Photoshoot Competition

Photo: Vikiro

• Competition application opens: June 1 at 18:00
• Competition application closes: August 2 at 23:59
• All applicants will be informed about the competition spots by August 12.
• The winners will be announced at Tracon during the Sunday cosplay competition on September 6.

The Photoshoot Competition has two categories: Beginners and Experienced

You may participate in the Beginner category if:

• You have not placed in previous photoshoot competitions.
• You have less than three years of active photography experience.
• You do not have formal education in photography.
• Photography is not your profession.

Please apply for the Experienced category if you meet one or more of the criteria above, or if you personally feel you belong in the Experienced category.

In both categories, the judges will award three prizes: Best Technique, Best Visual Expression, and Best Theme.

The Best Technique award focuses especially on the technical aspects of the photo, such as lighting, composition, model placement, and editing.

For the Best Visual Expression award, the judges are looking for a photo that evokes emotion and creates a vivid, immersive atmosphere. The photograph may tell a compelling story or stand out through its artistic impact and emotional depth.

The Best Theme award will be given to the photo that best expresses Tracon’s annual theme. This year’s theme is: Written in the Stars! This can be interpreted literally or explored through a more abstract approach using color, composition, atmosphere, or storytelling. We encourage photographers and models to be creative with their interpretations, and we are excited to see the unique visions inspired by this year’s theme.

The judges will take the skill level of each category into account during evaluation. Photos in the Experienced category will be judged in greater technical and artistic detail than those in the Beginner category.

Audience Favorite. To top it all off, the audience will also get to vote for their favorite! The Audience Favorite award will be given to the photo that receives the most votes within its category. Voting opens during the event week and remains open until the cosplay competition award ceremony on Sunday.

• Applications are open from June 1 at 18:00 to August 2 at 23:59. Photos submitted outside the application period will be automatically rejected. All applicants will be informed of the results by August 17, and the winners will be announced at Tracon on Sunday, September 7. 
• Application must be completed only in the manner specified by the organizer. More detailed application instructions can be found below.
• Only one (1) image may be submitted and entered into the competition per contestant. You may only participate in one category.
• The contestant is the photographer who has also edited the photo. The editor may not be a different person from the photographer. The contestant may not be the model appearing in the photo unless it is a self-portrait.
• The contestant must have permission from the photographed individuals, as well as from the shooting location.
• Photographers or models under the age of 18 must have permission from a guardian to participate.
• Finalists are not required to attend Tracon in person, but if you wish to attend the event, the finalist must purchase a ticket to the event themselves.
• One seat can be reserved for the finalist for the Sunday cosplay competitions. The seat is reserved only for people participating in the making of a competition photo, i.e. the photographer or model.
  • In order to reserve a place, a list of names must be submitted to cosplay organizers.
  • When reserving a seat, the competitor must have at least a Sunday ticket to the event.

• The contest photo must be a cosplay photograph.
• The photo may be new, old, or previously published. However, photos that have already been entered into photography competitions or won any awards, will not be accepted.
• Contestants must submit both the edited image and the original raw image exactly as it came from the camera.
  • The raw image may be in RAW format (for example DNG, PEFF, or CR2) or an unprocessed JPEG/TIFF file. The finished image must be submitted as JPG or PNG.
• The source material for the character(s) used is unrestricted, provided it comes from a licensed source. Original designs or OC characters (original fictional characters) are not allowed. Custom player characters from licensed sources are allowed, provided that the contestant can provide screenshots of the outfit in question (for example, an FFXIV Warrior of Light player character).
• The cosplay costumes visible in the photos will not be judged separately. Costumes may be either handmade or purchased.
  • However, the costumes may be evaluated as part of the photo’s overall presentation and visual cohesion. The main point is the recognizability of the characters.
• Generative AI may not be used in the photo in any form.
• If you use photo manipulation, you must submit all related source elements compiled into a PDF file along with your application, as well as the source material.
  • You must have permission to use these elements and be able to prove it if requested.
• Adult material is prohibited. Judges and cosplay organizers reserve the right to disqualify  photos containing excessively graphic or inappropriate content.
• Photo quality must be good. Judges and organizers may disqualify technically poor-quality photographs.
• The minimum image resolution is 595 × 842 pixels.
• By participating in the competition, you agree that we may also display the unedited raw photo to the public. Please ensure that the model appearing in the photo also consents to this.

• Finalist photos will be published on the Tracon website and printed for display in the Tracon photoshoot exhibition at Tampere Hall. The photoshoot exhibition will be displayed from Friday to Sunday until the award ceremony.
  • After the competition, contestants may collect their printed photso according to the instructions provided by the cosplay organizers. 
  • Photographs will not be shipped separately after the event.
• By participating in the competition, you agree that Tracon has permission to use your photo for marketing purposes. Photos may be cropped for use in social media posts or other promotional materials. The photographer’s name will always be credited when the photo is used.

You can apply for the competition through the form available via the link once applications open. The form opens on June 1, 2026, at 18:00. Applications will be accepted until August 2 at 23:59. If a high volume of applications is received, the judges will hold a preliminary selection and choose 10 photographs from each category for the finals. All applicants will be informed of the selections no later than August 12.

Contestants must register on the Kompassi.eu service.

In case of problems or questions, you may contact cosplay@tracon.fi

Tracon’s committee is not permitted to participate in any cosplay competition.

Personal information of the participants will only be processed by the Cosplay Manager and the CosplayTeam of Tracon. In the competitions, the participants’ names or usernames will be announced according to their choices, as well as the information on the characters and shows.

The information will be processed according to the Data Protection Principles of Tracon. https://ry.tracon.fi/tietosuoja/rekisteriselosteet