Reach out to us at apertureprize@aperture.org with any questions.
By submitting your work to the Aperture Portfolio Prize, you are in agreement of the terms and conditions. Click here to read the terms and conditions.
What is required to enter the Portfolio Prize?
Entrants must be an Aperture magazine print subscriber. Subscriptions must be current through Spring 2026, issue no. 262. To subscribe, please visit aperture.org/magprize.
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 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 email 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 will then receive a 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 qualify me for entry into the Portfolio Prize?
No. You must be a print subscriber to Aperture magazine instead. Membership with Aperture is distinct from an Aperture magazine subscription and comes with separate benefits.
I receive a complimentary subscription to Aperture magazine through my Aperture membership. Am I eligible to submit to the Portfolio Prize?
Yes. If you are a member of Aperture 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 Spring 2026, issue no. 262.
To obtain your magazine account number and expiration date, please contact custsvc_aperture@fulcoinc.com.
I used to be a subscriber, but my subscription lapsed. Can I still enter?
Sorry, no. The prize is open only to current print subscribers. Visit aperture.org/magprize to renew your subscription.
If I subscribe to the online Aperture Archive or Zinio digital edition, can I still enter?
Sorry, no. The prize is open only 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 email the Picter support team at support@picter.com.
Can I submit fewer than 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—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 Portfolio Prize and being published in Aperture magazine?
When choosing the first-prize winner and short list, our judges look for innovative bodies of work that have not been widely seen in major publications or exhibition venues.
If my work has 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?
If your work has been featured by Aperture within the past three years in one of our calls for entry, in Aperture magazine, or on aperture.org, you will not be eligible for this prize.
I would 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 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 shipping costs. If you live outside of the continental United States, and the price of a subscription is hindering you from submitting your work, please reach out to apertureprize@aperture.org.
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 team or collective is an Aperture magazine print subscriber.
I am an artist who uses AI to create my work. Can I submit images that are AI generated?
Yes, you may submit AI-generated images, as long as they are labeled as such.
I am an artist who works with video and installation. Can I submit video stills and/or installation views of three-dimensional lens-based works?
Yes, your portfolio will be reviewed as photography, even if your practice utilizes other mediums or methods of presentation.
What happens to work that is chosen as the first-prize winner or for the shortlist?
Once an entrant has been chosen as the first-prize winner or as a shortlisted artist, Aperture will contact the artist.
The first-prize winner will be published in Aperture magazine and will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a $1,000 gift card to shop for gear at mpb.com. The four artists chosen for the shortlist will each receive a $1,000 cash prize and an editorial feature on aperture.org. All five finalists will participate in a group exhibition organized by Aperture at AIPAD in New York in April 2026, and will receive exposure across Aperture’s email and social channels, which reach a global audience of prominent curators, critics, artists, and members of the photography community.
The winner and shortlist may also have the opportunity to participate in the Aperture limited-edition print program.
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.
