Shower of awards for Swedish photographers - won 14 statuettes in photo competition

Several Swedish photographers participated in the photo competition "The Society of Photographers 20x16" Print Competition 2026" which is annually organized by The Society of Photographers in London - together with the "2025 Monthly Image Competition" where you can compete in 12 rounds, one each month of the year.

In the competition with the 17 categories that were decided last week, 243 images with 80 points or higher from the judges were voted forward. Of these, 78 images were taken by Swedish photographers, of which a total of 21 final images ended up among the top three. In the "Nouveau" category, all finalists were from Sweden. 

Among the winners were Therese Asplund, Laila Villebeck, Martina Wärenfeldt, Anna Almén, Carina Heed, Lena Lee, Arne Bivrin, Emelie Blondell, and Elin Sommerfeld. In total, Sweden was awarded 14 statuettes - and portrait photographer Therese Asplund won the title Photographer of the Year 2025 and a total of five statuettes: Overall Photographer of the Year, Pet portrait, Children, and Fashion (2 awards). 

- It's so incredibly fun to become Overall Photographer of the Year, I probably didn't think it would happen. I would say I'm surprised, I thought that this year I don't have as strong images as last year when I went all in on the competition. And a picture of four chicks too, it pays off to do things differently, says Therese Asplund.

The judges were unanimous about the picture and believed that the characters - the birds - with their different personalities make the picture so good.

How did the picture come about?

- I went all in on birds. One year I photographed fashion images with a model who had hens, and it looked so good with the studio light on the birds and wings. Then, of course, it took a few tries before it became good, then I went on with chicks. I found the branch in the forest and underneath it was soft in case they fell. We set them up there and one flew away - it took its time, explains Therese about her picture.

Below you can see more pictures from those who were awarded in the competition:

Laila Villebeck, who last year took home Overall Photographer of the Year 2025, this year took home the title Newborn Photographer of the Year, Creative Portrait Photographer of the Year, and a second place in Overall Print Competition.

Martina Wärenfeldt won Commissioned Portraits (two fine images) and Maternity, as well as shared second and third place with two images in Children.

Anna Almén won the Illustrative category and the annual Open Avant Garde competition, as well as shared second place in the categories Visual Narrative, Open, Architectural, Landscape, and Monochrome.
 

Carina Heed won shared silver in the category photojournalism.

Lena Lee won shared silver in individual portrait.

Arne Bivrin won the category nouveau and in-camera artistry, silver in environmental awareness and the natural world - wildlife.

Elin Sommerfeld and Emelie Blondell won shared silver in nouveau.

John Hellström received shared second and third place in the categories the natural world and wedding.

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