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Full Rules and Regulations

1. COST & NUMBER OF ENTRIES 

 

- Each entry costs €7.50 per image with one free entry per category per round.

- Entrants may enter as many images as wanted in every category.

 

2. FORMAT OF ENTRIES 

 

• Entries must be uploaded to the award website as JPEGs. 
• The sRGB colour space should be used. 
• Images should be 4000 pixels on the long edge. 
• The filenames of entries are not important. 
• No watermarks or names. Photos with any branding/identifiers will be disqualified and not judged. 

 

 

 

3. GENERAL RULES 

 

• Entrants must have permission from clients (in the case of commissioned photos) or subjects (in the case of non-commissioned photos) to submit photos to the awards and for the IPPVA to use those photos for promotional purposes on social media, blogs and in exhibitions. In the case of Reportage photos (e.g. street photography) or Open Creative photos where explicit permission may not always be obtainable, permission is required where the subjects may not have had a reasonable expectation of privacy.  In all cases, the guidance at https://www.digitalrights.ie/photographers-rights/should be consulted.  

 

• non-commissioned must be entered in Open Creative or Creative Reportage category. The exceptions to this rule are for Landscape & Nature, and Wildlife where non-commissioned photos that meet the category definition can be entered.

 

• Photos that have been submitted and did not/do not win an IPPVA Award can be resubmitted.

 

• Photos which have previously won an IPPVA Award of any kind may not be resubmitted, even if they have been re-edited.  

 

• Photos must have been captured at any time after 01/01/2023.

 

• Entrants must endeavour to enter photos into the appropriate category. The administrator/judging coordinators reserve the right to move photos to an appropriate category.

 

• Where a doubt exists about the commissioned nature of a photo in the Studio Portraiture, Environmental Portraiture, Studio and Environmental Newborn, Wedding Documentary, Wedding Classic, Wedding Creative, all Commercial Categories, the entrant may be asked to provide evidence of the commission before an award can be confirmed. 

 

• Where doubt exists about the use of AI-generated elements, or all elements being captured by the entrant, the entrant may be asked to provide the RAW/unedited source file(s) for inspection before an award can be confirmed.

 

• For an Award Category to stay open and earn its own Photographer of the Year Award, the Category needs at least 150 entries per year. If the 150 image entry was not reached. The Category will be up for review for the following year. If a category reaches more than 150 entries per year and was not planned to have a Photographer of the Year announcement for that category, we will reconsider this decision for the end-of-year awards in that particular year. For example, if we have enough entries in the Commercial Categories we will give photographer of the year awards for the subcategories. If the entries are under 150 images per subcategory we will only announce the Commercial Photographer of the Year 2024. This change was made due to the lack of entries in the commercial categories.

 

• No watermarks or names. Photos with any branding/identifiers will be disqualified and not judged.

 

4. CLOSING DATES  

 

The 2024 awards program includes three rounds: 

• Spring 2024 Competition April 10th - May 5th ( all photography categories except Open Creative, Wildlife, Landscape and Nature)
• Summer 2024 Competition May 6th - July 28^th (all photography categories)
• Autumn 2024 Competition July 29th - October 6th (all photography categories)

 

 

5. AWARDS

 

1. Irish Professional Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025

1.1 Irish Professional Wedding Creative Photographer of the Year 2025

1.2 Irish Professional Wedding Documentary Photographer of the Year 2025

1.3 Irish Professional Wedding Classic Photographer of the Year 2025

 

2. Irish Professional Commercial Photographer of the Year 2025

2.1 Portraits

2.2 Wedding Commercial

2.3 Architecture & Interior Design

2.4 Food and Product Photography

These subcategories may not have a Photographer of the Year award of their own unless we have enough entries, 150 images per category per year. This decision may be revisited in 2025 or for the end of 2024 if there is an increase in entries and awards. The categories are kept to simplify the judging process. All images submitted in Category 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 will count for the Commercial Photographer of the Year award. 

 

3. Irish Creative Photographer of the Year 2025 

3.1 Irish Professional Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 

3.2 Irish Professional Landscape and Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 

3.3 Irish Professional Open Creative Photographer of the Year 2025

 

 

4. Irish Professional Portrait Photographer of the Year 2025  

4.1 Irish Professional Portrait Environmental Photographer of the Year 2025

4.2 Irish Professional Portrait Studio Photographer of the Year 2025

6.3 Irish Professional Newborn Photographer of the Year 2025

6.3.1 Newborn Environmental

6.3.2 Newborn Studio

 

The Newborn Category will be divided into environmental and studio newborn. These categories will not have a Photographer of the Year award on their own. This decision may be revisited in 2025 if there is an increase in entries and awards. The categories are made to simplify the judging process. All images submitted in Category 6.3.1. and 6.3.2 will count for the Newborn Photographer of the Year award. If each of the Categories reaches more than 150 entries in 2024 we will reconsider and give an End of Year award in this Category. 

