International Photography Contest
AURA AWARDS
Welcome to the AURA Awards, the premier photography competition celebrating artistry and excellence in Family Photography. With eight diverse categories, a rigorous judging system, and prestigious rewards, the AURA Awards provide photographers with the opportunity to showcase their work, gain invaluable feedback, and compete on a global stage.
Highlighting the Artistry of Life’s Most Precious Moments
The AURA Awards focus on the beauty and creativity of Family Photography. Whether you’re a specialist in Newborn, Maternity, Children, Family, Sitter, Siblings, Cakesmash& Bathtub or AI-Infused photography, the contest offers a platform to elevate your work and gain international recognition.
Each year, the contest spans four rounds, starting on January 1, 2025, with each round lasting three months. Photographers from around the globe can submit their work in one or more categories, aiming for cash prizes, badges, certificates, and features in our exclusive magazine.
We Appreciate Artists
Win Prestigious Prizes
Round Prizes:
- Grand Winner: €1,000 for 1st place overall, €600 for 2nd place overall, €400 for 3rd place overall
- Badge, certificate, and magazine feature
- Category Winners (Top 3 in 8 categories): 1st Place: €250, 2nd Place: €150, 3rd Place: €100
- Badges and recognition
Annual Prizes:
- Photographer of the Year (1st Place): €2,000, 2nd Place: €1000, 3rd Place: €500
- Badge and certificate
- Free certificates will also be awarded to all top winners!
- Trophy, lifetime gallery feature, and promotion
Cash prizes in the AURA Photo Awards are unlocked as the Barometer progresses through its stages, with higher rewards becoming available at each milestone. Discover how the Barometer works and track the current stage here.
Celebrate your talent with prestigious rewards!
Showcase Your Talent
in 8 Diverse Fields
The AURA Awards invite you to submit your work in eight carefully curated categories. Each category celebrates a unique aspect of Family Photography.
Maternity
Family
Children
Newborns
AI Infused
Sitter
Siblings
Cakesmash & Bath
A Contest That Elevates Your Craft
Badges earned during the contest reflect your progress and achievements, from Participant Badges to the coveted Platinum Badges.
The AURA Awards stand apart from other contests by offering more than just recognition. Here’s why photographers love participating:
- High Standards: Only high-quality submissions are approved, ensuring a contest filled with exceptional work.
- Direct Feedback: Gain valuable insights into your work with scores across five judging criteria: Light, Pose, Idea, Colors and Emotion. Improve your skills with our detailed feedback system—the only contest to offer this feature.
- Fairness: Pay only for submissions that meet our quality standards. Rejected entries are refunded automatically.
- Prestige: Compete for over €27,500 in cash prizes, exclusive badges, certificates and features in the AURA Award Magazine.
- Community: Join a global network of photographers passionate about Family Photography.
Category Badges
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place category badges recognize the top photographers in each field, giving your work the recognition it deserves.
Round Badges
Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze.
These badges highlight your achievements and showcase the quality of your work for every round.
Learn, Grow, and Elevate Your Photography
Exploring the Art of Maternity Photography
The Featured Image: Serenity by the Sea.
This photograph beautifully captures an expecting mother in a serene moment by the sea. The soft sunset colors, gentle waves, and flowing gown create a peaceful and ethereal atmosphere, perfectly suited to the theme of maternity. This picture was taken by talented Frédérique Carde from France.
Exploring the Art of Maternity Photography
The Featured Image: Elegance and Togetherness. This image beautifully captures the bond between an expecting mother and her partner, blending softness, love, and anticipation. It’s a striking example of how maternity photography can celebrate not just the individual journey of motherhood but also the shared experience of building a family. This picture was taken by talented Lynn Puzzo from USA
Exploring the Art of Maternity Photography
The Featured Image: A Ballet of Grace and Anticipation. This photograph is a stunning interpretation of maternity photography, blending elegance, creativity, and emotion. From its thoughtful composition to the skillful use of lighting, it captures the essence of motherhood in a unique and memorable way. This picture was taken by talented Maureen Dole from France.
The AURA Barometer – Track Your Progress and Unlock Rewards
The AURA Barometer is a unique tool that showcases the progress of submissions during the active contest and visually represents the different reward stages. Every submission counts toward achieving key milestones and unlocking the amazing prizes and accolades available in the contest.
Stage 1
Contest Rewards
No Cash Prizes
- Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Badges for submissions
- Top 1-3 Photographer Badges for the best photographers of the round
- Category Badges for the top photographers in 8 categories
Stage 2
Bonus Cash Prizes – Total of €6,000
All rewards from Stage 1
- Free certificates for winners
- €1,000 for the 1st overall winner
- €600 for the 2nd overall winner
- €400 for the 3rd overall winner
- €250, €150, and €100 for the top 3 category winners in each of the 8 categories
Stage 3
Bonus Cash Prizes & POTY
All rewards from Stage 2
Photographer of the Year Prizes:
- €2,000 for 1st place
- €1,000 for 2nd place
- €500 for 3rd place
How Does the Barometer Work?
- Dynamic Stages: The Barometer consists of three reward stages, unlocked one by one as enough submissions are received for the active contest. Each stage offers exclusive prizes, certificates, and awards.
- Live Progress Display: Monitor real-time progress. Once a stage reaches 100%, the rewards for that stage are activated for all participants.
- Motivational Insights: Participants can instantly see how many submissions are still needed to unlock the next stage.