We are thrilled to announce that the Narrative International Photography Awards are back for 2023! Photographers are at the heart of everything we do, and we can’t wait to showcase your submissions.

The art of photography is about more than preserving a moment in time. It is about telling stories. If you have captured an image that tells a compelling story and stands out with a unique perspective, the Narrative International Photography Awards could be your stage. 

Categories: Wedding, Family, and Portrait photography

Deadline: September 30, 2023

Winners announced: November 15, 2023

Winners get more than bragging rights - there are fantastic prize packages from some of our outstanding award partners: Archipelago, Unraveled Academy, Queensberry, Studio Ninja, Pic-Time, and Pixellu. Plus, winners get one year’s free access to our game-changing software: Narrative Select Pro and Narrative Publish Pro. A big thanks also to our media partner SLR lounge. 

And that’s not all - by entering, you can help make the world a better place. Narrative is donating all entry proceeds to Doctors Without Borders - Médecins Sans Frontières to help expand accessibility to medical care across national boundaries irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. 

Check out the categories and prizes and enter your best images to win!

Why Narrative Backs Photography Awards

The Narrative International Photography Awards are our way to celebrate photographers and their creativity. 

Since launching in 2018, we have been working to revolutionise how professional photographers interact with their art. We empower photographers to deliver richer stories by spending more time doing what they love. 

We know you didn’t become a photographer to sit behind a computer all day. So, we developed cutting-edge software to modernise your post-production workflow. With Narrative Select, culling time is cut in half. And with Narrative Publish, SEO-optimised blog posts with your best images are just minutes away. Our tools help photographers deliver what photos really are: human stories. 

Meet the 2023 Judges

Our esteemed panel of judges bring decades of experience to the table. Here’s a peek at what they’re looking for in a winning photo. 

Melody Joy (Melody Joy Co.) is a Destination Wedding, Elopement and Editorial photographer based in Edinburgh. When asked what she looks for in a winning image, Melody says, “I would look for… a unique perspective from a photographer's eye. So if I see the image and can imagine being there, and it's not how I would have shot it...it's a unique perspective, something that stands out." She encourages artists to enter to push their creativity and realize that others appreciate their work.

Jonathan Zoeteman (Socality) is based in Calgary, Alberta, whose work focuses on capturing the story in the image while exploring the relationships between individuals and the world around them. He says the awards offer an opportunity for photographers to challenge themselves creatively by shooting something specifically for the awards. He says, “There’s a power in photography that lets you frame things and leave things out… I love an image that leaves me questioning something or evoking curiosity.”

Kyle Wilson (Hinterland Stills) is a wedding photographer in Chicago and Narrative’s Head of Industry Insight & Education. Kyle believes capturing the emotions of the day is paramount. For him, a winning photo will make him “feel like I’m actually there in the moment… shooting the wedding from the inside out.” Kyle says that entering the awards allows artists to curate their work and identify what’s great and what they want to do better - an incredible opportunity for anyone at any stage of their career.

Hot Insider Tips

Hear from the masters - we asked a few of our 2022 winners to share their perspectives on the awards and what contributed to their success.

Website | Instagram

Sarah DeShields’ winning shot came from one of her “creative play days,” where she wanted to explore working with mirrors. It was a tricky shoot, but the end result took her breath away. She offers three points of advice for anyone entering this year’s awards:

1. “Take down any walls inhibiting you from trying new things.”
2. “Look for the work that speaks to you and makes you come alive.”
3. “Don’t think too much about what you think other people will want to see.”

Website | Instagram

Erin MacFarland’s winning shot captured a sweet moment between twin brothers, a bond she recognised and related to. She entered the photography awards because she likes to see how others react to her images and that she can create an emotional response. Her advice to this year’s entrants is to “pick an image that really spoke to you, something that really touched your heart… it’s most likely going to speak to other people too.”

Website | Instagram

Caitlin Trainer was inspired to enter the awards because she connected with the categories and felt she had images to share with the world. Her winning photo captures a fun moment with her two boys. She focuses on children and lets them lead the shoot to see what happens. She says to everyone entering the awards, "Don't second guess yourself. Put it out there… jump in with both feet and give it a shot."

Website | Instagram

Nathan Walker started out in family photography when his first child was born. He says shooting weddings is an opportunity to shoot family photography on a momentous day, so he always keeps his eye on the children to capture that once-in-a-lifetime moment. He recommends entering to help promote yourself: “I know for a fact that I’ve booked weddings on the strength of the work that I’ve shared that’s been awarded.” He recommends only presenting work that you stand by and pushing yourself.

Your Turn to Take the Spotlight

Your art deserves to be seen, and your story begs to be heard. 

Don’t miss the opportunity to submit to the Narrative International Photography Awards. You can gain international recognition, get exposure in the photography community, and contribute to a global cause.

It's time to let the world see your story: enter today!