Competition Categories

Summary: Images created to sell, promote, or market a product, service, or brand

 Entry Criteria

• Clear commercial purpose
• Products, services, campaigns, or brand-led imagery
• Studio or location-based

Conditions & Restrictions

• Retouching and styling expected, but must remain credible
• Composite techniques allowed where industry-standard
• Images must still be predominantly photographic

Recommendations

• Clear message and audience
• Professional finish
• Concept and execution must align

Summary: Images captured from the air using drones or piloted aircraft

Entry Criteria

• Images must be captured from an airborne platform
• Includes drone, helicopter, light aircraft, balloon, or similar
• Subject matter may include landscape, architecture, industry, events, or abstract aerial views

Conditions & Restrictions

• Drone operation must comply with local aviation laws
• No simulated or AI-generated aerial perspectives
• Ground-based images manipulated to appear aerial are not permitted

Recommendations

• Strong spatial awareness and scale
• Clear purpose beyond novelty
• Evidence of deliberate composition, not incidental capture

Summary: Built environments photographed for design, function, or atmosphere

Entry Criteria

• Exterior or interior architectural photography
• Residential, commercial, public, or industrial spaces
• May include people if clearly secondary to the architecture

Conditions & Restrictions

• Perspective control and exposure blending permitted
• Removal of minor distractions acceptable
• Structural changes, fabricated elements, or scene reconstruction not permitted

Recommendations

• Accurate verticals and colour fidelity
• Lighting that enhances form without misrepresentation
• Respect the architect’s design intent

Summary: Photographic images where digital manipulation is central to the final result

Entry Criteria

• Composite, constructed, or heavily manipulated imagery
• Multiple photographic elements may be combined

Conditions & Restrictions

• All source material must be captured by the entrant
• No generative AI content
• Stock imagery is not permitted
  

Recommendations

• Technical excellence is expected
• Manipulation should serve concept, not dominate it
• Judges may request layered files

Summary: Style-led imagery showcasing clothing, accessories, hair, or makeup

Entry Criteria

• Fashion editorials, lookbooks, campaigns, or beauty imagery
• Emphasis on styling, design, and aesthetic direction

Conditions & Restrictions

• Skin retouching permitted but must not distort anatomy
• Body reshaping beyond industry norms is not acceptable
• Composite backgrounds allowed if photographic in origin

Recommendations

• Strong collaboration with styling and makeup
• Consistent visual language
• Contemporary relevance 

Summary: Concept-driven images expressing ideas, narratives, or artistic intent

 Entry Criteria

• Images led by concept rather than documentation
• May be staged, symbolic, or interpretive
• Single images or series

Conditions & Restrictions

• Manipulation permitted but must remain photographically rooted
• Heavy compositing limited to in-camera or own-source elements
• Fully synthetic imagery belongs in Digital Creation

Recommendations

• Clear intent and coherence
• Emotional or intellectual engagement
• Originality over technique for its own sake

Summary: Natural and urban environments captured with intent and purpose

 Entry Criteria

• Rural, coastal, urban, or suburban environments
• Human presence permitted but not dominant

Conditions & Restrictions

• Sky replacement permitted only using the photographer’s own skies
• No fabricated landscapes
• Natural World rules apply to wildlife content

Recommendations

• Strong sense of place
• Consideration of light and timing
• Avoid over-processing 

Summary: Wildlife and nature photographed in their native habitat

Entry Criteria

• Wild animals, plants, or ecosystems
• Subjects must be free-living and unrestrained

Conditions & Restrictions

• No captive, zoo, or controlled animals
• No baiting, distress, or habitat damage
• Composite imagery not permitted

Recommendations

• Ethical fieldcraft
• Authentic behaviour
• Natural presentation over drama

Summary: Live performance, competition, and athletic culture

 Entry Criteria

• Concerts, gigs, festivals, rehearsals
• Sporting events, training, or behind-the-scenes

Conditions & Restrictions

• Non-event imagery and posed promotional portraits belong in Portrait or Advertising & Commercial
• Event access must be legitimate

Recommendations

• Peak moment capture
• Atmosphere and energy
• Clean storytelling

Summary: Professionally created images of newborn babies

Entry Criteria

• Babies typically up to 28 days old (adjusted age for premature babies)
• Studio or home environments

Conditions & Restrictions

• Parents are only permitted in shots as supporting elements – e.g. hands
• Maternity shots and family groups belong in Portrait
• Documentary birth imagery belongs in Photojournalism & Street

Recommendations

• Safe posing practices
• Clean, gentle styling
• Parent consent is essential

Summary: Companion and working animals photographed under human care

 Entry Criteria

• Pets, farm animals, or working animals
• Controlled or domestic environments

Conditions & Restrictions

• Wildlife belongs in Natural World
• Composite backgrounds discouraged

Recommendations

• Character and connection
• Animal welfare first
• Clean, well-lit imagery

Summary: Unstaged images documenting real life, events, and society

 Entry Criteria

• Observational photography
• News, documentary, or street imagery

Conditions & Restrictions

• No staging or direction
• Minimal tonal adjustments only
• No content manipulation

Recommendations

• Context and authenticity
• Ethical awareness
• Strong storytelling

Summary: Images primarily focused on people

 Entry Criteria

• Studio or location portraits (individuals, family/group, maternity, boudoir, etc.)
• Includes posed wedding-style portraits not from live events

Conditions & Restrictions

• Newborn rules apply where relevant
• Excessive body modification not permitted

Recommendations

• Expression and connection
• Appropriate lighting
• Purpose-driven styling

Summary: Real wedding events photographed for real clients

Entry Criteria

• Must be from an actual wedding day
• Real couple, real event, real timeline

Conditions & Restrictions

• Styled shoots are not permitted
• Workshop images not permitted
• Pre- or post-wedding portraits may be included if part of the same commission

Recommendations

• Storytelling across moments
• Emotional authenticity
• Technical reliability under pressure