Press Release 


Call for Entries Now Open!


The Call for Entries for the AOP Students Awards 2012 is now open. Since 1981 the Association of Photographers has successfully run The AOP Students Awards, a competition dedicated to fresh photographic talent emerging from UK higher education institutions. Building upon continuous success over the years, the competition has built its reputation and is now regarded as one of the leading photographic awards programmes for students.

Being selected is regarded by many as the first step towards a successful and prestigious career. Previous winners of the AOP Students Awards have gone on to win both the AOP Assistants and the AOP Photographers Awards.

“From winning an award at the AOP Students Awards I gained exposure both in national and international magazines, and it also aided me in exhibiting in two London exhibitions not inclusive of exhibiting in the student awards. From the exposure at the student awards exhibitions I have been approached and offered opportunities to sell my work”.
Luke Smith - AOP Student Photographer of the Year 2010 & Merit Winner 2011

Entry to the competition is open to photography students studying a BTEC HND or higher within the UK and is open to both AOP Student members and non-members. Students can submit unlimited entries and every year the competition sees diverse range of work submitted. The call for entries will be open until the 27 January, 6pm.

The judging will take place in February 2012 and the winners will be announced in March 2012. Five top industry professionals will be selected to judge the competition and nominate the winners. Andre Lichtenberg, AOP Students Awards 2011 judge commented on the competition and judging:

“It has been a real honor to have been invited to judge the AOP Student Awards 2011. I normally get involved in such events as a photographer submitting work, so it was very interesting to be able to experience it from the other side. The judging system was very professional and transparent. It certainly gave me faith in competitions organised by professional bodies such as the Association of Photographers. I think awards such as the AOP Students offer a great opportunity to students in getting their best work seen by a panel of industry professionals and can offer good exposure to those who make it into the exhibition. They will also force entrants to think about the editing process (one of the most important qualities in a photographer), specially when preparing & submitting series of work”.

All the finalists’ winning images will be exhibited in a central London location in Spring/Summer 2012 and there will be an awards ceremony where winners will be announced. The AOP Student Photographer of the Year, Merit and Judge’s Choices. 

For further information visit the AOP website at awards.the-aop.org


Notes to Editors:

The Association of Photographers has been running an annual competition for students since 1981.These awards recognise the excellent standard of photography produced by individuals studying on photography related courses in the U.K. Now, 31 years since their inception, the Students Awards continue to flourish and offer the winning students and their colleges both support and valuable publicity.

For press images, latest news and further media opportunities contact Marina Syrmakezi on:
Association of Photographers Ltd
A 81 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4QS
E awards@aophoto.co.uk
T 020 7749 4381 W www.the-aop.org
The Association of Photographers actively supports and promotes professional photographers interests globally and is recognised as the benchmark for rights, ethics and business practice. It forms an effective network to encourage the highest standards in creative, technical and commercial practices in the photographic industry.

The AOP Students Awards are one of four Awards run by the Association of Photographers. We also run the AOP Assistants Awards, the AOP Photographers Awards and the AOP Open. Full information on all of these can be seen at www.the-awards.com.

© Copyright of all images in the AOP Students Awards is owned by the exhibiting photographers. Images included here are only licensed for, and must only be used for, the sole purpose of publicising the AOP Students Awards. The photographer must be credited if work is reproduced.