Rules

The Monte-Carlo Photo Contest is an annual international photography competition, open to photographers of all nationalities, whether amateur or professional, who must own all rights to submitted images.
All details of the image, even the smallest, must have been photographed by the submitting author.
Images created totally or in part, by means of what is commonly called Artificial Intelligence, are not permitted.

The competition is under the patronage of the FIAP (Federation Internationale de l’Art Photographique) and the AAPMC (Académie de l’Art Photographique de Monte-Carlo).
The Monte-Carlo Photo Contest is organised by Il Teatro della Vita – 7, Avenue Saint Roman 98000 – Monaco – Principality of Monaco – email: info@montecarlophotocontest.org

The rules comply with FIAP document 040/2023 E, therefore the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest classifications are valid for FIAP honours and distinctions.

Patronage

Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique FIAP 2025/XX
Académie de l’Art Photographique de Monte-Carlo AAPMC 2025/MC1

1 – Themes

The Monte-Carlo Photo Contest 2025 is divided into four themes:

• Theme 1 – Glamour & Beauty
• Theme 2 – World in Focus*
• Theme 3 – Landscape
• Theme 4 – Free Theme

*World in Focus is the new FIAP section that includes Street, Travel, Architecture, Culture, Events, Portraits, Food, etc.
A WORLD IN FOCUS image expresses the spirit of an era, the essence of a place or a culture, whether shown in an authentic or organised scene.

Participants may submit a maximum of 4 works in digital format per theme, for a maximum of 16 photos.
Photos submitted in one theme may not be submitted in other themes. Works selected in previous editions are not accepted.

Approved FIAP platform ‘’Fotogenius’’ is used for registration, photo submission, judges’ voting, rankings and reports.

2 – Participation procedure

To participate, each photographer must:

• Register on the montecarlophotocontest.fotogenius.es website,
• Pay the registration fee according to the chosen categories,
• Follow the instructions provided to submit the photographs.

For each photograph, the title must be specified.
Each participant may submit a maximum of 4 photographs per theme.

File format: All files must be digital in JPEG format, saved in sRGB colour space, with the longest side minimum 1,920 pixels, maximum 3,000 pixels and 300 dpi resolution.
The size of each file must not exceed 4 MB.
Photos with signatures, watermarks and frames are not accepted in any category.
Photos in all categories can be in either colour or black and white.

Photos Accepted:

– Images made from several shots with different exposures (HDR)
– Images taken from multiple shots with different focus (focus stacking)
– Images taken from multiple shots with different focal lengths (focal blending)
– Images created from several shots taken at different times but in the same place and in a reasonably short time (time blending)
– Images in which post-production has not significantly altered the image content (removal of disturbing elements)

Photos Not Accepted:

– Images generated even only partially through generative artificial intelligence tools
– Composite images created from several shots taken in different locations

3 – Copyright and disclaimer

Images must have been taken by the author.

The participant guarantees being the author of the photos submitted, and the sole owner of the rights associated with the image. If recognisable persons appear in the photo, the author must have obtained their consent and, if the subject is a minor, the consent of the legal representative.

4 – Participation fees

The participation fees are as follows:

• One theme (max 4 photos) euro 23
• Two themes (max 4 photos per theme) euro 46
• Three themes (max 4 photos per theme) euro 58
• Four themes (max 4 photos per theme) euro 58

5 – Jury

The jury will be composed of photography experts:

Jury President Riccardo Busi – President FIAP MFIAP. EFIAP/p. HonEFIAP
Paolo Mosti – President AAPMC – Landscape, street and motorsport photographer
Gabriele Lorenzini – Professional landscape, travel and fine-art photographer
Rosanna Calò – Professional glamour and events photographer
Albert Colman – Publisher, TV producer, media consultant

The jury meets online to select the winners in each category.
The jury’s decisions on the acceptance of photos and the awarding of prizes are final.

6 – Prizes

A ‘Special Light Blue Pin FIAP’ will be awarded to the best overall author of the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest 2025.

A ‘Special Red Pin AAPMC’ will be awarded to the best absolute photo of the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest 2025.

