Lovesick Media is excited to announce the launch of WA Gig Photo of the Year, a new competition celebrating the photographers who capture the heart of Western Australia’s live music scene.
Music photographers play a huge role in documenting our culture — from tiny local shows to packed-out venues — and this competition aims to recognise their impact.
There are two categories:
✦ Open Division — Gig Photo of the Year (2+ years experience)
✦ Emerging Photographer Award (less than 2 years shooting gigs)
Winners will receive a feature on the Lovesick website and socials, a framed print of their winning image, and additional prizes including merch packs and VIP photo pass opportunities.
Photographers can submit up to three images taken in WA between 1 January and 31 December of this year.
1. Eligibility
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Entrants must reside in Western Australia.
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Submitted photos must be taken within Western Australia between 1 January – 31 December of the competition year.
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Entrants may submit a maximum of three (3) images.
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Images must be created and owned by the entrant.
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AI-generated images or AI-composited elements are not permitted.
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Creative editing is allowed, including colour grading, black & white conversions, contrast adjustments, cropping, noise reduction, sharpening, lens corrections, and basic retouching.
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Artistic edits that enhance mood, colour, or style are permitted, provided the integrity of the original scene is maintained.
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Entrants must have permission to photograph the event and comply with venue/artist rules.
2. Categories
There are two entry categories:
2.1 Open Division — Gig Photo of the Year
For photographers who:-
Have 2 or more years experience shooting live music, or
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Regularly work professionally with artists, venues, festivals, media outlets, or publications.
2.2 Emerging Photographer Award
For photographers who:-
Have less than 2 years experience shooting live music, including students, hobbyists, first-time shooters, and early-career photographers.
Lovesick Media reserves the right to move an entrant to the appropriate category if necessary.
3. Winner Selection
3.1 Judging Panel-
Winners for both the Open Division and the Emerging Photographer Award are selected solely by a judging panel chosen by Lovesick Media.
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Judges evaluate images based on:
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Creativity
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Emotion + storytelling
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Technical quality
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Composition
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Overall impact
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Judges’ decisions are final and not open to appeal.
4. Open Division — Gig Photo of the Year (Winner)-
Feature interview on the Lovesick website
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Dedicated Instagram post
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Winning photo printed + framed
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Merch Pack
Emerging Photographer Award (Winner)
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Feature interview on the Lovesick website
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Dedicated Instagram post
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Winning photo printed + framed
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Merch Pack
5. Copyright & Usage-
Entrants retain full copyright ownership of their images.
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By entering, entrants grant Lovesick Media a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to:
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Feature the image on Lovesick’s website, social media, and promotional materials related to the competition.
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Display the image for finalist and winner announcements.
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Any use will always include credit to the photographer.
6. Disqualification
Lovesick Media may disqualify an entry if:-
The entrant breaches these terms
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The image is proven not to be the entrant’s work
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The image violates copyright or venue policies
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The entry contains offensive, discriminatory, or unsafe content
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Fraudulent voting or manipulation occurs
7. Privacy-
Personal information is collected solely for the purpose of administering the competition.
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Email addresses or personal details will not be sold or shared.
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Information may be used to notify entrants of results or future Lovesick announcements.
8. General-
By submitting an entry, entrants agree to these Terms & Conditions in full.
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Lovesick Media reserves the right to modify deadlines, prizes, or competition details if required, with notice posted on the competition page.
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The competition is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Instagram, Facebook, or any other platform.
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What counts as “experience”?
Experience means any time spent shooting live music intentionally — paid or unpaid.
It includes:
• Shooting for artists
• Shooting for venues
• Festival photography
• Street/club gigs
• Assignments for blogs, media outlets or student projects
Can I submit photos taken on a phone or compact camera?Yes. All cameras are welcome — phone, DSLR, mirrorless, film, point-and-shoot.
Can I submit photos taken before this year?
No. All entries must be taken within the current competition year.
Can I submit photos from international artists?
Absolutely — as long as the photo was taken in Western Australia.
What kind of editing is allowed?
Creative editing is welcome, including:
• Colour grading
• Black & white conversions
• Basic retouching
• Cropping
• Lens correctionsNot allowed:
• AI-generated content
• Composites
• Adding or removing major elements
• Manipulations that change the reality of the moment
Will my photos be posted publicly?Only if you reach the finalist stage or if you give us permission to feature your entry on our socials or website.
Do I keep the copyright to my images?Yes — you always retain full copyright.
By entering, you give Lovesick Media permission to share your images with credit for the purpose of promoting the competition.
How are winners selected?A panel of judges selected by Lovesick will choose the winners of the Open Division and Emerging Photographer Award.
Judging is based on:
• Creativity
• Emotion and storytelling
• Technical quality
• Composition
• Overall impact
When are winners announced?
Winners will be announced publicly once judging is completed in the first week of 2026.
Who can I contact if I have an issue or question?You can reach us anytime at: press@lovesick.media
You can reach us anytime at: press@lovesick.media