The Perfect Picture Photography Contest

Information Rules

AnimeCon & Pixel Ronin Studio Present: The Perfect Picture Photography Contest An event AnimeCon hosted years ago is making its return, this time in collaboration with Pixel Ronin Studio! Are you a photographer who wants to showcase your work at a three-day convention and compete for exciting prizes? Don’t wait any longer and join The Perfect Picture Photography Contest!

Photographers are free to choose their own model and style, as long as the theme clearly connects to Japanese culture. Whether it's cosplay, a stunning kimono or elegant lolita fashion, both solo and group entries are welcome. AnimeCon 2026 carries the theme “Hidden Spirits”. This theme focuses on Japanese folklore and mythology, such as youkai and deities. The same theme applies to this competition for the best overall category The interpretation may be broad. You could go for a traditional Japanese atmosphere or a more thriller, horror or paranormal style.

Be sure to check the rules for our full submission guidelines.

Exhibition:
All submitted photos will be showcased during the event, where visitors can admire them in full detail. Submitted photos may also be used to promote the event; however, this excludes any use on merchandise. Please note that the winners will be selected on Sunday (nineteenth of April). To participate in the contest, you must have a valid day or weekend ticket for the event.

Judges & Prizes:

For this event, we have 2 judges:

The jury will primarily evaluate the following aspects:

Quality of the unedited photo (lighting, sharpness, etc.);
Post-processing;
Art direction (posing, composition, etc.);
How well the theme is represented (when participating for best overall photo)

The winners in each category will receive a three-day convention ticket for AnimeCon 2027. In addition, Cameranu has sponsored vouchers for each of the following categories. These vouchers can be used at their webshop or in physical stores for camera equipment or other eligible items.

Best Overall Photo (Hidden Spirits Theme) : €250 voucher;
Best Group Photo: €100 voucher;
Best Portrait: €100 voucher;

Message from Cameranu

AnimeCon is without a doubt one of the most visually striking events of the year, the place where Japanese culture and fantasy come to life, where months of dedication to costume-making all come together, and where every detail matters. For you as a photographer, this is the perfect moment to showcase your talent. At Cameranu, we wholeheartedly encourage you to seize that opportunity. As a community for image-makers, we believe every talent matters, and that the passion found in (cosplay) photography deserves to be captured and presented in the best possible way.

So dive confidently into this creative world, experiment with your shots, and let yourself be inspired, because as a proud sponsor of the AnimeCon Photography Contest, we can’t wait to see the unique story you’re going to tell.

Rules

Deadline: 20th of March 2026

Participant Requirements

Only photographers, amateurs and professionals alike are eligible to enter the competition, provided they hold an AnimeCon 2026 ticket (for one or more days);
All participants (photographers and models/cosplayers visible in the photo) must be at least 18 years old;
Only original works for which the participant holds all rights may be submitted. The participant is responsible for obtaining permission from all depicted individuals to avoid violations of portrait or privacy rights;
Photos previously posted on personal blogs or social media may be submitted;
Photos that have previously won a competition are not allowed;
The selected photo must be suitable for a general audience (no 18+ content);
To win best picture overall, Incorporating our Hidden Spirits theme is required.

File Requirements for Submissions

The submitted photo must not be older than 12 months;
Submit both the edited photo and the RAW (unedited) file;
Photos may be taken with any device capable of capturing still images (such as smartphones or digital cameras, including medium- and large-format cameras);
Editing with camera or photo-editing apps is allowed, provided that:
- At least 90% of the original photo remains intact;
- No digital backgrounds or 3D rendering are used;
- The photo is not created or modified with generative AI.
Both color and black-and-white photos are accepted;
Maximum file size: 20 MB per photo; format: JPEG, minimum of 150 dpi (recommended);
Resolution: at least 2000 pixels on the long edge, Color space: RGB;
The entrant must hold all rights to the final photo, including any post-processing.
Please send your submission with your name, telephone number, socials and a short description of your picture to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;
Use as subjected: 'PPPC_2026_ your_name' for both RAWs and edited works.

Signup

Send your submission before the 20th of March 2026 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and feel free to email any questions there as well!