DFP
Documentarian Awards

The DFP Documentarian Awards is a photography competition designed exclusively for DFP members and is based on photographers submitting a portfolio of up to 20 images. It aims to celebrate and recognize the talent, technical excellence, and artistic vision of its participant’s body of work.

This competition focuses on People's Choice judging, allowing the general public and fellow photographers to engage in the selection process alongside a panel of judges.

Participation: Participants must be DFP Members whose membership is current and in good standing. (Photographer listing does not need to be published in order to participate, just the DFP membership/listing fee must be paid/in good standing). Photographers whose membership payment is past due must pay their outstanding dues before submitting.

Submission: Each participant is required to submit up to 20 images of their best documentary work.

The photos submitted must be shot using a documentary approach. They can include documentary family photography and other sub-genres, including birth, documentary portraiture/found portraits, environmental portraits, street photography, events, weddings and all types of ceremonies, photojournalism, etc.

Self-portraits are not allowed; however, the Photographer may include him/her/their self in the image in ways such as their shadow is shown, their reflection, their feet, etc.

Submission Phase:

During this phase, participants submit up to 20 documentary images.

The images are reviewed for adherence to guidelines and general quality.

(Please note: If a participant submits more than 20 images, any additional image(s) after 20 will be deleted. Please be sure to read the submission guidelines.)

DFP Members Choice Voting:

Once the submission phase concludes, the photos are made available first to members for voting. The community at large, are invited to participate in the People's Choice voting process.

The names of the photographers will not be shown during the voting process in order to keep the votes based on the work presented rather than who the work was made by. People can vote for their 10 favorite photos based on artistic merit, technical skill, and overall impact; each vote is worth 1 point.

Judging:

Alongside the Members’ Choice voting, a panel of judges will evaluate the photos. The judging panel reviews the submitted portfolio as a whole, as well as individual photos and assigns points to the portfolios as well as selects winners in various categories based on their professional expertise and criteria.

(See the Judging Criteria section for more information)

Winner Selection:

The winners are determined by the judging panel’s evaluation and by combining the Members’ Choice voting results. This approach ensures a balanced result that incorporates both all level photographers opinion and professional judgment.

Awards Ceremony:

The award winners are announced and honoured for their exceptional work.

An online exhibition with an opening reception and awards ceremony, as well as the presentation of the member’s only yearbook will take.

Judges will evaluate the photographer’s overall portfolio and assign points to each category on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest score. The total points for each photographer's portfolio will be calculated by summing up the scores from each category. Their points from the People’s Choice voting will also be considered.

The photographer with the highest total points will win the DFP Documentarian of the Year Award.

Other award categories will be recognized as well.

Points Catagories:

1. Composition (10 points): The overall arrangement and balance of elements within the frame, perspective and other compositional techniques

2. Technical Excellence (10 points): The use of light, shadow, focus, sharpness or blur, color, tone and overall technical proficiency. The level of technical difficulty involved in capturing the photographs and the photographer's ability to overcome challenges such as low-light conditions, fast-moving subjects, or complex environments.

3. Visual Impact (10 points): The visual appeal, aesthetic qualities, color balance, tone, shapes, or other elements that contribute to visually striking imagery and visual impact of the photographs, including the use of light, shadow, texture, and composition.

4. Emotional Impact (10 points): The ability to evoke strong emotions or create a powerful connection with the viewer. Judges will assess the photographer's ability to evoke emotions, create empathy, or provoke thoughtful contemplation.

5. Storytelling and Narrative (10 points): The photographer’s ability to convey a compelling narrative, message or story about the subject(s) or the situation(s) being depicted. Judges will look for effective storytelling techniques.

6. Photographic Voice and Originality (10 points): The uniqueness and innovative approach to the subjects or the concepts behind the photographs. The photographer's ability to capture unique and original moments or perspectives within the documentary genre.

7. Relevance to the Documentary Genre (10 points): The degree to which the photographs captures the genuine essence or truth of the subjects or the situations. How well the photographs align with the documentary genre, capturing real-life events, people, or issues.

8. Ethical Considerations (10 points): The adherence to ethical standards and respect for the subjects' rights and dignity.

9. Cohesion and Consistency (10 points): the overall cohesion and consistency of the portfolio. Judges will look for a common style, or approach that ties the photographs together.

10. Overall Impact, Impression, and Memorability (10 points): The overall and lasting impact, impression and memorability the photographs leaves on the viewer. Judges will consider the images that stay with them long after viewing and make a lasting impression.

First Place

The first place overall winner will receive the DFP Documentarian of the Year Award. They will also receive €500 in prizes, features on DFP’s blog and social media channels, and inclusion in the online exhibition.

Other Awards:

Documentarian of The Year 2nd Place
Documentarian of the Year 3rd Place

Single Image 1st Place
Single Image 2nd Place
Single Image 3rd Place

Judge’s Choice Award

(Prizes for these other awards will be announced soon)

When entries open, you can submit your portfolio if you are already a paid DFP Member.

If you are not yet a DFP Member but would like to participate, please first purchase your membership here, and then submit your portfolio.

I am not a DFP Member, but I want to participate. How do I become a member?

You can get your membership here

How many images can I submit for my portfolio?

You may submit up to 20 images. Anything over 20, we will not include in the judging process and will delete.

Do I need to submit all of my images at once or can I submit them separately?

We request that you submit your portfolio of up to 20 images at one time via the submission form.
This helps us to keep things organized.

I have submitted, but I want to change some of my images. Can I?

We prefer it if you did not because it is difficult to keep things organized with too many image changes logistically. BUT, you can reach out via email and ask ;) No promises, though.

What size should my images be?

File Size: 2000 pixels on the longest edge

File Size Max: 10MB

How do I label my files?

Please label your files firstname_lastname1.jpg, firstname_lastname2.jpg, firstname_lastname3.jpg, and so on…

Is there a theme or categories to submit to?

No, we just request you submit a portfolio of up to 20 of your best documentary images. This competition focuses on the overall quality and consistency of photographers’ portfolios. We will be awarding categories as we see fit but, we want to see a body of your work.

How do I know my submission went through?

After you submit, you will receive an email confirming your submission. Please be sure to check your spam folder if the email is not in your inbox. If you do not receive the email, feel free to reach out to us to check.

Can I crop my images?

Yes, minimal cropping is allowed

Can I edit my images?

You can edit your images as it pertains to tone, white balance, cropping, noise reduction, dodging and burning, etc. but we do not accept images that have been manipulated in ways that are not true to life. For example, no cloning, composites, etc. (any other questions, please read the terms and conditions or reach out to us).

Are there prizes?

Yes! There are cash prizes, along with features, mentoring opportunities, and more. We will be adding to the prize list very soon.

I have more questions. How do I get in touch?

Please reach out to us via email hello@dfpeducation.com