Lenscratch Student Prize 2026

The Lenscratch Student Prize is the photography blog's annual prize for emerging student photographers, founded in 2013 and run by Lenscratch editor Aline Smithson. The prize is restricted to students currently enrolled in bachelor's or master's degree photography programs.

The first prize is unusually layered. The winner receives $2,000 in cash plus a year-long mentorship with Aline Smithson, portfolio review sessions with curators, seats at portfolio review events, museum memberships, a mini-exhibition on Lenscratch, a $500 gift certificate to Freestyle Photo, multiple book collections, and merchandise. The mentorship and review components are worth more than the cash for many recipients.

Second prize: $1,000 plus Lenscratch feature, mini-exhibition, and merchandise. Third: $750 with the same package. Four Honorable Mentions: $500 each.

Past winners include Jordan Tovin (2025), Mosfiqur Rahman Johan (2024), Christian K. Lee (2023), Drew Leventhal (2022), Allie Tsubota (2021), Raymond Thompson Jr. (2020), Guanyu Xu (2019), Zora J. Murff (2018), Shawn Bush (2017), Drew Nikonowicz (2016), and others — many have gone on to significant careers in editorial, museum, and gallery photography.

The 19-juror panel for 2026 includes Aline Smithson, Daniel George, Karen Haas (Lane Curator of Photographs at MFA Boston), Kris Graves (Kris Graves Projects), Hamidah Glasgow (former Director, Center for Fine Art Photography), Alexa Dilworth (former Publishing Director at CDS at Duke), Yorgos Efthymiadis (The Curated Fridge), and most of the past winners themselves. There is no entry fee. Submissions go through Google Form; the 2026 deadline is June 1; results announced July 13.