Since its inception in 2003, the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize has become one of the most prestigious platforms for contemporary portrait photography. Hosted annually by London’s National Portrait Gallery, the Prize celebrates how the human face – through light, shadow and gaze – can carry stories, provoke empathy and reflect our very being. Portraiture has long fascinated humanity, from the early masters of the Renaissance who laboured to capture the soul in painted form to today’s photographers who distil identity into a single frame. After centuries, we remain captivated by its power to pause time, convey emotion and connect us across divides. The Prize continues this lineage by showcasing works that reveal not just likeness but character, history and context.
Over the years the Prize has elevated photographers whose work continues to influence and inspire. In 2016 Claudio Rasano won first prize for Katlehong Matsenen 2016, part of his series Similar Uniforms: We Refuse to Compare. His portrait of a Johannesburg schoolboy explored individuality beneath outward conformity, showing how identity can shine through even in structures designed to standardise. The following year César Dezfuli captured first prize with Amadou Sumaila, portraying a young man rescued in the Mediterranean. Dezfuli’s portrait conveys resilience, relief and the weight of an uncertain future.
In 2018 Alice Mann won first prize with her Drummies series, portraits of all-female drum majorette teams in South Africa’s Western Cape. Mann celebrated youth and community with vivid composition that blends documentary realism with aesthetic care. The following year Pat Martin received first prize for Goldie (Mother), an intimate series documenting his late mother in moments of care and vulnerability. Martin’s portraits reveal the complexity of familial bonds, capturing memory, love and loss with nuance and empathy. In 2020 Alys Tomlinson’s Lost Summer prom-portrait series earned first prize. Her images of adolescents at their last school proms captured a sense of fleeting youth and the threshold of adulthood.
These past winners illustrate the Prize’s enduring commitment to photographers whose work transcends simple likeness. Their portraits are technically accomplished but also deeply human, revealing stories, emotions and social context. They underscore why the Taylor Wessing Prize has become a vital platform for portraiture: it celebrates not only the face but the life behind it. This foundation sets the stage for the remarkable new works recognised in 2025.
Swedish photographer Martina Holmberg wins first prize for Mel, part of her series The Outside of the Inside. The series documents people with facial and physical differences, highlighting discrimination they may face and celebrating diversity. In this portrait Mel, a burn survivor, gazes thoughtfully out of a window, her repaired skin illuminated by cool, soft light. Holmberg’s composition allows viewers to reflect on the sitter’s resilience and interior life rather than the injury that shaped her. Judges praised the combination of technical skill and compassion, noting how the portrait draws the viewer into a quietly powerful narrative.
Second prize goes to London based photographer Luan Davide Gray for We Dare to Hug, from the series Call Me by Your Name. Gray’s work explores intimacy, marginalisation and the ways identity is formed through connection. The black-and-white portrait depicts two men in their 60s embracing tenderly, one softly holding the other’s bare chest while kissing him on the cheek. Their interlocking forms create a sculptural composition, emphasised by the contrast of light and shadow. Judges noted the rarity of such a depiction of mature intimacy and praised the clarity with which the image communicates love and trust.
Third prize is awarded to Byron Mohammad Hamzah for Jaidi Playing, from his series Bunga dan Tembok (The Flower and The Wall: The Stateless Youths of Semporna). Hamzah, who teaches photography and art to stateless youth in Sabah, Malaysia, captures Jaidi resting his head in another child’s hands. The portrait offers a moment of calm and connection within the uncertainty of life as a stateless child. Hamzah’s broader project celebrates the resilience and creativity of these young people, highlighting both vulnerability and pride. Judges were drawn to the way the portrait evokes deeper questions about the community and context beyond the frame.
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Commission is awarded to Hollie Fernando for Boss Morris, part of her series Hoydenish. The portrait depicts an all-female Morris dancing troupe gathered outdoors in folkloric dress with wildflower-inspired makeup. Shot over the summer solstice, the image evokes both the traditions of the dance and a contemporary reinterpretation of ritual and femininity. Fernando combines influences from nature and classical painting, creating a visually rich and symbolic scene. Judges praised the photograph’s otherworldly qualities and the intricate details that draw the viewer into the narrative.
Also on display is a new portrait of activist Lady Phyll by Jesse Navarre Vos, winner of the 2024 Photographic Commission. Vos collaborated with Lady Phyll to create a portrait that honours heritage and activism. She stands wrapped in a kente cloth passed down through generations with floral elements arranged to reflect strength and continuity. The portrait was taken at Home House, a former Georgian townhouse now used as an inclusive social space, aligning with Lady Phyll’s advocacy for accessibility and justice. This work expands the exhibition’s exploration of identity, visibility and community, complementing the 2025 prize winners’ themes of resilience and connection.
The 2025 Prize received 5,910 submissions from 2,054 photographers across 51 countries, demonstrating its global reach and the universal appeal of the portrait. Through the intimate, the tender and the courageous, the exhibition highlights how contemporary photographers continue to explore human experience. Supported by Taylor Wessing, the National Portrait Gallery maintains its commitment to innovation and excellence in photographic portraiture. The 2025 winners remind us why the portrait remains a powerful medium: it captures humanity, sparks empathy.
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2025 is at National Portrait Gallery, London until 8 February: npg.org.uk
Words: Simon Cartwright
Image Credits:
1&5. Jaidi Playing from the series Bunga dan Tomboy (The Flower and The Wall: The Stateless Youths of Semporna), April 2025 © Byron Mohammad Hamzah.
2. Mel from the series The Outside of the Inside, October 2024 © Martina Holmberg.
3. Boss Morris from the series Hoydenish, April 2024 © Hollie Fernando.
4. Jules and Marie by Olly Burn, 2024 © Olly Burn.
6. The Farmhands Son by William Sheepskin, 2024 © William Sheepskin.
7. Ottavia Sotto Casa Mia by Elena Bianca Magari from the series Un Mondo Proprio (A World Of One’s Own), 2025 © Elena Bianca.
