AIA National Photography Competition - Produced by AIA St. Louis

The AIA National Photography Competition, produced by AIA St. Louis, was founded to capture and honor architects, design professionals and architectural students whose amazing talents are showcased in their photographic interpretation of the designed environment.

The competition is open to all architects actively registered in the United States, AIA Associates, and architecture students at an accredited architecture school. Licensed architects do not have to be an AIA member to enter.

All Architects are welcome and encouraged to submit photos!

• Award-winning images will be posted on the AIA St. Louis website and social media.
• The top award-winning images will be highlighted in the digital edition of the Architectural Record Magazine and website.
• The top Award-winning images will be exhibited at the AIA National AIA26 Conference on Architecture & Design in San Diego near the Architectural Record Magazine booth.

• Cash awards for top award-winning images.

Rules & Regulations:
2026 AIA  National Photography Competition, Produced by AIA St. Louis Prospectus - CLICK HERE

Competition Schedule:

• January 1, 2026 - Competition Opens
• April 15, 2026 - Submission deadline
• May 16, 2026 - Jury Date

Entry Fees: Each entry allows you to enter up to five (5) images

• AIA Members - $40
• Associate AIA Members - $30
• Architecture Students - $20
• AIA Emeritus - $20
• Non-member registered architects - $50

Judges:

• Kimberly Dowdell, AIA - HOK (2024 AIA National President)
• Jason Keen - Jason Keen Photography
• Marcus Carter - OBJECT TERRITORIES

•  First Place  -  $500
• Second Place  -  $400
• Third Place  -  $300
• Fuller Award  -  $200 -  The subject of the Al Fuller Award must be located in the United States.
• Student Award  -  $200 - Awarded to an AIAS member and/or a student at an NAAB accredited school. 

Judge's Commendation Awards - 10 images will be selected as Merit Awards.

Honorable Mentions - The judges may select up to 30 images as honorable mentions.

Image Requirements:
File Size - Each image must not exceed 20 MB in size.

Resolution - Each image should be at least 2816 pixels in its longest dimension.

File Format - Each image must be entered in JPG or TIFF format.

File Naming - Each image title and photo number must be included in the file in the following format: ImageTitle_Photo#.filetype (Ex: Country House_Photo3.jpg).  File names should not include punctuation and must include the extension of .JPG or .TIFF 

Purchase Entries: CALL FOR ENTRIES OPENS JANUARY 1ST 

With the purchase of an entries, you are able to submit up to five (5) photographs.  To enter more photos into the competition you will have to purchase additional entries.

CLICK HERE to purchase and upload your entries

If you wish to mail your entry, download a entry form HERE and mail to the AIA St. Louis offices located at 911, Washington Ave., Suite 100, St. Louis, MO 63101. Ensure that the entry is postmarked/delivered no later than the submission deadline date.

For any questions please contact Patrick Tetley at (314) 621-3484 or ptetley@aia-stlouis.org

    
    
Previous Competitions

CLICK HERE to view the 2025 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2024 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2023 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2022 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2021 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2020 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2019 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2018 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2017 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2016 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2015 award-winning images.
CLICK HERE to view the 2014 award-winning images.