Aperture Portfolio Prize

Deadline: 8 January 2023
Call Closed: 2023 Aperture Portfolio Prize
The Aperture Portfolio Prize aims to identify trends in contemporary photography and highlight artists whose work deserves greater recognition.

The Aperture Portfolio Prize aims to identify trends in contemporary photography and highlight artists whose work deserves greater recognition. When choosing the first-prize winner and finalists, Aperture’s editorial staff looks for innovative bodies of work that haven’t been widely seen in major publications or exhibition venues. The Aperture Portfolio Prize is open exclusively to Aperture magazine print subscribers. Click here to subscribe.
This call to entry is now closed.
The first-prize winner will be published in Aperture magazine and will receive a $3,000 cash prize, a $1,000 gift card to shop for gear at mpb.com, and an exhibition in New York. The winner and four shortlisted artists will each have their own feature on aperture.org and will be presented across Aperture’s social media channels. All finalists are announced in Aperture’s e-newsletter, which reaches subscribers across the globe, including curators, critics, and members of the photography community. The winner and shortlist may also have the opportunity to participate in the Aperture limited-edition print program.
In addition, all twenty-five finalists (comprised of the winner, four runners-up, and twenty finalists) will receive a virtual portfolio review session with an Aperture editor. These one-on-one sessions will give artists the opportunity to receive thoughtful and constructive feedback on their work.
1. Subscribe to Aperture magazine!
The sole entry requirement for entering the Portfolio Prize is to be an Aperture magazine print subscriber. Subscriptions must be current through Spring 2023, issue 250. To subscribe, please visit aperture.org/magprize.
Failure to provide an accurate print subscription magazine account number will result in the disqualification of the submission.
2. Get your magazine account number.
For new subscribers, your account number can be found in your e-receipt. To subscribe, visit aperture.org/magprize.
For current subscribers, your account number and expiration date appear above your name on the address card that is sent along with every issue. Or, you can request your account number and expiration date by sending an e-mail with your name and address to custsvc_aperture@fulcoinc.com.
3. Create an account at picter.com
4. Submit your portfolio and application before the deadline through the Aperture Portfolio Prize Picter Page .
You will need to provide the following:
- Aperture magazine account number (required)
- 10–15 images with title information (images must be JPEG and 3,000 px on the longest side)
- Statement about your work (1,500 characters max)
- CV/Résumé (2,000 characters or single PDF)
- Bio (1,500 characters)
By submitting your work to the Aperture Portfolio Prize, you are found to be in agreement of the terms and conditions. Click here to read the terms and conditions.
Téléchargez le règlement du concours en PDF
Descarga las reglas del concurso en PDF
Scarica le regole del concorso italiano come PDF
Call for entries open: November 18, 2022
Submission deadline: January 8, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST
Shortlist announcement: April 2023
Winner announcement: May 2023
When examining entries, Aperture’s editors and curatorial staff will consider the following criteria:
- Was the work created in the past five years?
- Is a theme or topic carried throughout the portfolio in a fully resolved, consistent manner?
- Are each of the images individually strong?
- What technical and presentation choices has the photographer made, and are they appropriate for the work? For example, is there a clear reason for the work being in black and white versus a digitally enhanced palette?
- Does the body of work take an innovative or unique approach to the subject matter?
Entries are welcome from anyone who makes photographs. This program is inclusive, and work will not be chosen on the basis of the status of the photographer. It is the portfolio that counts.
Reach out to us at apertureprize@aperture.org with any questions.
By submitting your work to the Aperture Portfolio Prize, you are found to be in agreement of the terms and conditions. Click here to read the terms and conditions.
What is required to enter the Portfolio Prize?
The call is only open to Aperture magazine print subscribers whose subscriptions run through issue 250, Spring 2023, so a current magazine account number is required to submit work to the Portfolio Prize. Visit aperture.org/magprize to subscribe. Once you’ve subscribed, you will receive an e-receipt containing your unique magazine account number that will be required to submit your entry.
Where can I find my magazine account number?
Please note: Customer Support is closed on weekends.
If you recently subscribed or renewed your subscription online, please check your inbox for an e-receipt containing your unique magazine account number. Or, you can request it by sending an email with your name and address to custsvc_aperture@fulcoinc.com.
For current subscribers, your account number and expiration date appear above your name on the address card that is sent along with every issue. You can also request them by sending an e-mail with your name and address to custsvc_aperture@fulcoinc.com.
How do I subscribe to Aperture magazine?
Please visit aperture.org/magprize to purchase a print subscription for $75 for one year (Canada $95; international $110) or $124 for two years. You’ll then receive an e-receipt containing your unique magazine account number, which is required to enter the Portfolio Prize.
Where can I sign up for a Picter account?
To sign up, please visit Picter.com
Does a membership to Aperture Foundation qualify me for entry into the Portfolio Prize?
No. You must be a subscriber to Aperture magazine instead. Membership with Aperture Foundation is distinct from an Aperture magazine subscription and comes with separate benefits.
I receive a complimentary subscription to Aperture magazine through my foundation membership. Am I still eligible to submit to the Portfolio Prize?
Yes. If you are a member of Aperture Foundation at the Friend level or above and you receive a complimentary subscription, you can use your magazine account number to enter the call for entry as long as your subscription is good through the Spring 2023 issue.