5. Irish Professional Reportage Photographer of the Year 2025

(If we do not have enough entries for this category we will review this Category for 2025)

6. Chairperson Award 2025

This award will go to the person who submitted in any category, an image that has an impact on the viewer. An image showcasing or symbolising the year 2024. An image with meaning. This image is chosen by a chairperson/sponsor or president of the IPPVA. 

 

 

6. PHOTOGRAPHY CATEGORIES RULES

 

 

 6.1       Landscape & Nature

 

• Images in this category include: Landscapes, natural as well as artificial landscapes, urban landscapes and cityscapes are allowed in this category. Aerial photography of landscapes from drones, planes, balloons as well as natural elements such as plants, flowers, trees and close-ups of natural scenes and textures, macro and astrophotography are included in this category.

 

• Landscape and Nature photography isn't just about capturing scenes. It's an active and creative process. It involves harnessing natural light, mastering composition, and above all, expressing creativity. For photographers, it's an opportunity to craft unique and individualised images, using the creative elements of photography.

 

• Entries must be presented as single-frame images. Photographers are allowed to create panoramic images (photo stitching), use focus stacking, and multi-exposures in the camera, which are taken simultaneously in the same place (as a continuous sequence, seconds or minutes apart) or use HDR for extended tonal range.

 

• The content of the image must not be altered. Entrants are permitted to crop, rotate, perspective-adjust, brighten and darken the image locally, reduce noise, sharpen, adjust colour/black and white, and remove chromatic aberration and sensor dust. Entrants are not permitted to add, remove or move picture elements through, for example, cloning, patch tools, healing brush tools, motion-adapted filling (content aware), liquifying, composite images or the like. Minimal removal of litter and other loose disruptive elements in the image is allowed.

 

• Images taken at workshops and on photo tours/expeditions are permitted. 

 

• AI-generated elements/backgrounds/skies or third-party backgrounds/skies are not permitted. 

 

• Images may be commissioned or non-commissioned.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission.

 

 

6.2       Wildlife 

 

• Images in this category include actual wildlife in a natural habitat, underwater photography, and macro wildlife photography.

 

• Entries must not deceive the viewer or attempt to disguise and/or misrepresent the reality of nature.

 

• NOTE: animals NOT in their natural habitat, such as domesticated animals, captive animals and farm animals should be entered in the portrait category.

 

• Composites (stitching, focus stacking, multi-exposures shot at the same time as a sequence, HDR for extended tonal range.) are permitted as are general edits for noise reduction, sharpening, colour adjustment, black and white, cropping, lens corrections, dust removal, global and local exposure adjustments.

 

• Images taken at workshops and on photo tours/expeditions are permitted.

 

• Entries must be presented as single-frame images.

 

• Entrants are not permitted to add, remove or move picture elements through, for example, cloning, patch tool, healing brush tools, AI generative fill, motion-adapted filling (content aware), liquefy, composite images or the like. Minimal removal of litter and other loose disruptive elements in the image is permitted.

 

• AI-generated elements/backgrounds/skies or third-party backgrounds/skies are not permitted.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission.

 

 

6.3       Portrait – Studio

 

• Images in this category include: Commissioned studio portraits including family portraits, individual adults and children portraits, pet portraits, communions, couples, maternity portraits, etc. Note: this is a non-exhaustive list. 

 

• Non-commissioned portraits and portraits where the subjects are related to the photographer must be entered in the Open Creative or the Reportage Category.

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques.

 

• Simple overlays are permitted (for example bubbles, light, bokeh, dust, flowers or butterflies, fireflies and so on. AI-generated elements and third-party digital backdrops are not permitted. ( if you use overlays, we may request the original file, to make sure it was not AI-generated.

 

• Commissioned headshots, branding shots, as well as fashion shots, must be entered in the commercial portrait category.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission 

 

6.4       Portrait – Environmental

 

• Images in this category include: Commissioned on-location portraits involving posing or directing of individuals, groups, and domestic animals or pets. They may be family portraits, individual adults and children portraits, pet portraits, communions, couples, maternity portraits, etc. Note: this is a non-exhaustive list.

