2025 iPhone Photography Award Winners Prove Any Phone Can Create Stunning Images
The 18th annual IPPAWARDS winners were selected from thousands of submissions by more than 140 photographers, with winning images captured on iPhone models ranging from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The 2025 iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) winners prove that any phone can create stunning images. Now in its 18th year, the competition drew thousands of submissions from more than 140 photographers across the globe, with winning images captured on iPhone models ranging from the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max to older models like the iPhone 7.
American photographer Jarod Peraza was named Photographer of the Year for his poetic image "Viajero Nocturno," taken in Villa de Leyva, Colombia. Shot on an iPhone 16 Pro Max, the photograph captures the silhouette of an older gentleman on the streets, illuminated by the yellow glow of a single streetlamp. Cinematic in its quality, the photograph keeps us guessing about what will happen next.
© Jarod Peraza (United States) — "Viajero Nocturno." Grand Prize, Photographer of the Year | IPPAwards 2025. Shot on iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Carol Addassi, also from the United States, earned First Place, Photographer of the Year for "Passage," a timeless black-and-white portrait of intimacy and reflection set beneath Central Park's arches in New York City.
© Carol Addassi (United States) — "Passage." First Place, Photographer of the Year | IPPAwards 2025. Shot on iPhone XS.
Thiago Bernardes de Souza of Brazil received Second Place for "Moto Cães," an exuberant glimpse of canine companionship on the open road in Brasília. The expression of the pups, combined with the beautiful sky in the background, makes this a perfect spontaneous iPhone photo.
© Thiago Bernardes de Souza (Brazil) — "Moto Cães." Second Place, Photographer of the Year | IPPAwards 2025. Shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Third Place honors went to Martha Nance (USA) for "Foggy Morning on the Corrotoman," a soft, dreamlike vision of Virginia's riverside serenity.
© Martha Nance (United States) — "Foggy Morning on the Corrotoman." Third Place, Photographer of the Year | IPPAwards 2025. Shot on iPhone 15 Pro.
Category Winners
These standout images are accompanied by 14 category winners and 522 honorable mentions that showcase the wide spectrum of iPhone photography. From abstract looks at architecture to stunning black-and-white images of whales, the winners inspire all of us to take out our phones and start capturing the world around us.
- Abstract: Sunny Cheng (USA) — "Liminal"
- Animals: Jayne Parker (New Zealand) — "Close Encounter"
- Architecture: Aleksandra Debiczak (United Kingdom) — Burano, Italy
- Children: Julia Zyrina (The Netherlands) — "When the chestnut trees bloom"
- Cityscape: Adrian Beasley (United Kingdom) — "The Timeless Tyne Bridge"
- Landscape: Jens Petersen (Germany) — "Lübeck Amazonas"
- Lifestyle: Leo Huang (Taiwan) — "Who lost the elephant balloon?"
- Nature: Mark Sarmiento (Australia) — "Winter Bamboos"
- Other: André Skagervik (Sweden) — "Winter Lines"
- People: Karolina Zielony (United Kingdom) — "Vibrant Colours of The Neighbourhood"
- Portrait: Valeria Cammareri (Italy) — "I Am The King"
- Series: Dominic Dähncke (Spain) — "Puzzle"
Source: CNET