Photobooks are a great way to honour your images in print form, as well as create a legacy for yourself and your photography. 

To celebrate the medium and encourage members to extend their creative skills in curating, pairing and sequencing a series of images, the Queensland Camera Group hosts a biennial photobook competition (in the off year to the Collections Exhibition).

The competition aims to celebrate excellence, originality and fitness-for-purpose in photo book creation, and gives entrants the opportunity to practice their layout and design skills as well as providing an opportunity for enhanced storytelling. 

ENTRY PERIOD

Opens:  Now

Closes:  Thursday 2 July

Winners Announced:  Saturday 25 July, 2026 at Scrumptious Reads Bookshop (downstairs gallery).

TWO CATEGORIES

There are two categories in which members can enter a book. They mirror the categories offered by the Australian Photographic Society so that members may enter this free competition, held later in the year, if they wish.

Open
The Open category provides members the opportunity to make the book they would like to create. The subject is open, giving members complete creative freedom in their choice of theme, genre, or approach. Books may be narrative or conceptual, documentary or expressive, tightly edited or exploratory in nature.

Text may be included where it supports the work—such as titles, captions, or short written reflections—but is not compulsory. The emphasis remains on the strength of the photographic work and how effectively it is shaped into a cohesive book form.

The photo book should demonstrate thoughtful editing, sequencing, and design choices that elevate the images and create a compelling viewing experience from beginning to end.

Travel
This category encourages members to showcase their travel photography through the medium of the photo book. Rather than a collection of highlights, entrants are encouraged to think in terms of story, place, and experience.

Books may explore a destination, a journey, a culture, or a particular aspect of travel—such as, but not limited to, people, landscape, daily life, or a personal response to being in an unfamiliar environment.

The strongest books will likely move beyond a strict replication of a travel itinerary. They will communicate a broader sense of observation and intent, using sequencing and pacing to guide the viewer through the travel experience.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Photo books will be assessed for excellence and fitness-for-purpose across the following areas:

  • Photography
    Technical competence, visual strength, and expressive quality of the images.

  • Selection, pairing, and sequencing of images
    How well the images work together, including sequencing, pairings, visual flow, rhythm, and narrative development.

  • Design, layout, and typography
    The effectiveness of page design, use of space, and any text elements in supporting the photographic content.

  • Originality of concept and design
    The clarity and distinctiveness of the idea, and the degree to which the book reflects the maker’s intent and voice.

  • Engaging visual narrative
    The ability of the book to hold the viewer’s attention and communicate a cohesive visual story from beginning to end.

  • Physical construction
    Paper choice, size, cover material, binding, and finishes, and how these choices enhance the overall work.

 JUDGES
To be advised.

HOW TO ENTER

  • Entry is free

  • Submit a physical book and completed Entry Form to the competitions officer before the deadline

  • There is a limit of one book per category

  • There is no limit on the book's subject, length, size or format

  • There is no limit on the date the photographs were taken or the date the book was designed

  • Entries must not have been entered in the previous QCG photobook competition

  • Entrants must be members of the Queensland Camera Group

Click HERE to complete an Entry Form


FOCUS GROUP MEETING & OTHER RESOURCES

The process of planning and creating a photobook requires careful thought and planning.  The club will be providing a special Focus meeting on how to get started on a successful photobook.  We’ll also investigate other learning opportunities that will help you on your photobook journey.  For inspiration see the winners of the Australian Photographic Society's Book Competition and discover some photo book design tips here.


WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT – Saturday 25 July, 2026

 A special get-together for all QCG members and their partners is planned so that we can all view the 2026 photobook entries and enjoy some hospitality together.  The winners will be announced at this event at this event.     

QCG Photobook Competition Awards Presentation 2019


SUBMISSION ADDRESS

Submit a physical book and completed online Entry Form to either of these addresses before the deadline:

Postal:

Queensland Camera Group Photobook Competition
c/o Anne Pappalardo
20 Hawthorne Ave, Ashgrove, Qld 4060

Hand Delivered:

Hand to Anne Pappalardo at any QCG face-to-face event at SPACE hall, Cnr Branton Street & Paley Street, Kenmore Hills, Brisbane, Qld.

BOOK RETURNS

All books will be returned after the winner announcement, either:

  • the awards ceremony, at its conclusion, or

  • SPACE Hall, or

  • collected from Anne Pappalardo, 20 Hawthorne Ave, Ashgrove.  

Australian Photographic Society Book Competition

The Australian Photographic Society also hosts an annual photo book competition. Details on when the entries close for the 2026 competition will be advised. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Anne Pappalardo

annepappalardo67@gmail.com

0407 081098

QCG Photobook Competition Awards Presentation 2019