 

• If the images are reportage/documentary images where no posing was involved, you have the choice to submit the images in this category or the Reportage Category. The Judges will consider all genres in this portrait category (documentary, lifestyle and posed). But you can enter images in both categories, please note, that you cannot submit the same image in both categories.

 

• Non-commissioned portraits and portraits where the subjects are related to the photographer must be entered in the Open Creative or the Reportage Category.

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques.

 

• Images must not be taken in a studio-type setting (i.e. where the background and lighting are under the control of the photographer).

 

• Simple overlays are permitted (for example bubbles, light, bokeh, dust, flowers or butterflies, fireflies and so on. AI-generated elements and third-party digital backdrops are not permitted.( if you use overlays, we may request the original file, to make sure it was not AI-generated.

 

• Commissioned headshots, branding shots, as well as fashion shots, must be entered in the commercial portrait category.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission 

 

6.5        Newborn Studio 

 

• Images in this category include: commissioned photos of babies <8 weeks (from their due date) where the baby is the central focus of the image in a studio setting.

 

• Images can include newborns only, newborns with siblings or newborns with family and extended family.

 

• Composites are permitted (e.g. for safety reasons). We may request the original raw files if images of newborns are submitted in poses deemed unsafe, such as the froggy pose or in unsafe props, to ensure the safety of the newborn is maintained at all times.

 

• Props may be used.

 

• Non-commissioned portraits and portraits where the subjects are related to the photographer must be entered in the Open Creative or the Reportage Category.

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques.
• Simple overlays are permitted (for example bubbles, light, bokeh, dust, flowers or butterflies, fireflies and so on. AI-generated elements and third-party digital backdrops are not permitted.( if you use overlays, we may request the original file, to make sure it was not AI-generated.

 

• Commissioned headshots, branding shots, as well as fashion shots, must be entered in the commercial portrait category.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission 

 

 

• Newborn Environmental 

 

• Images in this category include: Commissioned on-location photos of babies <8 weeks (from their due date) where the baby is the central focus of the image.

 

• Images can include newborns only, newborns with siblings or newborns with family and extended family.

 

• If the images are reportage/documentary images where no posing was involved, you have the choice to submit the images in this category or the Reportage Category. The Judges will consider all genres in this portrait category (documentary, lifestyle and posed). But you can enter newborn images in both categories, please note, that you cannot submit the same image in both categories.

 

• Composites are permitted (e.g. for safety reasons). We may request the original raw files if images of newborns are submitted in poses deemed unsafe, such as the froggy pose or in unsafe props, to ensure the safety of the newborn is maintained at all times.

 

• Props may be used.

 

• Non-commissioned portraits and portraits where the subjects are related to the photographer must be entered in the Open Creative or the Reportage Category.

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques.

 

• Images must not be taken in a studio-type setting (i.e. where the background and lighting are under the control of the photographer).

 

• Simple overlays are permitted (for example bubbles, light, bokeh, dust, flowers or butterflies, fireflies and so on. AI-generated elements and third-party digital backdrops are not permitted.( if you use overlays, we may request the original file, to make sure it was not AI-generated.

 

• Commissioned headshots, branding shots, as well as fashion shots, must be entered in the commercial portrait category.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission 

 

 

• 6.7 Open Creative

 

• Images in this category include: non-commissioned portraits, non-commissioned commercial-style images, non-commissioned architecture images, portraits of family members, personal work, creative projects, and graphic depiction of any concept or subject using elements from images created by the entrant. 

 

• Images from workshops are not permitted.

 

• Anything that contributes artistically to the image is allowed including editing, manipulation, compositing, use of illustration and graphic elements.

 

• AI-generated elements/backgrounds/skies or third-party backgrounds/skies are not permitted.   

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission.

 

 

6.8       Reportage

 

• Images in this category include:  non-commissioned and commissioned sports photography, street photography, photojournalism, news, and documentary images of public events as well as day-in-life shoots of families, and documentary images of family life, family events and documentary newborn images.

 

• The photographer must not have impacted the scene in any way before or during image capture.  

 

• Images need to have an impact and show a message/story. 

 

• AI-generated elements/backgrounds/skies or third-party backgrounds/skies are not permitted.  

 

• Post production: Minimal retouching is permitted such as noise reduction, sharpening, colour adjustment, black and white, cropping, lens corrections, dust removal, global and local exposure adjustments. Minimal removal of litter and other loose disruptive elements in the image is permitted but no further editing. Entrants are not permitted to add, remove or move picture elements through, for example, cloning, patch tool, healing brush tools, AI generative fill, motion-adapted filling (content aware), liquefy, composite images or the like. 

