ENTRY FEES AND ELIGIBILITY

The NZIPP Honours Council are proud to bring you this year’s Iris Awards which will be live judged in Christchurch at the Majestic on Durham, 189 Durham Street South, Christchurch Central City from 4th – 6th August 2026 and is open to all entrants and the public.

Entry into the Iris Awards is open to:

• All professional photographers nationally and internationally – a professional is defined as a person who earns an income in the professional photography industry.

• Students enrolled in and studying photography or other creative arts programmes, full or part-time, at a recognised NZ or Australian tertiary institute. Students may also enter the student category in the year immediately following the cessation of their studies providing that the entries were created during their final year of study.

The Iris Awards are the NZIPP’s commitment toward raising the profile and standard of professional photography in New Zealand.

Entering the awards offers photographers professional development opportunities that will:

• Allow you to challenge your creative boundaries.

• Extend your photographic practices and expertise.

• Provide personal achievement and professional recognition amongst the industry and your peers.

• See some of the very best of the world’s photographic talent awarded.

The Iris Professional Photography Awards represent the NZIPP’s commitment to elevating the standard and visibility of professional photography in New Zealand.

They celebrate excellence, originality, and professionalism—recognising photographers who demonstrate outstanding creativity, technical skill, and visual storytelling across all genres.

At their core, the awards uphold the highest standards of integrity. Every image entered must reflect the genuine vision and craftsmanship of the photographer.

The Awards Event

The competition culminates in a premier Gala Awards Ceremony on Sunday 9th August, where the industry comes together to celebrate excellence and announce the prestigious title of New Zealand Professional Photographer of the Year. Tickets are on sale NOW and this year’s theme is ‘Golden Hour.’ Tickets are limited so make sure you grab your ticket here: https://nzphotoshow.co.nz/product/gala-awards-evening/

Spirit & Intent

The Iris Awards are designed to:

• Honour photographic excellence
  Recognising outstanding creativity, technical expertise, and storytelling
• Encourage ethical and transparent practice
  Ensuring honesty in image creation, with clear distinctions between capture, editing, and manipulation
• Support professional growth
  Inspiring photographers to challenge themselves and continue developing their craft
• Maintain fairness and integrity
  Providing a level playing field through clear guidelines on post-production, compositing, AI, and ethical practices

Use the tables below to determine entry fees and eligibility for Awards and NZIPP merit points and distinctions.