To obtain your magazine account number and expiration date, please contact
custsvc_aperture@fulcoinc.com.
I used to be a subscriber but let my subscription lapse. Can I still enter?
Sorry, no. The prize is only open to current print subscribers. Visit aperture.org/magprize to renew your subscription.
If I subscribe to the Zinio Digital Edition and/or to the online archive can I still enter?
Sorry, no. The prize is only open to current print subscribers. Visit aperture.org/magprize to subscribe.
What are the specs for uploading images?
Images must be at least 3,000 pixels on the longest side and saved as a JPEG file. Other file types such as TIFF, PNG, and PSD are not permissible. If you continue to have issues uploading your images or completing your submission, visit the Picter help center or e-mail the Picter support team at support@picter.com.
Can I submit fewer than the required fifteen images in the competition?
You will need to submit a minimum of ten images. The jurors are expecting to see a number of images that equate to a range—i.e., a portfolio of images—and therefore we will not accept submissions that contain fewer than ten images.
I would like to submit work that has already been published. Will that affect my chances of winning the Prize and being published in Aperture magazine?
It’s perfectly fine to submit work that has already been published, and no, it will not affect your chances of being selected as the winner.
If have been included in other Aperture calls for entry in the past (i.e. The Summer Open, The PhotoBook Awards) or I’ve been published in Aperture magazine, can I still submit?
Yes, you are welcome to submit even if you have been included in past Aperture calls for entry or have been published online or in the magazine. However, we highly encourage you to submit a different body of the work than what has already been published or shown by Aperture. Additionally, you should not submit work that was commissioned by Aperture.
I’d prefer to skip the competition and submit my work directly to an Aperture editor. Is this possible?
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of requests, it is not possible for Aperture’s editors to review material outside of the Aperture Portfolio Prize competition. Unsolicited work will not be reviewed or returned.
Can I submit more than one portfolio?
No, you may only submit one portfolio.
Can I edit my portfolio once it has already been submitted?
Yes, you can edit your submission up until the deadline. To do so, log in to your Picter account and click the “Submission” tab at the top of the screen. Under “Completed” you should see your submission. Click “edit” at the top of the page to edit your submission.
If I live outside the continental United States, am I still eligible for entry?
Yes, applicants living anywhere in the world are eligible for entry to the Aperture Portfolio Prize. The only requirement is that you are an Aperture magazine print subscriber.
I live outside the continental United States and the price of a print subscription is more expensive!
Yes, the price of an Aperture magazine print subscription is more expensive for international subscribers because of international shipping costs.
I create work as part of a team or collective. Can we enter work under our collective name?
Yes, providing at least one member of the duo or collective is an Aperture magazine print subscriber.
What happens to work that is chosen as the first-prize winner or as a shortlisted artist?
Once an entrant has been chosen for the first prize or as a runner-up, an editorial staff member will contact the artist. The first-prize winner will be published in Aperture magazine and will receive a $3,000 cash prize, a $1,000 gift card to shop for gear at mpb.com, and an exhibition in New York. The winner and four shortlisted artists will each have their own feature on aperture.org and will be presented across Aperture’s social media channels. All finalists are announced in Aperture’s e-newsletter, which reaches subscribers across the globe, including curators, critics, and members of the photography community. The winner and shortlist may also have the opportunity to participate in the Aperture limited-edition print program.
In addition, all twenty-five finalists (comprised of the winner, four runners-up, and twenty finalists) will receive a virtual portfolio review session with an Aperture editor. These one-on-one sessions will give artists the opportunity to receive thoughtful and constructive feedback on their work.
What if I run out of time?
No exceptions will be made for late submissions. Please allow for ample time to complete your entry.
I still need help. Who can I contact?
Send an email to apertureprize@aperture.org.
2022 Aperture Portfolio Prize Press:
Photo London: A Conversation with Felipe Romero Beltrán, Winner of the 2022 Aperture Portfolio Prize
2021 Aperture Portfolio Prize Press:
Culture Type: Donavon Smallwood Wins Aperture Portfolio Prize
The Guardian: Photographer Donavon Smallwood: ‘What’s it like to be a black person in nature?’
Recent Winners
Felipe Romero Beltrán Chronicles the Experiences of Young Immigrant Men in Spain
Winner of the 2022 Aperture Portfolio Prize, the Colombian photographer collaborates with young men living in legal limbo, creating evocative images about dreams and memory.
2022 Aperture Portfolio Prize Runner-Up: Juan Brenner
With his striking portraits and vibrant colors, Brenner considers the transformations of Guatemalan society.
2022 Aperture Portfolio Prize Runner-Up: Margo Ovcharenko
Ovcharenko’s depiction of powerful women feels rooted in the radical visual language of early Soviet photography—as does her use of sport as a metaphor for community.
2022 Portfolio Prize Runner-Up: Adrien Selbert
Thirty years after the Bosnian War, Selbert's portrait of a country reckons with the aftermath of conflict.
2022 Aperture Portfolio Prize Runner-Up: Allie Tsubota
Drawing upon the history of the Pacific War and Japanese American internment in the US, Tsubota explores how memory is intimately connected to images.