AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC PRIZE 2025

PSC STUDENT ANNA LUSCOMBE WINS AIPP STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2020

PSC Student Anna Luscombe wins Student of the Year 2020 in the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) Silver Lining Awards! She is in her final year of studying our Advanced Diploma in Photography program.

Anna’s new title has catapulted her onto the radar of Australia’s contemporary visual arts scene. Studying at PSC has allowed her to explore everything from artistic portraiture to landscape photography and digital imaging.

Anna has overcome many hurdles in her life including dyslexia, which a lot of her work addresses. Her AIPP winning image was taken on a cold wintery day in a remote location at the base of Mt. Buller. The photo is of a ski patrol hut, inconspicuous to most, but not Anna and her eye for beauty even in the most desolate of places.

PSC STUDENT AIMEE LIPSCOMBE WINS PORTRAIT AND OVERALL RUNNER UP CATEGORIES IN CAPTURE MAGAZINE'S AUSTRALIASIA'S TOP EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHERS 2020

After many years working as an online producer for ABC News, she decided to change course and study at Photography Studies College, in Melbourne. She is currently in the final year of her Part-Time Advanced Diploma in Photography. Her passion is portraiture, and her most recent work is a deeply personal exploration of her home life.

PSC LECTURER ALANA HOLMBERG'S PORTRAIT OF HER SISTER GRETA WINS THE NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PRIZE 2019

"Pregnancy carried my sister into a new chapter of her life and she welcomed it warmly. Effortlessly. Ready for things to change. We’d spent much of our late twenties debating the ‘right time’, if there was even such a thing, but she’d found it. This portrait is an attempt to depict the tranquillity in Greta’s transition into motherhood, and her trust in the future." were Alana's accompanying words in her entry for the prize.

Alana's portrait is a simple beauty that is admirable, a true inspiration in documentary photography, and her winning is no surprise for us, out of 40 finalists that participated in the prestigious National Photographic Portrait Prize 2019.

PSC STUDENT JAMES BUGG WINS $50,000 MORAN CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHIC PRIZE.

It is with great pride that PSC announces our 2017 final year student James Bugg has been awarded the $50,000 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize for 2018 for his portrait titled Zach.

Of James’ photography, and his subject Zach, Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize judge Jon Jones had this to say, “...a beautifully observed, subtle and thought-provoking contemporary portrait. His direct gaze and awkward stance, surrounded by the discarded pots and garden ornaments that speak of a different time, offers a glimpse of Australian society rarely visible.”

The portrait is part of a wider series 'The Pines' which James completed as part of his Bachelor of Photography degree, in 2017, at PSC.

PSC also congratulates current Masters student Jo Cripps, and PSC teacher and mentor Katrin Koenning for also both being selected as finalists.

HODA AFSHAR'S PORTRAIT OF BEHROUZ BOOCHANI WINS THE 2018 BOWNESS PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE

PSC lecturer, Hoda Afshar, wins the Bowness Photography Prize with her photograph of Behrouz Boochani, taken on Manus Island in 2018. This is a huge achievement for her as an artist but also for the message that her work delivers, beyond her own career aspirations, as she stated upon winning the prize. We are really proud to have witnessed this important recognition for Hoda and her work.

‘Winning the Bowness Photography Prize with this portrait of Behrouz Boochani is not only a glorious moment in my career as an artist, but also a confirmation of the trust that I have always placed in the power of art to change the world through changing the way we see it. The Bowness Prize is a record of our current times, as seen through the lens of a group of unique visionaries. The selection of works on display every year shows us what is at stake, and receiving this award is for me a testament to the fact that what is at stake today is our humanity. I hope that winning this prize will contribute, in some way, to redrawing the lines that divide us and those who have been placed outside the safe borders of our human community.’ – Hoda Afshar, 2018 Bowness Photogrpahy Prize recipient

PSC STUDENT WINS 2018 AIPP VICTORIAN EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR!

Agata Mayes, a final year Advanced Diploma student swept up the 'AIPP 2018 Emerging Photographer of the Year' category with a series of emotive and surreal images. Agata’s photography explores the fragility of the human condition with sensitivity and she draws inspiration from classical painting and music to create her mystical and inspiring images.

The prestigious Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) Victorian Professional Photography Awards sponsored by Epson, were held at Eleven40 Studio and Gallery in Melbourne in April 2018.

Over 900 entries were received in 16 categories, with the standards exceptionally high this year and the awards fiercely coveted.

ELLI BARDAS WINS THE INAUGURAL MARTIN KANTOR PORTRAIT PRIZE AT THE BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FOTO BIENNALE 2017

Advanced Diploma of Photography student Elli Bardas won the inaugural Martin Kantor Portrait Prize!! She succeeded with her image of her aunt Vicki Vidor; a board member at the Lighthouse Foundation. Elli’s image was originally created for her second-year assignment, printed by our wonderful print master Peter Hatzipavlis. Elli has won the $15,000 cash prize,the Ballarat International Foto Biennale acquisitive award saw more than 150 other entries and 27 other finalists.

Judge Naomi Cass said, “This portrait stands within a tradition of black and white portraiture, maybe reminiscent of 1960s, and as the sitter leans toward us we are invited in. The subject is a mature and beautiful woman and we can see in this open face something of an inner light, perhaps life well lived, and her hands are active hands that have lived and worked.”

Congratulations again to Elli for this beautiful achievement.

AUSTRALIA’S NO 1 PHOTOGRAPHY COLLEGE FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE YEARS

Photography Studies College (Melbourne) has been awarded the major award for excellence in photographic education for six consecutive years.

