Portraiture and photography have been linked since the medium's inception. What started with formal family Daguerreotype portraits in the 1840s developed into a centuries-old fascination with making and looking at photographs of people — a love that we see translated in the popularity of this award every year. The LensCulture Portrait Awards are open to photographers at all levels of experience and all interpretations of portraiture. Your work may be made in the studio with professional lighting or snapped on a smart-phone during your travels, what matters is not your method but your ability to move your audience. From quirky self-portraits to candid portrayals of family and friends, from staged and conceptual photographs of public figures to environmental portraits, we want to see your work! The winners of this year’s awards will be featured at the LensCulture Discoveries exhibition in New York City. Winners also receive extensive global media coverage, projection at several international photography festivals, cash prizes, and more. Our esteemed jurors are seeking compelling portraits, so don’t miss this opportunity to have your work seen — and chosen — by some of the most respected names in the industry.