Theme 1 – Glamour & Beauty

1st Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and FIAP Gold Medal
2nd Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and FIAP Silver Medal
3rd Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and Bronze Medal FIAP
4th and 5th Prize: FIAP Honourable Mention Diploma
6th to 30th Place: ‘Jury’s Special Mention’ Diploma

Theme 2 – World in Focus*

1st Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and FIAP Gold Medal
2nd Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and FIAP Silver Medal
3rd Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and Bronze Medal FIAP
4th and 5th Prize: FIAP Honourable Mention Diploma
6th to 30th Place: ‘Jury’s Special Mention’ Diploma

Theme 3 – Landscape

1st Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and FIAP Gold Medal
2nd Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and FIAP Silver Medal
3rd Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and Bronze Medal FIAP
4th and 5th Prize: FIAP Honourable Mention Diploma
6th to 30th Place: ‘Jury’s Special Mention’ Diploma

Theme 4 – Free Theme

1st Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and FIAP Gold Medal
2nd Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and FIAP Silver Medal
3rd Prize: Monte-Carlo Photo Contest Plaque and Bronze Medal FIAP
4th and 5th Prize: FIAP Honourable Mention Diploma
6th to 30th Place: ‘Jury’s Special Mention’ Diploma

*World in Focus is the new FIAP section that includes Street, Travel, Architecture, Culture, Events, Portraits, Food, etc.
A WORLD IN FOCUS image expresses the spirit of an era, the essence of a place or culture, whether it is shown in an authentic or organised scene.

A total of 134 prizes will be awarded

FIAP Honours – In accordance with the FIAP rules on honours, the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest classifications are valid for AFIAP, EFIAP levels, and CAFIAP and CEFIAP distinctions.
Prizes are not cumulative in the same theme, but can be, in different themes up to a maximum of 2.
Cross prizes such as Best Author and Best Work of the competition are excluded from the count.
Awarded works will be published in a digital catalogue that will be sent to all participants; publication in online magazines is envisaged.

7 – Duration and closing dates of the competition

– Competition opening – 15 May 2025
– Competition closing date – 19 September
– Jury voting – 23 September to 5 October
– Announcement of winners – 13 October
– The prize-giving ceremony will take place on 1 November 2025 in Monte-Carlo (Principality of Monaco).

The digital catalogue of award winners will be sent to all participants from 1 December 2025.

8 – Announcement of results and award ceremony

The results of the competition will be published on the competition website and the winners will be contacted individually.
The prize-giving ceremony will take place on 1st November 2025 in the Principality of Monaco.

9 – Rights of use

All images submitted remain the property of the authors; however, by submitting images as indicated above, you implicitly grant the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest the right to publish them on its website or those of other organisations in the Principality of Monaco, as well as on various social media platforms.
Furthermore, the authors implicitly grant the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest the right to use the images for exhibitions or events, or in brochures, catalogues, videos, books, or other information or communications relating to the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest. There is no remuneration for the contestants, only the indication of copyright.

10 – Obligations

Registration in the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest automatically implies full acceptance of its rules. Failure to comply with the rules will result in the registration cancellation.
Photographers under 18 years of age must send, at the time of registration, the authorisation of a parent or legal guardian. Without this document, the candidate in question will not be admitted to the competition.

11 – Content of photos

Photographs must not depict violence, pornography and/or question the morals of people, places and institutions.

12 – FIAP provisions

The participant, by registering for the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest 2025, expressly declares to accept the FIAP document 018/2017 ‘Conditions and regulations for FIAP Patronage’ and the FIAP document 033/2021 ‘Penalties for violation of FIAP regulations and red list’.

The participant also declares being aware of Chapter II ‘Regulations for International Photographic Events under FIAP Patronage’ of FIAP document 018/2017, which deals with Section II.2 and II.3 of the FIAP Rules of Participation, penalties for violation of FIAP regulations and the Red List.

13 – Organiser’s responsibilities

The Secretariat of the Monte-Carlo Photo Contest reserves the right to modify the present regulations, postpone or cancel the contest.
The Monte-Carlo Photo Contest is a registered trademark.