Why Photography Awards Matter?

What really happens when a photographer wins an award?

What no one tells you about awards — is what happens after you win.

People search for you — scroll through your social media, your website, your portfolio. They discuss your photograph. They share it. They celebrate it. And in that moment — a ripple begins. Not just photographers — but brands, editors and curators too notice you.

One award. One photograph. That’s all it takes to start the ripple.

Not a wave of fame — but of possibility.

A spark inspiring a new generation, guiding the lost, and reigniting the fire in those searching for purpose and direction.

When I won over 24 international awards, the trajectory of my life changed. Not overnight — but unmistakably. People across the world discovered my work — not just photographers, but also brands and clients: Apple, Nike, Leica, Penguin Random House UK, and many more. It reached places I had never imagined. My prints travelled from Google offices to island homes I’d never even heard of.

They didn’t just stumble upon my portfolio. They found me through visibility — through awards, features, and recognition. (I’ve written more about the power of being featured here.)

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc., tweeted about one of the awards I won. That kind of spotlight is earned. And it amplifies.

Now, imagine a world without awards.

A world where photographers create endlessly — but no one stops to look. No one notices. No one appreciates. There are no recognitions, no exhibitions, no community. Just photographs, floating in silence, like an unexplored ocean. In such a world, how would we know which images are truly powerful? How would we discover the photographers who are doing something extraordinary? How would we find the work that deserves to be seen and celebrated? How would we ever distinguish the groundbreaking from the generic?

Who would find the lost? Who would notice the extraordinary?

That’s why awards matter. They hold up a mirror — giving us a moment to pause and ask ourselves: Where does my work stand in the global landscape? What can I improve? How can I build a stronger portfolio? Awards break the illusion that we can grow alone. They remind even the most experienced artists that there is always more to learn.

Awards push us forward. They sharpen our vision, challenge our instincts, and encourage us to keep evolving. They don’t just improve our craft — they strengthen our commitment to it. They help us go deeper, work harder, and build something truly lasting.

But not all awards are created equal. I’ve judged over 17 international photography awards, including serving as President of the ADC (Art Directors Club) 103rd Annual Awards Photography Jury for The One Club for Creativity. And I’ve seen everything: the brilliant, the performative, the flawed.

I remember one moment vividly while judging one of the awards. A jury member insisted a photo should win because it featured a celebrity — not because of its composition, not its emotion or story, but because the subject was famous. That moment stayed with me.

It reminded me why we must be careful about which awards we apply to.

The credibility of an award depends entirely on the integrity, notability, and expertise of its jury and the award organisers.

That’s why I created Pure Street Photography Awards.

We need awards led by industry experts — people with experience, a strong body of work, and a deep connection to the craft and its evolution. Not just awards stacked with photographer friends or familiar names, or judges chosen to fill a lineup. Not to reward friends. Not to chase followers. But to build a new kind of spotlight — one that lifts the craft, not just the creator.

Because when awards are judged with integrity — when they prioritise pure photography — they don’t just celebrate photographs. They launch careers. They shape movements. They change lives. Awards — when done right — aren’t just trophies. They are compasses.

Of course, not everyone walks away from awards feeling uplifted. Some photographers apply, don’t win — and feel disheartened. That’s natural. Rejection can sting. But the real difference lies in what happens next.

Some choose curiosity over critique. They ask themselves: What can I do better? How can I grow? Others, however, turn away — not because they lack talent, but because they’ve lost trust in the process. I understand that. There are awards out there that exploit artists, and that kind of criticism is valid and important.

But to dismiss all awards entirely? That can close the door on growth before it even begins.

I’ve been there too. I’ve submitted. I didn’t always win. But I returned. I refined. I grew. Again and again.

Submit. Fail. Reflect. Submit again. Grow.

That’s how the strongest voices in photography are built — not by never falling, but by rising each time with more clarity and courage.

Building something meaningful is never easy. I know this. That’s why I founded Pure Street Photography Community and Pure Street Photography Awards — not just from my own experiences of winning and judging, but from a deeper conviction: That the spotlight should never shine on just one person. It should illuminate a generation. It must lift others up — with judges who are industry experts and photographers amplified through visibility.

Behind the Pure Street Photography Awards is an entire ecosystem — from meticulous curation, jury protocols, press, and international exhibitions, to global visibility and interviews. It’s not about spotlighting one name. It’s about lifting a generation. I never wanted to be a “me, me, just me” photographer. I built this platform so others could rise — just as I did.

More than ever, we must rise together. Especially now — when human connection in art is at risk of being diluted by machine-made beauty.

Because in an age where AI can imitate aesthetics and style but not essence, and never our soul — human photography needs us. Our presence. Our instincts. Our truths.

In a world of AI-generated perfection, human photography needs defenders.

We must build communities. Create ecosystems. Share visibility. And uplift others along the way.

That’s why awards still matter. That’s what Pure Street Photography Awards is about.

Preserving truth. Preserving curiosity. Preserving the evolution of the human eye.

Let’s build a future where no pure photograph goes unseen. Where every artist with something true to say gets the chance to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

So don’t fear rejection. Fear never showing up.

Because sometimes, one photograph can change a life. Sometimes, it already has.