Special Category

The Special Category Awards celebrates the unconventional and the innovative. This category is designed for the adventurous and the experimental, encompassing a broad range of photographic practices that push the boundaries of traditional photography.

Open to photographers from all walks of life, this category invites you to showcase your unique perspective through mediums and techniques that challenge the status quo. Whether you’re capturing life’s fleeting moments on your phone, exploring the analog depths of film, or experimenting with the limitless potential of artificial intelligence in art, your work should reflect innovation, creativity, and a forward-thinking approach to photography. Join us in this celebration of photography’s diverse forms, where each submission is an opportunity to explore new horizons and redefine what it means to create images.

Categories

SP2501. AI-Generated Photography
SP2502. Comedy Photography
SP2503. Pandemic Related Photography
SP2504. CSR Photography
SP2505. Digital Enhance Photography
SP2506. Event Photography
SP2507. Experimental Photography
SP2508. Film Photography
SP2509. Long Exposure Photography
SP2511. Mobile Photography
SP2512. Night Photography
SP2513. Panoramic Photography
SP2514. Smartphone Photography
SP2515. Travel Photography
SP2500. Special Category / Others

Entry Fees

Standard Entry Fees

$40/image for professional and $35/image for amateur/student categories. There are no limits in the number of entries.

Fees are non-refundable. Withdrawn entries (whether withdrawn by entrant or by the award for entrant's failure to comply with the entry rules) will NOT be refunded.

Multiple entries must be submitted at the same time as your first entry in order to be counted as "additional entries". An entry submitted at a later time will be counted as a "first entry".

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Bundle Entries Package

Participants may purchase a Bundle Entries Package, which can be used within the year of the competition when the package is purchased. The package is priced at $200 for 10 Credits.

One (1) Entry Category = One (1) Credit. With the package, you are able to save up to $20 per entry.

ENJOY ENTRY SAVINGS NOW

Entry Deadlines

2025 Entry Period Early Bird
(May 22 - Jun 19, 2025)
Regular
(Jun 20 - Jul 17, 2025)
Final
(Jul 18 - Aug 14, 2025)
Final Extension
(Aug 15 - Sep 11, 2025)
Professional Single $35 $40 $45 $50
Professional Series
(2-8 images)
$45 $50 $55 $60
Amateur / Student Single $30 $35 $40 $45
Amateur / Student Series $40 $45 $50 $55
Additional Category $25 $30 $35 $40
Bundle Entries Package: $200 for 10 Credits
One (1) Category = One (1) Credit
Winners Announcement: Sep 26, 2025

*Work submitted must have been created within the last 5 years (2020-2025).

Winner's Benefits

Benefits / Winning Level Photographers of the Year Category Winners of the Year Platinum Winners Gold/Silver Winners
Cash Prizes $5,000 (Pro)
$3,000 (Amateur / Student)
$100 / Category / /
Maia Statuette YES / / /
Exclusive “Photographer of the Year” Certification YES / / /
Seasonal Features on Winners Highlight Section YES YES / /
Listed in Official Winner Press Release YES YES / /
Priority Features on Global Photography Awards e-Newsletter YES YES / /
Winning Image Showcased on a Global Virtual Exhibition YES YES / /
Photo Showcased at Gallery Section YES YES / /
Spotlighted Winner Article on Media Partner Site – Muse.World YES YES YES /
Dedicated Social Media Posts YES YES YES /
Dedicated Winner Profile Page YES YES YES YES
Exclusive Access to Winner’s Interview YES YES YES YES
Dedicated Winning Page YES YES YES YES
Eligible to Purchase Maia Statuette YES YES YES YES
Winner e-Certificate YES YES YES YES
Digital Winner Badge YES YES YES YES

*Note: Cash prizes are not cumulative. Only one cash prize can be awarded to each winner with the highest available prize applied.

For example, if a winner is awarded both Professional Photographer of the Year (Professional Category) and Category Winner of the Year, they will only receive the $5,000 cash prize from the Photographer of the Year and not $100 from winning the latter. Category Winners can only receive one $100 cash prize even if they win the title in multiple categories.

If you submitted your entries through an award agent and won either Photographer or Category Winner of the Year, IAA will proceed to issue the cash prize to the closest representative of the winning entry, the award agent, to collect it on your behalf. Please liaise with your award agent on the matter of cash prizes. Cash prizes will be issued either to the winners or award agent within a month after the announcement of results.

The Global Photography Awards and International Awards Associate’s decision are final in its sole discretion and binding in relation to all matters relating to Competitions and may not be subject to any discussions or correspondence

Submission Details

Step 1
Tap the "My Account" button to register your username and password. If you are already a member, tap "Log In."
Step 2
Complete the short online entry form. Don't forget that you can enter each work in more than one category.
Step 3
Upload your supporting document or files to the system.
Step 4
Click “Checkout” to process your entry fees.

Kindly provide a synopsis of your design of approximately 350 words. The brief should strengthen your entry, as well as providing the jury a better understanding of your project. A written translation or adaptation of non-English entries is highly recommended.

The submissions should be saved in a flattened JPEG or JPG format. (Keep them under 4MB, 1,200px wide is preferable, 300dpi, RGB).

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