FrequentlyAsked Questions

The Photo Mode Awards is open worldwide to virtual photographers aged 18 and above — from complete beginners to seasoned professionals. All you need is an original photo captured through a game's photo mode or free camera mod. Entry is completely free.

⚠️ Judges and members of The Photo Mode Awards team are not eligible to enter.

The 2026 competition opens on Monday 1 June 2026 and closes on Saturday 27 June 2026 at 11:59 PM AEST.

Timezone conversions: 6:59 AM PDT · 15:59 CEST

Entries submitted after the deadline will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Any game — old or new — that includes a photo mode capability through either:

1. An official in-game photo mode accessible from the menu or a shortcut

2. A mod that enables a free camera

Not sure if your game has a photo mode? Browse our Game Database — we score and catalogue hundreds of games by their photo mode capabilities, so you can quickly check if your game qualifies.

Only if the game has an official photo mode that supports capturing cutscenes natively — as seen in games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hellblade, and A Plague Tale. Mods are strictly prohibited for cinematic captures. Any cutscene submission from a game without this capability will be disqualified.

No account is needed. To enter, simply fill in our submission form with your details — no registration required.

Voting in People's Choice is also open to everyone — no account, no registration, no login required.

You may submit one (1) photo per category. There are six categories, so you can submit up to six photos in total — one per category.

Your photo must:

• Be captured using an official photo mode or free camera mod

• Be your own original work — no third-party images

• Contain no watermarks, signatures, logos, or branding of any kind

• Contain no offensive, explicit, or inappropriate content

• Comply with all eligibility rules

📌 Judges review photos anonymously — watermarks or signatures that identify you will result in immediate disqualification.

Format: JPEG or PNG

Maximum file size: 25MB (you will receive an error if exceeded)

Ensure your image is properly exported and not heavily compressed.

Yes. Characters, NPCs, and fantasy figures are all permitted — particularly fitting for the People category, which celebrates personality, emotion, and connection within the game world.

No. Submissions should not contain visible HUD or UI elements. Use your game's photo mode to hide the interface before capturing. Submissions with visible UI may be disqualified at the judges' discretion.

Yes — if you change your mind, simply re-submit your photo through our form and we will only consider the last photo you submitted for that category.

However, we strongly encourage you to only do this in genuine emergencies. Because we cannot guarantee the delivery sequence of submissions, re-submitting carries a small risk that the wrong version is processed. Please review your photo carefully before submitting.

You retain full copyright of your images. By entering, you grant The Photo Mode Awards a limited, non-exclusive licence to publish and share your photos solely for the purpose of promoting the awards. Your work will always be credited to you.

Submissions must not contain:

• Pornography, nudity, or sexually explicit imagery

• Abusive, offensive, hateful, or discriminatory content

• Watermarks, logos, signatures, or branding

• Heavy photo manipulation (adding/removing major elements)

• AI-generated imagery

There are six (6) official categories: People, Architecture, Action, Close Up, Nature, and Indie. Each is described in full on the Winners and Enter pages.

Choose the category that best reflects the primary subject and intent of your photo. If your shot could fit two categories, pick the one it most naturally aligns with. There is no wrong answer — the categories are open to your own interpretation and creative vision.

An official photo mode is a dedicated in-game feature accessible from the menu or a shortcut that lets players capture and edit screenshots without mods. It typically includes controls for camera position, depth of field, filters, and frame timing.

Not sure if a game has one? Browse our Game Database — every game is reviewed and scored for its photo mode quality.

An indie game is typically developed by individuals or small teams without significant financial or technical backing from a major publisher. If you're unsure whether your game qualifies, contact us.

You can also browse indie games with photo modes directly in our Game Database — filter by the Indie genre to see all eligible titles.

Browse our Game Database and filter by the Indie genre to see every eligible indie title with a photo mode, their features, and their PMAs score.

New games are added regularly — if you think we've missed one, let us know.

You may use editing software such as Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or similar tools, provided the original photographic integrity of the image is preserved. Permitted edits include:

• Exposure, brightness, contrast and colour corrections

• Cropping and straightening

• Sharpening and noise reduction

• ReShade and in-game filters

• Minor removal of small dust spots or imperfections

• AI upscaling tools used solely to increase resolution (not to generate content)

Any manipulation that alters the fundamental composition or content of the image is prohibited:

• Adding elements not present in the original scene (skies, clouds, rain, characters, objects)

• Removing significant elements from the scene

• Heavy photo compositing or blending multiple images

• AI-generated imagery or AI-generated content added to the photo

The PMAs reserve the right to request original files for verification.

