About The Cosplay Photography Awards
An annual global competition celebrating cosplay photographers – the artists behind the camera who shape our community's visual identity. Free to enter, honoring creativity, skill, and the artists behind the lens.
Free &
Open
Participation is completely free. Every cosplay photographer can submit up to two photos, making the Awards accessible to creators worldwide.
Expert
Jury
All entries are reviewed blindly by a professional jury of experienced cosplay photographers, focusing only on the quality of the work. No user votes.
Recognition
that matters
Winners receive proper recognition, including physical trophies and sponsor prizes, honoring real achievement in cosplay photography.
Physical Award
The Awards feature multiple categories each year, culminating in the Ultimate Picture of the Year, honored with a custom-made physical trophy.
Categories
Explore our competition categories designed to showcase different aspects of cosplay photography excellence. Each category highlights unique skills and creative approaches.
That Should be Printed
Images that demand to be displayed in physical form. This category honors photographs with exceptional composition, color accuracy, and technical quality that would make stunning prints. Think gallery-worthy images with perfect sharpness, dynamic range, and visual impact.
Jury
A.Z.Production, Chris Kon Photo, Malimoria
Sponsored by
Saal Digital
Landscape
Cosplay photography set against striking natural or cityscape environments. This category highlights how character and location work together to create unforgettable imagery. If your photo balances both cosplay and scenery – and you’re unsure which aspect stands out more – this is the right category.
Jury
A.Z.Production, Chris Kon Photo
Compositing
Where photography meets digital artistry. This category is for images that seamlessly blend multiple photographic elements, 3D renders, or VFX to create fantastical scenes. All photographic elements must be captured or made by you, with real people as subjects.
Jury
A.Z.Production, Dizzy
Atmospheric Arts
Master the art of atmospheric effects. This category focuses on creative use of smoke, fog, and vapor to enhance mood and drama in cosplay photography. Showcase your ability to work with challenging elements and capture fleeting moments.
Jury
Aleksander Photography, Eugene Artjomenko
Sponsored by
COLBOR
Narrative Sequence
Photography that tells a story through emotion, action, or progression. The focus is on narrative over aesthetics, drawing the viewer into a moment that suggests what’s happening and what comes next. If you’re not sure whether your image is a photo or a screenshot from a movie, this is the right category.
Jury
Dizzy, Eugene Artjomenko
Color Unleashed
Celebrate bold and masterful use of color in cosplay photography. This category honors images where color is the star. Whether through vibrant palettes, striking contrasts, or harmonious tones that enhance the character and mood. Showcase your command of color theory and grading.
Jury
Malimoria, Aleksander Photography
Sunbound
Photography shaped entirely by the sun (no other light source is accepted). This category honors images that rely solely on natural illumination to define mood, texture, and character. Show how ambient light alone can create depth, atmosphere, and striking visual storytelling.
Jury
TBD
Retro Reel
For those who embrace the magic of analog polaroid or film photography. This category is dedicated to cosplay photography shot on instant film or traditional film stock. Celebrate grain, imperfections, and the timeless charm of chemical processes that digital simply can’t replicate.
Jury
Dizzy
Sculpted Light
This category focuses on bold, intentional light shaping and dramatic lighting setups that define mood, form, and emotion. From high-contrast scenes to sculpted highlights and shadows, the image should demonstrate mastery of light as a storytelling and visual tool. If lighting is the first thing you notice and the reason the image works – this is the right category.
Jury
Aleksander Photography
Untouched
A celebration of pure, unaltered photography. This category highlights images presented exactly as they were captured, with no retouching, color grading, or compositing. Showcase your mastery of lighting, exposure, and composition straight from the shutter.
Jury
Chris Kon Photo
Chili Jam
A category celebrating tasteful, mature, and spicy cosplay photography. It recognizes artistic, character-driven erocosplay that highlights style, mood, and body aesthetics without crossing into explicit content. A space to honor the photographers whose work fuels a major part of the cosplay scene yet often goes under-appreciated.
Jury
TBD
List of categories is not final. Additional details may be announced later.
Jury
Meet our distinguished panel of expert judges who bring decades of combined experience in cosplay photography, retouching, prop making, and compositing to evaluate your submissions.
Dizzy
Filipino cosplay photographer based in northern Italy, blending creativity and character insight to create polished, story-driven images. Their work highlights the artistry of cosplay through expressive, collaborative shoots.
Jury of Categories
Compositing, Narrative Sequence, Retro Reel
Malimoria
Vienna-based photographer specializing in expressive, natural-light portraiture across cosplay and alternative genres, and is also active as a coach and workshop instructor.
Jury of Categories
That Should be Printed, Color Unleashed
Aleksander Photography
Austrian photographer and global traveler capturing dynamic character and cosplay portraits, blending personal passion with creative visual storytelling.
Jury of Categories
Atmospheric Arts, Color Unleashed, Sculpted Light
A.Z.Production
Berlin-based cosplay photographer who combines travel and genre photography with classical art influences, producing vibrant, painterly imagery inspired by nature and romanticism.
Jury of Categories
That Should be Printed, Landscape, Compositing
Chris Kon Photo
Athens-based portrait and cosplay photographer capturing character essence and emotion through collaborative shoots at conventions and creative sessions.
Jury of Categories
That Should be Printed, Landscape, Untouched
Eugene Artjomenko
Latvian creative in London exploring playful and expressive cosplay photography, bringing character moments to life with engaging visuals.
Jury of Categories
Atmospheric Arts, Narrative Sequence
Other jury members will be announced soon.
Sponsored by
Frequently asked questions
Welcome to The Cosplay Photography Awards FAQ section. We're here to address your most common queries and provide you with the information you need to make the most of your contest application experience.