELECTION PROCESS
4 DECISIVE ELEMENTS
All images presented are considered by our jury without the author's data, this means that our judges do not know the photographer name and its origin until the end of the selection process. In this way we guarantee that the selection process takes place in the most transparent and democratic way possible.
All the images received are valued through four decisive elements. Technical factors, composition factors, emotional factors and style factors. After the presentation period ends, the finalist images will be reviewed again, for the final selection. The jury’ decision will be communicated during the second week of April. An email will be sent to all the participants, informing them of the result of their presentation.
CONDITIONS & LICENSES
All participants to Portrait Awards 2025, by virtue of their presentation, believing the images and projects presented are their own work and there has been no infringement of copyright. Dodho is not responsible for any infringement of rights may arise during the selection process and subsequent display of any image. The entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the photograph, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the photograph. The projects will be judged by a professional and relevant jury in the photography field, with no flare and none of the author data. The jury’s decision will not be appealable and will be definitive.
COPYRIGHTS & USAGE RIGHTS
The images copyright will be exclusively and at all times of the photographer and author of the image. The images will use strictly in relation to the Dodho prizes and will not be used for other purposes than the direct promotion of their authors. The images may not be used in any case by any third party without the express consent of the author and by written request, which will be sent to the author by email. Dodho is granted the right to publish the best works received in its online version and subsequent promotion in its social networks, always safeguarding authorship and copyright.
In portrait photography, there is something more profound that we seek inside a person while being painfully aware that a limitation of our medium is that the inside is recordable only insofar as is apparent on the outside.
– Irving Penn-
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I present my images in Portrait Awards 2025?
You must select the package you want within this mode, depending on whether you want to upload three, six or twelve images. After selecting your participation package, you will access the registration form, where you will be asked for your information, and you will be able to upload your images
What requirements must the images fulfil to upload them in the Portrait Awards?
Each of the photographs must have a minimum size of 1200px on its largest side. The maximum weight of each .JPG image must be 5Mb
Can I add an explanatory text in the images I present?
You can upload a text in the same presentation or registration form.
How many times can I participate in the selection?
You can participate as many times as you wish. But you must do a new registration for each of them.
We are a team of several photographers; can we present for the Portrait Awards 2025?
Of course, but you must indicate the contact person in the registration form
How does the use of rights work if I present my images?
All photographers maintain the copyright of their images. By submitting your photographs, you only authorize Dodho Magazine to promote and publish your work by any means, always indicating the credits and authorizations of your images. If your work is selected to be published in the book, you must also sign an authorization for it which will be sent to you by email.
Can I present images published in other media?
Of course, we look for good images and photographers to promote; we do not seek any exclusivity.
Are there restrictions of the contest regarding the date of capture of the images?
No, there is no temporary restriction based on when an image was taken. You can present images taken at any stage of your career.
Can I submit previously published works in the online version or printed version of Dodho Magazine?
Of course, if your work has already been published in Dodho Magazine, it’s because it’s a great work.
Can I present digitally retouched images?
There are no restrictions on the use of digital manipulation.
Can there be an extension in the delivery deadline?
We have a very tight editorial calendar and we cannot offer any extension in the submission deadlines. For this reason, the call will end the day and time indicated without any delay.
When will the jury’ decision be communicated to the photographers?
The jury’s decision will be communicated by the end of April. An email will be sent to all participants, informing them of the result of their submission. If you have not received this email, please check your Spam folder.
How can I pay for my registration?
In the same registration form you will find the three forms of payment that we accept, we have an SLL certificate for you to make the payment safely and we also work with payment gateways of recognized prestige. You can pay using your PayPal or Stripe account if you decide to pay with your credit card. In this way, we make sure that your data circulates safely.
How can I know that my images have been sent correctly?
If you have not uploaded the projects or images in the registration form, our system will not let you make the payment. Also, you will receive a confirmation email after the shipment confirming your receipt and registration in our database. In this way, you can be entirely sure that your projects or images have been received.
What if my images are not properly uploaded for submission?
If the project is not uploaded in the registration for any reason, the payment will be not be processed. Moreover, you will receive an email to notify about your upload. As the database will file your entry, you will be notified.
If you still have some doubts or want to discuss anything, you can feel free to contact us. We are available round the clock to cater you with the best assistance. Send us your queries at [email protected].
A good portrait tells a story, hints at a life beyond the edges of the frame.”
– Steve McCurry-