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission.

 

• Only single-capture images are permitted, no composites.

 

• Subjects can be related to the photographer

 

 

 

6.9       Commercial Portraits - Studio, Environmental, Beauty and Fashion, Animals

 

 

• Images in this category include: Commissioned advertising, fashion, beauty, headshots and portraits of people or animals for commercial reasons, sports, this is a non-exclusive list. 

 

• Images with an intended use by a commercial client to promote or brand a product or company.   

 

• Composites (stitching, focus stacking, multi-exposures) are permitted as are creative photo techniques. 

 

• Non-commission commercial-style images must be entered in Open Creative. 

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques.

 

• Simple overlays are permitted (for example bubbles, light, bokeh, dust, flowers or butterflies, fireflies and so on. AI-generated elements and third-party digital backdrops are not permitted.( if you use overlays, we may request the original file, to make sure it was not AI-generated.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission 

 

 

6.10     Commercial - Food and Product Photography

 

• Images in this category include: food, advertising of products and still-life

 

• Images with an intended use by a commercial client to promote or brand a product or company.   

 

• Composites (stitching, focus stacking, multi-exposures) are permitted as are creative photo techniques. 

 

• Non-commission commercial-style images must be entered in Open Creative. 

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques.

 

• Simple overlays are permitted (for example bubbles, light, bokeh, dust, flowers or butterflies, fireflies and so on. AI-generated elements and third-party digital backdrops are not permitted.( if you use overlays, we may request the original file, to make sure it was not AI-generated.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission 

 

 6.11 Architecture and Interior Design

 

• Images in this category include: Commissioned photos of building exteriors, Interiors, building details or graphic depictions of buildings and manmade structures. 

 

• Images with an intended use by a commercial client to promote or brand a product or company.   

 

• Composites (stitching, focus stacking, multi-exposures) are permitted as are creative photo techniques. 

 

• Non-commission commercial-style images must be entered in Open Creative. 

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques.

 

• Simple overlays are permitted (for example bubbles, light, bokeh, dust, flowers or butterflies, fireflies and so on. AI-generated elements and third-party digital backdrops are not permitted.( if you use overlays, we may request the original file, to make sure it was not AI-generated.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission 

 

 

6.12      Commercial Wedding

 

• Images in this category include: Commissioned photos of a staged wedding for advertising purposes.]

 

• Images with an intended use by a commercial client to promote or brand a product or company.   

 

• Composites (stitching, focus stacking, multi-exposures) are permitted as are creative photo techniques. 

 

• Non-commission commercial-style images must be entered in Open Creative. 

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques.

 

• Simple overlays are permitted (for example bubbles, light, bokeh, dust, flowers or butterflies, fireflies and so on. AI-generated elements and third-party digital backdrops are not permitted.( if you use overlays, we may request the original file, to make sure it was not AI-generated.

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission 

 

 

6.13     Wedding Documentary 

 

• Images in this category include real moments from real weddings.

 

• No posed photos, no first looks, no details, no couple time shots, no setups that are staged by the photographer. The photographer must not have impacted the scene in any way before or during image capture.  

 

• Only single-capture images are permitted, no composites.

 

• Images need to have an impact and show a message/story. 

 

• Post-production techniques are not to be an essential part of the final image. AI-generated elements/backgrounds/skies or third-party backgrounds/skies are not permitted. 

 

• The photographer must be commissioned to photograph the wedding as a primary or second shooter.  Where the photographer is a second shooter, they must have permission from the primary photographer to submit the image to the awards. 

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission 

 

 6.14 Wedding Classic 

 

• Images in this category include: Posed Bridal portraits, groom portraits, bridal party, grooms party, and wedding family shots.

 

• Images should showcase direction from the photographer, and excellent control of scene, light and pose.

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques.

 

• Composites (stitching, focus stacking, multi-exposures) are permitted as are creative photo techniques. 

 

• AI-generated elements/backgrounds/skies or third-party backgrounds/skies are not permitted.   

 

• The photographer must be commissioned to photograph the wedding as a primary or second shooter.  Where the photographer is a second shooter, they must have permission from the primary photographer to submit the image to the awards. 

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission.

