The primary subject of the photograph must be a person (or a group of people), focusing closely on the face, facial expression, gaze, and character of the individual.

Focus: The objective is to capture the personality, mood, identity, or emotion of the subject. Judging will emphasize lighting, composition, depth of field, and the connection established between the photographer and the model.

Style and Settings: Studio (staged) portraits, environmental portraits, headshots, candid portraits, and fashion/fine art photography focused on the human face and body language are all permitted. Entries can be in color or monochrome.

Not Allowed: Images where the person is merely an incidental or minor element in a landscape or architectural setting (where the character and facial features are lost), or portraits generated entirely by Artificial Intelligence (AI).