The Social Documentary Photography Awards
The Photography Foundation are excited to launch The Social Documentary Photography Awards.
TPF already offers grants with LIMI London to social documentary photographers and the volume of applicants and the amazing range of subjects photographers want to highlight, to show hidden realities, injustices or celebrations have led us to open the first of what will be bi-annual competitions to award the best social documentary photographers out there!
What is Social Documentary Photography?
Social Documentary images usually create concern for social or environmental themes however Social Documentary Photography does not always have to be about ‘big’ issues: it can be as “simple” as documenting everyday life as you see it happening around you.
Prices for Entry
All entrants get ONE FREE submission.
Additional submissions are charged at £8 per single image entry and £15 for a series submission.
All money goes to The Photography Foundation to help them fund their charity.

How will it work?
The competition will be open to Amateurs and Professionals for both one image entries and series entries (up to five images).
There will be a winner for the Amateur single entry and the Amateur series entry – as well as two highly commended in each. Similarly there will be a winner for the Professional single entry and the Professional series entry – with two highly commended in each.
JUDGES
Ellie Ramsden
Winner of the TPF / LIMI London Grant 2022. Ellie Ramsden is a photographer based in London. Ellie's love for underground music and youth culture have led her to document London's contemporary music scene over the past five years, self-publishing her first photo-book 'Too Many Man: Women of Grime' in 2019, and releasing a second edition in 2021.
Brunel Johnson
Brunel Johnson, a documentary photographer from Kilburn in North West London, spent the most part of his youth in various areas of the City. This includes Ladbroke Grove, Whitechapel, Barking, Enfield and Shepherd’s Bush – a multitude of boroughs and experiences that would instinctively go on to inform his outlook on life.
Bella Okuya
Head of Foundation at TPF, educator and visual artist. She is a current Fulbright Scholarship recipient studying an MFA Photography with The New School, Parsons School of Design. She is founder of South London based Collective, Red Rolled and Seen, which is currently a part of Peckham Rise 2022, and she has recently self-published a photo book about women of colour in photography called Negative Space.
Dom G-H
I'm an award winning photographer working in the film and photography industry for the last ten years, having shot for Ralph Lauren, Moet Chandon, BAFTA, Elton John’s Aids Foundation, as well as portraiture with images appearing on Vogue, The Independent, The Guardian, Metro and more. I am now combining that love and knowledge with profit-for-good projects, co-founding The Photography Foundation, supporting less advantaged young adults to get started in the industry.
THE PRIZES
PROFESSIONAL WINNERS
Professional single: £200 cash prize, image publicised online on web and socials. Image printed and exhibited at Photo Book Café in Shoreditch on awards evening.
Professional Series: £300 cash prize, images publicised online on web and socials. Images printed and exhibited at Photo Book Café in Shoreditch on awards evening.
AMATEUR WINNERS
Amateur single: £200 MPB voucher, image publicised online on web and socials. Image printed and exhibited at Photo Book Café in Shoreditch on awards evening.
Amateur Series: £300 MPB voucher, images publicised online on web and socials. Images printed and exhibited at Photo Book Café in Shoreditch on awards evening.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
A minimum of two highly commended images will be picked from each category. These images will be publicised online on web and socials. Images printed and exhibited at Photo Book Café in Shoreditch on awards evening.
