ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers encourages and promotes talented photographers in the early stages of their careers. This year, winners and runners-up will share in a prize pool of more than $28,000, including $9,000 in cash prizes. The best entries will be showcased online and in a special issue of Capture magazine (available mid June 2026).

ABOUT AUSTRALASIA’S TOP EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Now in its 18^th year, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers is the region’s largest and most prestigious competition for early-career and aspiring photographers.

Capture's Winter 2024 issue, showcased more than 345 entries from the competition.

WHO CAN ENTER?

Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers is open to citizens and residents of Australia and New Zealand who have less than four years' professional photography experience, including amateurs.

Check the Terms and Conditions for more information.

IMAGE CREATION DATE RESTRICTIONS

Images must have been created on or after 1 June 2023. You can enter as many times as you like, but you can't enter images that have previously been entered in Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers.

PRICING AND DEADLINES

EARLY BIRD
$29 per entry (1 September to Sunday 18 January 2026)

STANDARD PRICING
$39 per entry (19 January to Sunday 22 February 2026)

LAST MINUTE PRICING
$49 per entry (23 February to Sunday 22 March 2026)

Note: For the portfolio categories, the entry fee includes all images in the portfolio.

Entries close: 11.59pm AEDT Wednesday 22 March 2026. 

PORTFOLIO AND SINGLE-IMAGE CATEGORIES

Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers has eight portfolio categories and one single-image category.

Portfolio categories

The following categories require the submissions of multiple images:

• ANIMAL (3 images)
• ART (3 images)
• BLACK & WHITE (3 images)
• DOCUMENTARY (5 images)
• LANDSCAPE (3 images)
• PORTRAIT (3 images)
• TRAVEL (3 images)

Judges are looking for portfolios that work together cohesively as a series. You should aim to submit images that relate to each other on some level, whether it be narratively, aesthetically, thematically. You can find tips from our judges on how to improve your chances in the competition here.

Single-image categories

• SINGLE SHOT (1 image). Please enter one image only.

• SHOT ON FILM (1 image). Please enter one image only.

Images must be wholly photographic in origin. Images created wholly or in part using gerative artificial intelligence (AI), 3D, or illustration processes may not be entered.

Stephane Thomas' winning Single Shot entry from Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers 2024.

IMAGE PREPARATION

• Images should be in JPEG (.jpg) format. 
• Images should be 2,500 pixels or more on the longest side.
• Individual images must be no larger than 5MB.
• If you find that an image has not uploaded correctly, please e-mail us at: emergingphotographer@capturemag.com.au
• Please ensure images are free of text and logos. This includes watermarks and added text. Images with text or watermarks will not be shortlisted.
• You may enter multiple categories, and/or the same category multiple times.

IMAGE MANIPULATION

Please check the Terms and Conditions for detailed information about the post production techniques that may be used in each category.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Images created wholly or in part with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (AI), 3D, or illustration processes may not be entered. (The use of AI noise reduction and sharpening is allowed.)

JUDGES

Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers will be judged by a panel of leading photographers from Australia and around the world. The 2026 judging panel will be announced in January 2026.

PRIZES

In 2026 the total prize pool for Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers is valued at more than $28,000, including $9,000 in cash prizes. Click here for more details.

RECOGNITION

Winners, runners-up, and top-ranked portfolios will be announced in a special edition of Capture magazine (available mid-June 2026). A simultaneous announcement will be made at www.capturemag.com.au. Also in June, Winners, Runners-up, Top 10, Top 20, Top 30 (larger categories), Highly Commended, and Commended photographers will be notified via e-mail of their placing in the competition, with an attached digital certificate noting their achievement in the competition.

MADE A MISTAKE?

If you make a mistake with your entry (eg you upload the incorrect image, submit an entry to the wrong category, or make a typo) drop us an e-mail explaining the problem and we'll fix it for you.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Please check the terms and conditions for Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers before entering

CONTACT US

E-mail us at emergingphotographer@capturemag.com.au

 

Our terms and conditions have been approved by the Photowatchdog, and rated . Photowatchdog is the advocate for fair photo competitions in Australia.