About this opportunity
Conservation photography has a door problem. The assignments that build a career usually go to people who already have the credits, and this grant exists to break that loop. The Save Our Seas Foundation is offering two early-career photographers a US$2,000 prize each, then paying them for a three-week assignment to document one of the marine projects the foundation already funds.
The brief is wider than it sounds. The call focuses on the marine environment but is not limited to underwater photography, and the foundation asks applicants to think broadly, from wildlife and habitats to fisheries and coastal communities. What they are looking for is a storyteller who can pair strong imagery with an emotional narrative rather than a technically perfect picture of a fish.
The gate is experience, not passport. Applicants must have no more than five years of experience in a photography-related discipline, and the foundation states plainly that it wants to encourage women and gender-diverse applicants, people from the Global South, and communities historically underrepresented in the field. With more than 600 projects funded in over 100 countries, the story you end up photographing could sit close to home.
Applications opened on 30 September 2026 and close on 15 November 2026 at 18:00 CET. The form is a single stage online application with a few questions and two image sets: a portfolio of 20 images and a photo story of 10 images. Winners are announced in the last quarter of 2026, and the assignments run in 2027.
What you receive
- US$2,000 cash prize for each of the two winners
- A paid three-week photographic assignment documenting a Save Our Seas Foundation supported project
- Mentorship through the process from Thomas Peschak, Director of Storytelling at the foundation, with Kathy Moran and Jennifer Samuel
- A chance to showcase the work at an international conference or exhibition
- Each winning story published as a photo essay for the Save Our Seas Foundation
- Open to marine storytelling above the waterline as well as underwater work
Who can apply
- Open to early-career and emerging storytellers with no more than five years of experience in a photography-related discipline
- The call focuses on the marine environment but is not limited to underwater photography
- Subjects can range from wildlife and habitats to fisheries and coastal communities
- Women and gender-diverse applicants are especially encouraged, as are applicants from the Global South and from communities historically underrepresented in the field
- The foundation is looking for visual storytellers who blend eye-catching imagery with an impactful emotional narrative
- Only one application is accepted from any one applicant
Who should not apply
- Anyone holding another current Save Our Seas Foundation grant cannot apply for a new one
- A second application from the same applicant
- Applicants with more than five years of experience in a photography-related discipline
Documents to prepare
- A portfolio of 20 images
- A photo story of 10 images
- Answers to the short question set in the one-stage online application form
- A signed and returned SOSF Grant agreement if you are selected, which cannot be modified
How to apply
- Read the grant page on the Save Our Seas Foundation website and the funding guidelines and funding FAQ it links to
- Assemble a portfolio of 20 images and a photo story of 10 images that show how you carry a narrative
- Open the foundation grants portal at grants.saveourseas.com
- Complete the one-stage online application with its short question set and upload both image sets
- Submit before 15 November 2026 at 18:00 CET
- If you are selected, sign and return the SOSF Grant agreement by the deadline stated in the award notice
Selection process
- Two winners are selected for each grant
- All applications are reviewed by the Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant judging panel
- The panel is led by Thomas Peschak, National Geographic photographer and Director of Storytelling at the foundation, with Kathy Moran, formerly Deputy Director of Photography at National Geographic, and Jennifer Samuel, photo editor at The Washington Post
- Selections require final approval from the foundation Board of Directors
- Winners are announced in the last quarter of 2026 and the assignments take place in 2027
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- BOLD Science Communication Fellowship 2027
BOLD, the global platform for scientific knowledge on children's learning and development, is taking applications for its 2027 Science Communication Fellowship, a six month fully remote and part time fellowship for early career researchers, paid with a stipend of CHF 5,000. The fellowship page prints 31 October 2026 as the date applications close.
Questions applicants ask
Do I have to photograph underwater?
No. The call focuses on the marine environment but is explicitly not limited to underwater photography. The foundation asks applicants to think broadly, from wildlife and habitats to fisheries and coastal communities.
How much experience can I have?
No more than five years in a photography-related discipline. The grant exists to support early-career and emerging storytellers.
What do I actually submit?
A one-stage online application with a few questions, a portfolio of 20 images and a photo story of 10 images.
What does the grant pay?
Two winners are selected, and each receives a US$2,000 cash prize plus a paid three-week photographic assignment to document a project the foundation supports.
Can I apply if I already hold an SOSF grant?
No. The foundation states that an applicant with any other current SOSF grant cannot apply for a new grant.
When does the round close and when are results out?
Applications opened on 30 September 2026 and close on 15 November 2026 at 18:00 CET. Winners are announced in the last quarter of 2026, with assignments running in 2027.
Is there a country list for eligibility?
The foundation funds projects in more than 100 countries and the call is open worldwide, with particular encouragement for applicants from the Global South and from communities underrepresented in conservation storytelling.
Important disclaimer
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