Yes. The use of ReShade and in-game post-processing filters is permitted, provided the core photographic content remains authentic to the game scene.

AI tools are permitted only for upscaling resolution or reducing noise. AI-generated imagery — where content is synthesised or invented by AI — is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification.

All submissions are first reviewed by the PMAs team for rule compliance and shortlisted as finalists. A panel of leading gaming industry experts then evaluates each finalist across three criteria:

• Creativity — originality and artistic vision

• Composition — technical skill and framing

• Adherence to category — how well the photo fits the theme

Judging is fully anonymous — judges do not see who submitted each photo, and judges do not have access to each other's selections.

Each category has 1 Winner and 1 Runner-Up. That's 12 recipients in total across all six categories.

Your photos may advance as finalists in multiple categories. However, an individual can only win one prize. If you have the top-ranked photo in more than one category, the prize for additional categories passes to the next-highest-ranked photographer.

All finalists, winners, and runners-up are revealed exclusively during the official Photo Mode Awards Show. Stay tuned to the website and social channels for the show date and viewing details. Prize winners are contacted after the announcement via the details provided during entry.

Winners and runners-up are announced during the official PMAs Awards Show, typically held in July or August. The exact date is announced on the PMAs website and social channels.

Yes. All judging decisions are final. No appeals or further correspondence will be entered into.

Each category Winner and Runner-Up receives a prize bundle featuring a curated selection of top video game titles and rare, unique merchandise from game developers and publishers. See the T&Cs page for the full prize breakdown for the current year.

The Creator of the Year winner receives an exceptional prize package including a featured article in the Photo Mode Awards annual eMagazine. Full details are available on the T&Cs page.

If a winner does not respond within a reasonable timeframe after being contacted, the prize may be offered to the next eligible entrant. Ensure the contact details and social accounts you provide during entry are current and monitored.

Physical prizes are shipped worldwide; however, logistical challenges may arise for winners in certain regions. The PMAs will work with affected winners individually to find alternatives where possible. Some digital prizes may also have regional or platform restrictions — alternatives will be assessed case-by-case.

People's Choice is a community-driven voting event that runs once the main submission window closes. The public votes to honour the best game developers behind photo modes, and to crown the Creator of the Year. Voting categories include:

• Best Action Game Photo Mode

• Best Adventure Game Photo Mode

• Best RPG Game Photo Mode

• Best Simulation Game Photo Mode

• Best Indie Game Photo Mode

• Creator of the Year

Once the main submission window closes, community voting opens. For each category, 9 shortlisted nominations are presented.

One vote is permitted per person, per category. No account is required to vote.

Any attempt to manipulate voting (bots, fake accounts, coordinated campaigns) will result in disqualification and removal of votes. Results are final.

People's Choice winners are announced between the last week of July and the beginning of August. Exact dates are posted on PMA social channels.

Creator of the Year honours an individual for their outstanding contributions to the virtual photography community. All submissions are reviewed by The PMAs team, and the Top 9 Creators are shortlisted based on their body of work, community impact, and the nomination rationale provided.

⚠️ Judges, organisers, and previous consecutive-year winners are not eligible.

People's Curator is a monthly, community-driven pathway into the Photo Mode Awards. Each month focuses on two official PMA categories. The PMAs team curates submissions, then the community votes in a 24-hour window. The winning photographer from each category advances directly to PMAs judging as a confirmed finalist.

Submissions open once per month, covering two categories at a time. Exact opening and closing dates are announced on the official PMAs social channels.

1. Submissions are reviewed by the PMAs team for quality, creativity, and category relevance

2. Nine (9) photos are shortlisted

3. Community voting opens for 24 hours only

4. The winner is announced on official PMAs social channels

5. Voting times are announced alongside the shortlisted entries

Yes. All People's Curator submissions must comply with full PMAs eligibility and submission rules. Non-compliant entries may be removed or disqualified at any stage.

If you win a People's Curator category, your entry automatically advances to PMAs judging for that category. You may not submit a second entry for that same category. You can still enter all other categories normally.

No. Advancing through People's Curator means your photo goes directly to judging — but the final decision rests with the judging panel. It does not guarantee a win.

No. Each creator can only win one People's Curator category per cycle.

No. If the same photo has previously reached the finalist stage in either the Photo Mode Awards or People's Curator, it is not eligible for resubmission. Any such entry will be discarded.

Please contact us and describe the issue in as much detail as possible — including the browser you're using, the device type, and a screenshot if relevant. Our team will get back to you as soon as possible.