Annual PPNC
image competition
Registration opens Spring 2027
Image by Aurora DeLuca
PPNC holds an annual image competition for members and non-members. Entering Image Competition is a great way to hone your craft and measure your images against the 12 Elements of a Merit Image. Member entries that receive a score of 80 or above will earn trophies and credits toward PPNC Degrees and Chevrons. There are also prizes for the best non-member entries.
Ordering a critique on your competition entry is a great way to tune up your images and get feedback before entering PPA’s Merit Image Review (MIR), ASP’s Images of Distinction (IOD), Animal Image Makers (AIM) competition, PPA’s International Photographic Competition (IPC) or other competitions.
While entering a competition might seem daunting at first, it’s one of the best and most rewarding experiences you’ll have as a professional – and as an artist.
If you are new to competition or need to brush up on your competition skills, consider participating in the members-only Image Competition Readiness Program in spring 2027.
It’s time to get your images ready for PPNC's June 2027 Image Competition!
Submit your images through printcompetition.com. You must have a Standard or Premium membership to printcompetition.com to enter.
Although an unlimited number of entries are technically allowed, we ask that each participant try to limit entries to 12 images.
Judging usually begins at 9 a.m. on printcompetition.com.
Audio of the judging will be on Zoom.
Details: How to Enter
Early Registration: $20
Late Registration: $25
Image Critiques: $15
Judging
Live judging with a panel of PPA-approved jurors and jurors-in-training begins in June of 2027, time T.B.D. and can be viewed at www.printcompetition.com. There will be a Zoom link for the audio portion.
You must have a PrintCompetition.com account in order to enter. Standard membership is $14 per year, and Premium membership is $18 per quarter or $67 per year.
Be sure to download and review the rules on the website. There have been some updates to the categories. There have also been updates to the eligibility and criteria for some awards. The link below will take you to the page with the info you need!
Image by Andrew Bowen
Categories & Awards
1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place trophies will be awarded in each subcategory below.
The Portrait
Children/Babies
Adult
High School Senior
Groups
Pets & Animals
Non-Portrait
Fine Art/Illustrative
Scenic/Landscape
Commercial
Wildlife
Wedding
Photojournalism
Artist
Digitally manipulated works with guide images Restorations are accepted in this category
Rising Star
First-time entrants who have not entered a prior professional image competition
Non-Category Awards
Member Photographer of the Year
Top 5 cases are evaluated on breadth, depth, technical excellence and execution
The Presidents Award
This award is given to a PPNC member who has been a member for less than 4 years, has never entered a professional image competition, and has the highest case score
Best in Show
Judged from first-place images from each category/subcategory.
The 100 Award
Given to an image that scores 100.
The Image Makers Award
This is to the highest scoring image in the Pets/Animals category.
The Non-member Award
Selected from merited non-member submissions.
The Judges Choice Award
Each judge chooses one non-awarded merit image
The CPP Award
This award recognizes the highest scoring entry by a current CPP.
The Monochrome Award
Selected from all of the merited monochrome images, regardless of category or subcategory. Special consideration will be given to the result of the monochrome conversion and how well it works with the image
The ASP Award
The ASP State Elite Award is to be presented to the ASP member in good standing in NC for the highest scoring entry.
The Lonely Tree Award
The subject must be a lonely tree (not necessarily a lone tree)
The "What the Fudge" Award
Selected from those merited images that make the judges wonder “What the Fudge” is this?
Education
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