The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize is an international photography competition organized annually by the National Portrait Gallery, London. Celebrated for showcasing contemporary portrait photography, the competition attracts both established professionals and emerging photographers worldwide. By highlighting diverse and compelling portraits, the exhibition provides photographers with a unique platform to gain recognition, engage a broader audience, and enhance their professional profiles in the highly competitive photography industry.
Each year, selected photographs from thousands of submissions are exhibited prominently at the National Portrait Gallery, where they are viewed by art critics, curators, collectors, and photography enthusiasts alike. The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize seeks exceptional talent, originality, and depth, encouraging submissions that explore complex narratives, authentic emotions, and innovative visual storytelling. Participants benefit from unparalleled exposure, networking opportunities, and the possibility to further develop their artistic practice.
Beyond celebrating photographic excellence, the Prize promotes ongoing cultural dialogue about identity, representation, and human experience. Award-winning portraits often become significant cultural markers, influencing trends within contemporary photography and expanding conversations about visual art. Through generous cash awards and prestigious commission opportunities, the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize continues to support photographers at critical stages of their careers, reinforcing its role as one of the world’s most influential and highly anticipated photography competitions.
Entry fee: £22 per photograph.
Eligibility
Open worldwide to everyone aged 18 and over.
Prize
The winner receives £15,000, with second and third prizes of £3,000 and £2,000, respectively. An additional £8,000 commission prize offers a photographer the chance to create a portrait for the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection.
