About Call

The 2025 KLPA Portrait Prize is now open for entries with the thematic requirement of street portraiture. Often, photographing in the street is a fleeting and unplanned process, and making decent portraits of strangers can be daunting to many photographers.

Critical Eye challenges street photographers to photograph what they can see in front of them with a keen and discerning eye. Street portraiture is casual but spontaneous, complex but fleeting, and just as skilfully executed as the best studio set-up. Effectively, street photography has no rules, and we do not limit your boundaries in pursuit of that elusive moment. Impress the jury with strong, enigmatic, and compelling portraits taken in all 'street' settings.

PRIZES

Prizes and Benefits - MAIN CATEGORY

• 1st Prize USD$2,000 + sponsored Residency Program in Malaysia
• 2nd Prize USD$1,000
• 3rd Prize USD$500

​STUDENT ENTRIES

USD$200 each will be awarded to the three best entries.

ZONTIGA / KLPA2025 PRIZE

Exclusively for Malaysian entries, Zontiga and KLPA have come together to award three prizes to the best portraits that adhere to the theme of Portraits from the Street, as selected by Zontiga.

1st Prize RM200 book purchase value + RM100 printing vouchers + Lomo Reusable Film Camera & film

2nd Prize RM100 book purchase value + RM100 printing vouchers

3rd Prize RM50 book purchase value + RM50 printing vouchers

The Best 35 entries will have their portraits exhibited at Hin Bus Depot, Georgetown, Penang in September, 2025. Finalists will also be screened at international partner festivals.

Entry

Entry Fees

1 image: USD$15.00 2 images: USD$30.00 3-6 images: USD$50.00 7-10 images: USD$75.00

CONCESSIONS FOR ENTRY

This year, KLPA is providing 5 concessionary (free) entries to photographers based in countries where credit and debit cards are unavailable. Please complete this online form with your details by 28 February 2025, and 5 photographers will be selected at random and notified. They will be given a check-out code to submit their entry to the Picter site. Only 1 image is allowed per concession per person.

STUDENTS CATEGORY

Full-time enrolled students under 25 years: Submit 1 image for free to be entered to the Students Category. Proof of enrollment by student ID card or establishment letter is required to be uploaded.​

About KLPA

The Kuala Lumpur Photoawards [KLPA] is an independent annual global portrait photography prize seeking the very best and fresh entries from international photographers of all levels. Initiated in 2009 by Steven Lee, its director, KLPA is recognised as an important and vital award in the photography calendar, supporting and rewarding contemporary portraiture practice, especially in the South East Asian region.