General entry rules
1. The World Press Photo contest is open to professional photographers working in the field of journalism and/or documentary photography. Every entrant needs to provide a document with a valid date that confirms their current professional status. Examples of documents include, but are not limited to:
- press card, stating you are working as a photographer;
OR - at least 1 proof of publication (for example a tearsheet) from 2023 or 2024, with your name visible as credit, in either online or print format from a recognized media organization or publication;
OR - journalism union membership card;
OR - membership document from a recognized photographic association that shows the photographer is a professional member;
OR - a recent letter of reference (must be from 2023 or 2024) from a photo agency, photo editor, media organization or publication, stating you have worked for them as a photographer;
OR - if you are not able to provide proof that meets the above criteria, you may register with alternative (multiple) documents so that we can gain a better understanding of your professional status.
We do not consider proof of professional status:
- CVs or cover letters
OR - diplomas
OR - samples of photography
The organization reserves the right to ask for additional information to help clarify the entrant’s professional status.
2. Team entries of two or more photographers are allowed. Proof of professional status must be provided for each team member.
3. The photographer(s) must be the author(s) of the photographs submitted in their name.
4. The photographer(s), agent or representative entering on their behalf, must be the copyright holder(s) or have been authorized by the copyright holder(s) to submit the photographs.
5. Entries must comply with the categories, as described
here.
7. Photographs can be submitted whether or not they have been published.
8. Photographs taken at restricted events are not accepted (i.e. events where only photographers commissioned by those organizing the event have access, for example photographers commissioned by governments, political parties or corporations).
9. All entries must have accurate captions and descriptions, written in English. If the captions have been translated, please also provide the original caption. Captions must contain all the information described in the
guidance on captions.
10. Each entry must include relevant additional information, such as motivation, the type of project (assignment/personal project) and funding.
12. Entries can only be submitted via Picter, the official contest entry platform.
13. The deadline for creating an account on the contest entry platform Picter, completing registration and for submitting entries to the 2025 Contest is Friday, 10 January 2025, 13.00 Central European Time.
14. Members of the World Press Photo staff, Supervisory Board, International Advisory Committee and 2025 Contest jury are not permitted to enter the 2025 Contest.
Additional entry rules for the Singles, Stories and Long-Term Projects categories
15. A photograph can only be entered once, either as a Single or as part of a Story, or as part of a Long-Term Project.
16. Photographs must not show the name of the photographer, agency, or publication, or any other information (these details can be included in the metadata of the photograph but must not be visible on the photograph itself).
17. All photographs entered to the contest must comply with our rules on manipulation and must not be altered by adding, rearranging, reversing, distorting or removing people and/or objects from within the frame.
Read the rules on manipulation here.
18. Entrants must provide file(s) as recorded by the camera for all images that proceed to the final stages of the contest. These file(s) will be requested and studied confidentially between 21-31 January 2025. Failure to provide these files when requested will lead to the exclusion of the entry.
Specific rules on the use of AI tools
AI-generated images are not photography. A photograph captures light on a sensor or film, it is a record of a physical moment.
Singles, Stories and Long-Term Projects
19. All photographs entered into the Singles, Stories and Long-Term Projects categories must be made with a camera. No synthetic or artificially generated images are allowed, and no use of artificially generative fill is allowed in post-production. Any use of these tools will automatically disqualify the entry from the contest.
20. The use of smart tools, or AI-powered enhancement tools is possible within the contest rules, as long as these tools do not lead to significant changes to the image as a whole, introduce new information to the image, nor remove information from the image that was captured by the camera. This remains in line with our rules on manipulation from previous years.
Some examples of tools where limited usage may be allowed are Denoise, automatic adjustments (e.g on levels, colors, contrast) and object selection for local adjustments. These are permitted up to the extent that they do not alter, add or remove information from the photograph that was captured by the camera. This is determined by the contest organization and global jury.
21. Tools that immediately breach the contest rules and are not allowed are all AI powered enlarging tools such as Adobe Super Resolution and Topaz Photo AI. These tools are based on generative AI models that introduce new information to enlarge and sharpen images.
Learn more about what counts as manipulation here.
Terms and conditions
24. Copyright holders retain copyright of their work. For awarded entries, copyright holders grant the World Press Photo Foundation unlimited non-exclusive use of high-resolution photographs for activities in all media, including social media, online and print, in relation to the contest, the exhibition, the yearbook, the public archive, and all promotional and educational activities for and under the auspices of the World Press Photo Foundation, without any remuneration being due.
25. For all entries except awarded entries, copyright holders grant the World Press Photo Foundation non-exclusive use of low-resolution photographs in a non-public archive for its educational and research activities, without any remuneration being due.
26. The copyright holders represent and warrant that submission of the entries does not breach any law, and further that no third party can hold any claims or any objections regarding the rights granted to the World Press Photo Foundation specified in articles 21 and 22. The copyright holders will hold the World Press Photo Foundation harmless of any claims from third parties related hereto.
27. The Entry Rules and any dispute, proceedings or claim of whatever nature arising out of or in any way relating to the Entry Rules (including any non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by Dutch law.
28. Any dispute arising from the Entry Rules (whether contractual or non-contractual) shall be decided solely and exclusively by the competent court of Amsterdam.
29. The conditions set out in the Entry Rules are binding, and the World Press Photo Foundation reserves the right to refuse or exclude any entry at its own discretion.
For more information on GDPR and the contest, please click
here.
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Do you know of someone whose work should be seen by the 2025 jury? Please let us know by filling out this referral form. We will then contact the photographers you have referred and hopefully inspire them to submit their work!
Are you looking for more specific information? Visit one of the following pages to find out more about:
Image credit: Zied Ben Romdhane, Magnum Photos, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, AIM LAB
