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Portfolio Awards Overview

Next Round of Applictions 2026
2 June (Bronze)  -  1 October (Bronze & Silver)
Overview

The Australian Photographic Society’s (APS) Portfolio Awards Program is designed to foster artistic growth, technical mastery and creative vision among photographers. This initiative provides an inclusive, non-competitive learning and development opportunity for APS Members at all stages of their photographic journey.

Upload Example Bronze

Images supplied by Greg McMillan GMAPS EFIAP EPSA BPSA


Portfolio Principles

The APS Portfolio Awards will be underpinned by the following Principles.  All activities within the Portfolio Awards will reflect these principles.

  1. Learning and Development: First and foremost, the APS Portfolio Awards are a learning and development program and all activities and processes within this Awards system will be regularly tested against this key principle.
  2. Inclusive: The APS Portfolio Awards will be as inclusive as possible encouraging all APS Members to participate and achieve a level of Portfolio Awards relevant to their interest and level of commitment. Therefore a range of support programs or activities will be implemented to support Members on this part of their photography journey.
  3. Non-Competitive: The Portfolio Awards will provide an opportunity for personal development and growth. While there will be adjudication of portfolio submissions, it is not intended as an Exhibitions or Competition system and comparisons with exhibitions or competitions standards for any image, or comparison between portfolios will be avoided.
  4. Fit for Purpose: The rules, conditions and support structures will reflect the capacity of APS to support this program through its volunteer and staffing base.
  5. Dynamic and Adaptive: The APS Portfolio Awards will need to constantly evolve and change to reflect current and emerging issues and trends in photography and in the values and expectations of existing and potential Members.
Vision & Objectives

The APS Portfolio Awards Program aims to:

  • Encourage artistic growth in photography by guiding Members through a semi-structured process of self-reflection, creative development, and technical refinement.
  • Elevate the role of APS as the authoritative voice of photography in Australia, that can influence national photographic discourse and standards.
  • Develop a distinguished photographic recognition system that is non-competitive, celebrating individual achievements based on artistic merit rather than competitive comparison.
  • Establish a legacy whereby recipients are acknowledged for their ability to create cohesive, meaningful, and technically accomplished portfolios.
  • Enhance the recognition and prestige of APS through an exclusive Portfolio Awards program available only to APS Members.