 

 

 

6.15  Wedding Creative 

 

 

• Images in this category include creative wedding portraits, night-time wedding portraits, and photographer-staged scenes at a wedding including first looks, and details, bridal portraits, groom portraits, bridal party and grooms party.

 

• Submit wedding images which are not classically posed but creatively composed, or do not meet the strict criteria for the documentary wedding category to be submitted. Judges will expect a high degree of impact, creativity and technical skill from such images in this category. Entrants are advised to only enter images which go beyond the norms of a typical wedding photograph. 

 

• Posing or client interactions may be casual, unusual, and possibly break convention. Compositions, cropping and styles of processing may also be key elements in an award-winning image of this type. The photographer must convey their understanding of the elements of modern, creative photography and show that they have attempted to understand the genre.

 

• Retouching is permitted, as are creative photo techniques

 

• Composites (stitching, focus stacking, multi-exposures) are permitted as are creative photo techniques.  

 

• AI-generated elements/backgrounds/skies or third-party backgrounds/skies are not permitted.   

 

• The photographer must be commissioned to photograph the wedding as a primary or second shooter.  Where the photographer is a second shooter, they must have permission from the primary photographer to submit the image to the awards. 

 

• The original captured images must be available if requested by the IPPVA. Otherwise, the IPPVA reserves the right to disqualify the submission.

 

 

7. JUDGING

 

• Each category will be judged by a panel of 4-6 judges including a mix of IPPVA members and non-members, and as far as possible, Irish and International judges.

 

• All judges will be specialists in the relevant field except for Open Creative, which will be judged by a panel of judges drawn from a mix of genres. 

 

• Judges will individually score each entry in their own time in advance of a judging Zoom session which will be recorded for IPPVA members. Zoom sessions are subject to the availability of the judges.

 

• The Award Coordinator will invite judges to discuss/constructively assess entries where there is a wide spread of scores, in order to seek consensus. Judges will be invited to re-score entries if they wish following discussion. 

 

• The final score will be the average of all judges' scores.

 

• Entries which score above 70/100 will be IPPVA Award-winning entries.

 

• Entries which score above 85/100 will be Gold IPPVA Award-winning entries.  The judging chair may adjust this threshold very slightly should entries fall close to it, and also be clearly separated from the pack, so as to not unfairly disadvantage an entry from achieving a Gold IPPVA Award in a particular category. 

 

 8. ​ END OF YEAR PROCESS PHOTOGRAPHY

 

 

• To qualify as a category finalist, an entrant must have 4 IPPVA Award-winning images in the category over the course of the award year. 

 

 

• Categories which have two or more finalists will have a category winner announced, decided based on the cumulative score of the top four qualifying images from that entrant in that category, with the following category awards given: 

 

• The winners of these 3 awards: 

 

A- Irish Professional Open Creative Photographer of the Year 2025

B- Irish Professional Landscape & Nature Photographer of the Year 2025

C- Irish Professional Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

 

will be eligible for the overall Irish Professional Creative Photographer of the Year, chosen by an end-of-year panel of judges. 

 

• The winners of these 3 awards: 

 

A- Irish Professional Studio Portrait Photographer of the Year 2025

B- Irish Professional Environmental Portrait Photographer of the Year 2025

C- Irish Professional Newborn Photographer of the Year 2025

 

will be eligible for the overall Irish Professional Portrait Photographer of the Year, chosen by an end-of-year panel of judges. 

 

• The winners of these 3 awards: 

 

A- Irish Professional Wedding Documentary Photographer of the Year 2025

B- Irish Professional Wedding Classic Photographer of the Year 2025

C- Irish Professional Wedding Creative Photographer of the Year 2025

 

will be eligible for the overall Irish Professional Wedding Photographer of the Year chosen by an end-of-year panel of judges. 

 

• The winners of these awards: 

 

A- Irish Professional Creative Photographer of the Year 2025 

B- Irish Professional Portrait Photographer of the Year 2025

C- Irish Professional Commercial Photographer of the Year 2025 

D- Irish Professional Wedding Photographer of the Year 2025 

E- Irish Professional Reportage Photographer of the Year 2025 

 

will be eligible for the overall Irish Professional Photographer of the Year chosen by an end-of-year panel of judges. 

 

• The end-of-year judges will assess the top 4 scoring images for each category finalist to determine the overall winner.  The end-of-year judges will have access to digital versions of all the finalist's award-winning images to satisfy themselves as to the worthiness of the overall winner. ​

 

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About the Competition

This is the first round of the 2024 IPPVA Award.

The spring round closes May 5th, 2024 at 23:59