For over 75 years, the Irish Professional Photographers and Videographers Association (IPPVA) has run a competition to celebrate the best in photography.
Now including videographers, the awards are a chance for members to showcase their best work, promote the profession, and raise industry standards.
The Photographer of the Year award recognizes consistent high-quality work by members across the year.
Entry Fee: Only €7.50 per image. Free Entries:One free entry per category. Limits: Up to 6 entries per category. Rounds: 3 rounds during the year. Judges: Can enter any category round they are not judging. Image Rules: Only photos taken after 1st January 2024 can be entered, see also category specific rules.
Format of Entries
Photography Submissions Entries must be submitted via the awards platform in JPEG format. The sRGB colour space must be used for all images. Images must be sized to 4000 pixels on the long edge. The filenames of entries are not important and will not impact the judging process.
2. Closing Dates
Spring Competition
Open for entries: 16th May – 31st May 2025
Online Judging: 1st June – 19th June 2025
Results: 30th June 2025
Summer Competition
Open for entries: 1st July – 31st July 2025
Online Judging: 1st August – 18th August 2025
Results: 31st August 2025
Autumn Competition
Open for entries: 1st October – 31st October 2025
Online Judging: 1st November – 17th November 2025
Results: 30th November 2025
3.a Photography Categories
Note: Images must be relevant to their category. Digital manipulation and composite images are allowed unless specified otherwise.
AWP (Assisted Wedding Photography – Open to Second Shooters, Videographers)
3.b Videography Categories
Wedding
Commercial
Wedding Shorts
Commercial Shorts
4. How It Works
The competition runs online. Judging is done through a dedicated platform, where judges review entries and score them based on set criteria.
5. Scoring Criteria
Judges will score images based on universal scoring system based on the three main criteria:
Impact & Composition
Creativity
Technical Quality
Score Levels
Gold (90–100): Exceptional work with flawless execution
Silver (80–89.9): Excellent technical and creative skills
Bronze (70–79.9): Good quality work
Below 69.9: Does not meet award standards (but still be client-worthy)
6. Image Recognition & Awards
All awarded images (Bronze, Silver, Gold) will receive:
A digital certificate showcasing the award
A branded social media post, formatted for easy sharing
A custom QR code linking directly to the member’s website profile
7. Judging Process
Pre-Scoring: Judges review and score entries independently
Discussion: Judges meet on zoom to discuss scores and debate any scoring differences.
Judge Panels
3 Judges Minimum, 5 judges would be ideal:
2 specialists in the category. (Minimum)
1 or more generalist (looks at overall impact).
Judges specialize in specific categories but follow universal scoring rules.
8. Photographer/Videographer of the Year
5 judges for broader expertise. Includes international judges for fairness and Judges who specialize in specific categories.
How to Enter
Submit images/videos in at least two rounds to qualify.
Choose your top 4 scoring images / 3 scoring videos to create a portfolio to win a photographer/videographer of the year title.
Judging & Selection
External judges score portfolios as a whole, not just individual images/videos.
Final discussions happen online or in person.
Awards and Recognition finalists & Photographer/Videographer of the Year
Bronze, Silver & Gold Winners Showcase: Winning images/videos featured at the Gala ceremony.
Finalist Winners: Recognized at the the Gala with a certificate and showcasing of their achievement on screen.
Photographer / Videographer of the Year: Announced at an annual gala.
9. Rules for Moderators & Judges
Moderators: Oversee categories, manage entries, organize judging and chair zoom judging to discuss images where there is a wide range or conflict between award scores. Moderators are eligible to enter the competition in only the categories they do not oversee.
Moderators may only enter in categories they do not oversee
Judges may enter the competition but not in categories they are judging
Judges must pre-score entries and meet online only to discuss images where there is a wide range or conflict between award scores
2025 Awards Team
Dee O’Keeffe
Michael McLaughlin
2025 Coordinators
Portrait Categories: Ceire Rhein
Commercial Categories: Ailbe Collins
Video Categories: Gavin Gallagher
Creative Categories: Michael McLaughlin
Wedding Categories: Natalie Maher
Wedding and Domestic Animals: Dee O’Keeffe
12. End of Year Awards
Irish Architecture Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Commercial Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Landscape & Nature Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Creative & Fine Art Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Reportage & Photojournalism Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Family Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Maternity Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Traditional Newborn Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Contemporary Newborn Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Pets & Domesticated Animal Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Portrait Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Wedding – Contemporary & Classic Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Wedding – Creative Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Wedding – Documentary Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Wedding – Assisted Photographer of the Year 2026
Irish Wedding Videographer of the Year 2026
Irish Commercial Videographer of the Year 2026
Irish Wedding Shorts Videographer of the Year 2026
Irish Commercial Shorts Videographer of the Year 2026
