EXHIBITION

+ PHOTO BOOK

OPEN CALL

SUBMISSION DEADLINE 26TH OCT 2026

SUBMIT YOUR SELF PORTRAITS HERE
SUBMIT YOUR SELF PORTRAITS HERE 
 SUBMISSION COST FOR ONE PHOTO FOR £13. £6 EVERY EXTRA PHOTO.
"A self-portrait can be anything: a meditation on the subconscious, a reflection on who we are or the communities we come from, or a creative manifestation of something we've dreamed of being.
This open call, exhibition, and accompanying photo book invites photographers from across the globe to reflect on what it means to be human in this often ominous second quarter of the 21st century.
Get creative and take a moment to look inward."
Matt Ford
El hardwick
bo quinn
Aaron Jay Young
Lucian Koncz
Sergey Skip
Matt ford

PRIZES

  • £500 cash. Winner only

  • Entry to the SELF PORTRAITS exhibition at MATT FORD STUDIO. Finalists only

  • Cover image on the SELF PORTRAITS photo book. Winner only

  • Work featured in the SELF PORTRAITS photo book. All semi finalists

  • Exclusive ‘On The Radar’ ZERO.NINE MAGAZINE feature. Winner only

  • Feature about your work in ZERO.NINE MAGAZINE‍ ‍1st, 2nd and 3rd prize

FINALISTS TO BE SELECTED BY

THE EXHIBITION

FRIDAY 11TH - MONDAY 14TH DEC 2026 (PRESS PREVIEW THURS 10TH)

"My interest in this theme started out personal. I began taking self-portraits as a way of expressing my own fears about AI, politics, and the future of my artistic career. In the process, I became fascinated by the concept of self-portraiture itself: how it can be about vanity, creativity, self-expression, or simply documenting where you are in your life. The subject matter opens up so many possibilities.
I'm grateful to be able to invite photographers from all over the globe to get involved, showing their work in my studio/gallery, online and in art book form. This is about supporting human creativity, self-expression and the next generation of photographic talent.
I hope the FAQs answer Any questions you might have, but feel free to email me if there's anything else you'd like to know about the project."
Matt Ford

  • £13 TO ENTER. INCUDES 1 PHOTOGRAPH

    EVERY PHOTO AFTER THAT IS A FURTHER £6

    *As an independent gallery with no outside funding, this fee goes directly towards covering our costs, not profit.

    THIS FEE SECURES YOUR ENTRY INTO THE ONLINE JUDGING ROUND. SELECTION FOR THE BOOK AND EXHIBITION IS BASED ON THE JUDGES' DECISION.

    ENTRY FEE IN NONE REFUNDABLE.

    IF YOU MAKE IT TO THE FINALS AND BECOME PART OF THE EXHIBITION, A FURTHER (OPTIONAL) £20 FOR EVERY PHOTO SHOWN IS REQUIRED TO COVER PRINTING AND EXHIBITION ADMIN. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO PAY THE EXTRA £20 PER PHOTO, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRINT AND SEND TYOUR OWN COPIES OF THE WORK. DELIVERY AND RETURN POST COSTS ARE COVERED BY YOUR SELF.

    THERE IS NO EXTRA FEE TO BE PART OF THE SELF PORTRAITS PHOTO BOOK.

  • AUG 3RD:‍ ‍EXHIBITION OPEN TO ENTER

    26TH OCT:‍ DEADLINE TO SUBMIT

    9TH NOV: SEMI FINALISTS ANOUNCED

    10TH DEC: BOOK LAUNCH + EXHIBITION PRIVATE VIEW + WINNERS ANOUNCED

    11TH - 14TH DEC: EXHIBITION OPEN TO PUBLIC

  • THE INITIAL SELECTION FOR ROUND ONE WILL BE DONE BY A TEAM OF FIVE CREATIVE PROFESSIONS BASED HERE IN LONDON.

    THE SELECTION WILL BE JUDGED ON ORIGINALITY, STORYTELLING, TECHNICAL SKILL, ARTISTIC MERIT AND EMOTIONAL IMPACT.

    THE JUDGING FOR THE FINALISTS AND WINNERS WILL BE DONE BY THE EDITORS OF ZERO.NINE MAGAZINE.

  • YOU MUST BE 18 0R OVER TO ENTER

    ANYBODY CAN ENTER FROM ANY COUNTY IN THE WORLD

    THE PROJECT IS OPEN TO ANYONE WITH A CAMERA AT ALL LEVELS OF SKILLS.

    IF YOUR SELF PORTRAIT HAS SOMETHING INTERESTING OR UNIQUE TO SAY OR IS VISUAL STUNNING, THEN ENTER IT.

  • BOTH DIGITAL AND ANALOG ARE WELCOMED.

    DISPOSABLE CAMERAS, IPHONE, HIGH END DSLR.

    WE ARE ALSO WELCOMING COLLAGE AND EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED MEDIA WORKS (THAT STILL INVOLVES SOME PART PHOTOGRAPHIC SELF PORTRAIT.

    DIGITALLY ENHANCED IMAGES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

    WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING AI GENERATED IMAGES.

    IMAGES MUST BE FROM THE PAST THREE YEARS.

  • YES.

    WORK WILL BE ON SALE AT THE EXHIBITION WITH A 25% FEE GOING TO THE STUDIO AND 75% GOING TO THE ARTIST.

    IF YOU GET THROUGH TO THE EXHIBITION, YOU CAN SET THE PRICE OF YOUR WORK AND WE WILL MANAGE THE SALE AT THE SPACE AND COVER THE COST OF UK POSTAGE AND PACKAGING.

  • THE EXHIBITION WILL BE AT MATT FORD STUDIO. GALLERY AND PHOTO STUDIO

    WE ARE BASED IN HACKNEY DOWNS STUDIO EAST LONDON

  • CONTACT ME HERE

ENTER NOW
ENTER NOW

DEADLINE: OCT 26TH.