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The opening date for LCE Photographer of the Year 2027 is [INSERT OPENING DATE]. The closing date for entries is [INSERT CLOSING DATE] at 11:59pm.
The winners will be announced at a special event at The Photography & Video Show 2027. The Photography & Video Show 2027 is scheduled to take place at ExCeL London from 13 to 16 March 2027. Winners will also be announced via London Camera Exchange’s social media channels and through national and specialist media.
LCE Photographer of the Year 2027 is free to enter and is open to photographers of any skill level, aged 18 or over.
Can photographers worldwide enter LCE Photographer of the Year 2027?
Yes. LCE Photographer of the Year 2027 is open to photographers based anywhere in the world. However, prizes are limited to photographers who are resident in the United Kingdom.
Photographers based outside the UK are eligible to enter and, if their images are selected as winners, will receive the same competition exposure as other winning images. However, they will not be eligible to receive prizes and no alternative compensation will be provided in lieu of the advertised prizes.
The easiest way to enter is via the LCE Photographer of the Year competition website. Entries cannot be submitted via Facebook, Instagram or X, although you can share your entries on social media using #LCEPOTY27 and encourage people to vote for your images on the competition website.
If you need help uploading your images, visit us in-store and a member of staff will be happy to assist.
How much does it cost to enter?
The competition is free to enter. No purchase is necessary.
Can I enter the same image into multiple categories?
No. The same image can only be entered into one category. By ‘image’, we mean the same original photograph, so a manipulated or altered version of the same photograph cannot be entered into a different category. Doing so may result in disqualification of both entries.
Entrants may submit a maximum of one entry per category.
Image descriptions
Please include a short description of up to 280 characters about your work during the upload process. This is a great way to tell the story behind your image or share other interesting details. The judging panel will be able to read your description during the judging process, giving them additional insight into how you created the photograph.
Metadata
We recommend that entrants include their copyright information in the metadata of all submissions.
How should I prepare my images for submission?
Images submitted to LCE Photographer of the Year must be supplied in JPEG or PNG format and have a maximum size of 2,500 pixels on the longest edge. RGB or sRGB colour profiles are recommended.
Digital scans of photographs captured on film are also eligible, provided they meet these technical requirements.
If shortlisted, entrants must be able to supply the original image as a high-resolution JPEG or RAW file.
Image manipulation
There are no restrictions on the manipulation or editing of photographs using software or other techniques, provided that the resulting image remains the entrant’s own work and does not incorporate material that infringes the copyright or other intellectual property rights of another person.
AI-generated imagery is not permitted. Images must originate from photographs captured by the entrant. This includes all photographic elements used within composite images.
The Promoter may publish additional guidance concerning the permitted use of AI-assisted editing tools, and entrants must comply with any such guidance in force at the time of entry.
Image sharpening, noise reduction and colour saturation
Excessive sharpening, noise reduction and colour saturation should be avoided. We appreciate that entrants may use these techniques to optimise the appearance of their images on screen. However, excessive processing can result in an image being unsuitable for printed media and may therefore affect its suitability for the competition.
Can images be taken on a phone?
Yes. Images may be captured using any device capable of producing a digital image of sufficient quality and resolution for entry. This includes cameras, smartphones, tablets and other digital imaging devices.
For full guidelines on image requirements, please see the submission requirements on the entry page.
How recently do submitted images have to have been taken?
There is no restriction on when an entered photograph must have been taken.
Can I enter a photo that has previously won another photography award?
Yes. Photographs that have previously won or been recognised in other photography competitions may be entered. However, an image cannot be entered if it has previously been a winner or runner-up in an earlier edition of LCE Photographer of the Year.
Do images have to be taken in the United Kingdom?
No. Photographs may have been taken anywhere in the world.
Are AI-generated images allowed?
No. AI-generated imagery is not permitted in LCE Photographer of the Year 2027.
Images must originate from photographs captured by the entrant and must be their own work. Where an image is a composite, all photographic elements must also be the entrant’s own work.
The Promoter may publish additional guidance concerning the permitted use of AI-assisted editing tools.
How will the submissions be judged?
A shortlist of entries will be drawn up, including a selection of favourites from votes cast in the competition gallery. Shortlisted images will be judged by our panel of experts based on composition, lighting, subject matter and technical skill.
Images will be judged regardless of the equipment used to capture them and will be viewed anonymously to help minimise potential bias.
The public voting section is expected to be activated approximately one month after the competition opens. We will announce when voting is available.
The People’s Choice category winner will be determined solely by the eligible votes received. Entries displaying unusual or suspicious voting patterns, or where there is evidence of automated software, bots, vote manipulation or other artificial methods being used to inflate votes, may be disqualified.
The overall winner will be selected by the judging panel from the 14 category winners.
What is the breakdown of prizes?
The winner of each of the 14 categories will be awarded £500 worth of LCE vouchers.
An additional £500 will be awarded to the photography department, university or other eligible place of study attended by the winner of the Emerging Talent category.
The overall winner will receive an additional £2,500 worth of LCE vouchers.
Winners of each category and the overall prize will also receive a trophy. Shortlisted entries will be included in an awards book, a copy of which will be provided to each shortlisted entrant free of charge.
Shortlisted entrants will be contacted by email and invited to the awards ceremony at The Photography & Video Show 2027. Details of the ceremony, including its specific date and time, will be communicated to shortlisted entrants.
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