LCE Photographer of the Year 2027

LCE Photographer of the Year is a free photography competition run by London Camera Exchange, the UK camera retailer. The 2027 edition has 14 categories covering landscape, wildlife, birds, portrait, street, travel, macro, pets, night photography and more. Each category winner receives £500 in vouchers and a trophy, and the overall winner gets an extra £2,500. Entries close at midnight on 20 January 2027.

Anyone aged 18 or over can enter from anywhere in the world, but prizes can only be awarded to UK residents. Photographs taken on smartphones and tablets are accepted alongside cameras.

Categories

The entry form lists Action, After Dark, Birds, Creative, Events, Landscape, Macro, Pets, Portrait, Street, Travel and Wildlife. An Emerging Talent category is reserved for photography students studying in the UK, and a People's Choice award is decided by public vote in the online gallery.

You may submit one image per category, and different edits of the same photograph cannot be entered in several categories.

Who Can Enter LCE Photographer of the Year?

Photographers of any skill level aged 18 or over, of any nationality. The competition is especially attractive for:

• UK hobbyists and camera club members
• Smartphone photographers
• Photography students in the UK (Emerging Talent)
• Photographers abroad who want exposure, knowing prizes are UK-only

LCE employees, agents and their families cannot enter.

Entry Fee

Free, with no purchase necessary.

Prizes

• Each category winner: £500 in London Camera Exchange vouchers and a trophy
• Overall winner: an additional £2,500 in vouchers
• Emerging Talent: an extra £500 for the winner's place of study

Prizes are limited to UK residents.

How Judging Works

Submitted images are checked before appearing in a public gallery, where anyone can vote. A shortlist, partly influenced by those votes, is then judged anonymously by four photography professionals, who look at composition, lighting, subject and technical skill. They choose the 14 category winners and the overall winner. Shortlisted entrants are invited to the awards at The Photography & Video Show.

Submission Requirements

Upload JPEG or PNG files of up to 2,500 pixels on the longest edge, with a title and a description of up to 280 characters. Any digital device is allowed, and scans of film are accepted. If shortlisted, you must provide a high-resolution JPEG or the RAW file. Images must be your own work, and AI-generated imagery is not allowed. There is no restriction on when the photograph was taken.

Tips for Entering

Because public votes help shape the shortlist, share your gallery link with friends, family and your camera club. Use the description to tell judges where and how the photo was made. Enter several categories: entry is free, and less crowded categories such as Macro or After Dark can give a strong image more chance to stand out. Keep edits clean and avoid near-duplicates.

Choosing Your Images

Go through your best photographs of recent years, since there is no restriction on when an image was taken. Pick the strongest frame for each category rather than filling every slot with average shots. A sharp, well-exposed image with a clear subject and good light will always do better than a busy one. Check each photo at full size for focus and noise, and make sure the version you upload is the one you would be happy to print large.

Planning Your Entries by Category

Some categories, such as Landscape, Wildlife and Portrait, usually attract the most entries. Categories such as After Dark, Creative, Events or Pets can be less crowded, so a strong image there may stand out more easily. Read each category description on the official site before you choose, and remember that different edits of the same original cannot be entered in two categories.

Things to Consider

• Free entry, up to 14 images in total.
• Prizes for UK residents only.
• Public vote influences the shortlist.
• Deadline: 20 January 2027.

Enter the Competition

Ready to enter your photographs?

Enter the LCE competition

Rules, categories and the entry form are on the official competition website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: November 2, 2026