Julie Moss, Managing Director of PSC was acknowledged on the night for her over 30 years of outstanding achievements in photography and photography education with the prestigious AIPP Honorary Fellow award.

2016 –AUSTRALIA’S NO 1 PHOTOGRAPHY COLLEGE & AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENT OF THE YEAR

The 2016 Australian Institute of Professional Photography Australian (AIPP) 'Tertiary Photography Institution of the Year' was awarded to PSC.

PSC’s final year Bachelor of Photography Student, Tayla Nuss-Soeharto took out the prestigious '2016 AIPP Australian Photography Student of the Year' Award.

2015 - AUSTRALIA’S NO 1 PHOTOGRAPHY COLLEGE

For the fifth consecutive year, PSC has been awarded the prestigious AIPP Australian Tertiary Institution of the Year award. This is a fantastic achievement and a well-deserved honour for our students and staff!

“This is such a wonderful achievement for PSC! These industry awards judge student work from all over Australia – for the fifth year running to take out the top national education award – is such a huge endorsement of what we do, and the fantastic skills and unique vision of our students and teachers. We are so proud of our amazing students who are the new, upcoming creative professionals of the future.” Julie Moss – PSC Managing Director.

2015 - PSC BACHELOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY TEACHER HODA AFSHAR WINS THE NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PRIZE

The National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition held at the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) Canberra is selected from a national field of entries that reflect the distinctive vision of Australia’s aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

From 2500 entries the judges shortlisted 44 images to be exhibited at the NPG in Canberra and these will be on display until the 8th June and then travel to galleries all over Australia.

Hoda’s winning image is from a series called ‘The Smell of Narenj’ that Hoda made during a recent trip to her country of birth, Iran.

2014 – PSC’S OUTSTANDING REPUTATION AS THE LEADING AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATOR CONTINUES AS WE ARE AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGED BY INDUSTRY!

On 12 December 2014, PSC was awarded another top industry award, the ACMP '2014 Australian Educational Institution of the Year'. This is a national award that draws from photography students in universities and colleges all around Australia. Our final year student Marion Abada won the Documentary/Sport category and Hung Van another final year student won the Advertising/Food category. It was a brilliant effort and reinforces the outstanding quality and cutting-edge ability of our students, teachers and courses.

A number of our students were awarded 'Runners Up' in the following categories: Sarita Marwaha, Documentary/Sport, Allison Rose, Fashion and Advertising/Food and Sevim Dogan Ozkan, Portraiture. Our student achievements and Institution award further cements PSC as Australia’s best Photography College.

2014 – INDUSTRY SAYS PSC IS AUSTRALIA’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY COLLEGE!

For the fourth consecutive year, at the 2014 Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards this year held in Sydney, PSC took out the excellence in photography education and training award: the 2014 AIPP Australian Tertiary Institution of the Year. Congratulations to all our award-winning students who continue to shine on the national photography stage!

This top national award continues on from the win earlier this year in the AIPP Epson state awards. In May, final year commercial major student Marion Abada was announced as winner of the '2014 AIPP Epson Victorian Student Photographer of the Year', this was a wonderful achievement in a very talented competitive field.

Marion said when told of her win, “I was really surprised and honoured to find out that I was awarded AIPP Victorian Student Photographer at the 'Victorian Professional Photographer of the Year ' this year – especially given the talent pool that makes up the students in my year – and I am very happy to be this years recipient.
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In April 2014, PSC recent commercial graduate Graeme Passmore was announced as the winner of the Advertising category of Australia’s Top Emerging Photographers Awards.

Theses national awards are run by Capture Magazine and recognise, encourage and promote talented Australian photographers in the early stages of their careers. Congratulations Graeme!

2013 - PSC SCOOPS THE POOL AT THE AIPP AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

There was much excitement and festivity at the gala Australian Professional Photography Awards dinner, held in Melbourne on 16 September 2013. PSC was awarded for the third consecutive year the '2013 AIPP Australian Tertiary Institution of the Year', for excellence in photographic education and training.

Final year Art Major student, Emma McEvoy won the prestigious '2013 AIPP Australian Student Photographer of the Year', with her beautifully crafted and meaningful water images.

Bachelor of Photography pathway graduate, Kimberley Munro took out the '2013 AIPP Australian Emerging Photographer of the Year'.

2012 - PSC WINS THE BEST COLLEGE IN NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY INDUSTRY AWARDS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

At the gala Canon Australian Professional Photography Awards night, held in Melbourne on 28 May 2012, Australia's peak photography industry body – the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) – awarded PSC the national '2012 Tertiary Institution of the Year' for excellence in Photographic education and training. This is the second consecutive year that PSC has taken out this national award. PSC also took out the award for 'best college in the ACMP Student Photographers of the Year awards', with Kim Preston awarded the 'Advertising Category'.

2011 - PSC AWARDED AIPP NATIONAL TERTIARY INSTITUTION OF THE YEAR AND ACMP NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF THE YEAR

PSC scooped the pool at the 2011 AIPP and ACMP national industry awards held in May receiving the excellence awards, and national tertiary institution award.

Kimberley Munro was awarded runner up, 'AIPP Australian Student Photographer of the Year' and also won the ACMP commercial category.

2010 - PART TIME STUDENT WINS THE AIPP VICTORIAN PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Deborah Mullins came to PSC to study photography from a career in the health sector. She was in her third year of the course when she took out the ‘AIPP Victorian Photography Student of the Year’ award. In receiving this major award, Deborah thanked PSC for providing a supportive environment that allowed her to nurture her creativity.