SPE Awards + Grants

SPE has a longstanding tradition of recognizing, and inspiring the achievements of its members by offering annual scholarships, grants and awards. Awards are presented annually at the national conference.

Click here to view SPE's award history. 

SPE Honored Educator Award

Honored Educator 

The National Board of Directors of the Society for Photographic Education seeks nominations from the membership for the Honored Educator Award to be presented at our annual conference each year. 

 The criteria for selection of the Honored Educator are as follows:

 •  The recipient has made a significant contribution to the field of photographic education at any level.

 •  The contribution to the field could be made through classroom teaching, writing, publishing, museum education, or other areas of professional practice in the field of photography.

 •  The recipient is a career educator. There is no specific requirement for the number of years in the field, but 15 years would generally be seen as a minimum.

 •  The recipient has been a member of SPE.

 •  To be considered for the Honored Educator Award, the educator must be nominated by a member of SPE.

 Nominations should include a statement of nomination citing specifics about the educator's contributions to the field of photographic education (Max 500 words), and a CV/summary of the nominee's career.

SPE Insight Award

Insight Award 

The Society for Photographic Education offers the SPE Insight Award to recognize achievements of significant distinction made by individuals to the field of photographic education broadly defined. SPE's Insight Award symbolizes the realization of a national or international career that challenges, enriches, or expands our understanding of photography.  Photographers, as well as scholars, curators, writers, and others who contribute to the field  are eligible for this mark of recognition and distinction.

The Insight Award is an honorary designation without monetary stipend granted annually to an SPE member. (Membership is defined by five years of cumulative membership.) The Insight Award recipient shall demonstrate excellence in two or more of the following ways:

          • Innovative educational practice

          • Sustained mentoring of peers, colleagues, or students

          • Broad contribution to technical, critical, pedagogical, or creative aspects of the field

          • Breadth or depth of exhibition or publication

          • Sustained presence in the field

The designation will be conferred with the calendar year (e.g. 2021 SPE Insight Award) in which it is awarded. The honor carries no end date, and anyone so honored will be included in all subsequent lists of Insight Awardees. 

The award recipient will be selected by SPE's Board of Directors and announced at the annual conference. Conference attendance is not a requirement to receive the award, though the winner will be informed of the honor in advance.

Members of the organization's Board of Directors are not eligible to be nominated during their tenure on the Board, but may nominate or provide support letters. Members of SPE's Awards and Recognition Committee may not nominate nor provide support letters.

SPE Imagemaker Award

Recognition of excellence for the highest ranked annual conference proposal in the Imagemaker category, the SPE Imagemaker Award recipient receives a cash prize, plus a one-year membership to SPE and an annual conference pass. 

SPE High School Educator Award

Recognition of excellence for the highest ranked annual conference proposal submitted by a High School Educaotr. The High School Educator Award recipient receives a cash prize, a one-year membership to SPE, and an annual conference pass.

SPE Student Awards for Innovations in Imaging

All SPE student members are eligible to apply for a scholarship to offset the cost of attending SPE's annual conference. Awards are offered based on merits of submitted portfolios and include a travel stipend to attend the annual conference, an annual conference fee waiver, and a one-year membership to SPE. Jurors will seek to award work that demonstrates the most innovative and unique uses of photographic techniques. All lens-based technology is eligible (including video), as well as photo-based cameraless technologies.

APPLY TODAY

Silver Gelatin Travel Award

All SPE Senior Members are eligible to apply for an award to offset the cost of attending SPE's annual conference. Awards are offered based on contributions to the field and need. Awards include a travel stipend ($1,000.00) to attend the annual conference and a conference fee waiver for SPE's 63rd Annual Conference: Catalyst for Exchange. 

Submissions will be accepted by Google Form. You will be asked to submit a recent CV and a paragraph establishing need (Maximum 500 words). How will attending the conference impact you? How will this award enable you to attend this year's conference? 

Awardee is expected to attend the full conference, and will receive a conference registration waiver. 

The Awards & Recognition Committee will meet to select this year's recipient. The awardee will be recognized at the national conference. 

This award is supported by a generous donation from Colleen Mullins and anonymous contributors.

APPLY TODAY

Freestyle Focus Forward Award

The Freestyle Focus Forward Award is a bridge award to support recent graduates of photography programs to further develop their practices. The award is a cash award of $2500 and a gift certificate value of $500 to Freestyle Photo & Imaging Supplies. 

Submissions will be accepted by Google Form. Faculty are asked to submit the CV and website of the nominee, as well as a statement of nomination (500 words maximum). The statement of nomination should address the potential of the nominee to contribute to the field of photography, and the need for this award to support the nominee's burgeoning practice. How will this money benefit the student in furthering their progression towards the profession?

 The criteria for selection of the Freestyle Focus Forward Award are as follows:

 •  The recipient is a recent graduate of an undergraduate or graduate degree program (within 5 years), focusing on photography.

 •  The recipient demonstrates merit and potential to develop a significant professional practice in the field of photography.

 •  There is an established need for this award to support the nominee's practice.

 •  The recipient has been a member of SPE.

 •  The recipient must be nominated by a member of SPE.

This award is generously funded by Freestyle Photographic Supply

NOMINATE A FORMER STUDENT