Photo London x Hahnemühle Student Award 2025
Award Overview
Launched in 2023, the Photo London x Hahnemühle Student Award is an exciting opportunity for students enrolled in photography degrees at UK universities. The aim of the award is to bring developing photographers’ portfolios to international attention and support early-career talent within the industry.
Now in its third year, this initiative builds on Photo London’s ongoing commitment to supporting and investing in emerging photographic artists, which is evident in the Fair’s Discovery section and through the Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer of the Year Award.
How It Works
Faculty members at UK universities offering photography courses are invited to nominate students from these courses. The nominated students are then invited to propose a specific Hahnemühle paper that would best suit the printing of their work. The award’s Judging Panel – comprising a group of experienced and engaged industry experts – will then shortlist up to 10 nominated artists whose work will be showcased at Photo London (15 – 18 May 2025). The panel selects one overall winner who is announced at a special ceremony at the Fair on the Saturday (17 May 2025).
Judging Panel
Judging Chair | Fiona Shields, Head of Photography, The Guardian
Fiona has over twenty years’ picture editing experience across a range of newspaper titles as well as being a curator, speaker on photojournalism and mentor within the photography community. She was Picture Editor of the Guardian for ten years before taking up the role of Head of Photography for the Guardian News and Media Group. Throughout her career she has been involved in the coverage of some of the most historic news stories of our time including the events surrounding 9/11, conflicts around the world, large-scale natural disasters, and the humanitarian crises resulting from the growing refugee numbers across the globe.
In addition she has judged numerous high profile photographic awards including World Press Photo Awards, the Sony World Photography Awards, The Carmignac Photojournalism Award, The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize and is a regular nominator for the prestigious Prix Pictet Prize.
Professor Steve McLeod, Photographic Artist and Director, Metro Imaging
Steve is an award-winning Creative Director who has been at the forefront of photographic imaging for almost thirty years. He is a Director of Metro Imaging, one of Europe’s leading imaging production companies with a global reach offering a comprehensive range of services for exhibition and collecting markets. In his role he collaborates with a vast network of international clients including museums, galleries, and individual creatives.
Steve is a practicing artist represented by Black Box Projects, regularly exhibiting, his works are held in both private and public institutions including the V&A in London.
He is also a commissioned artist and ambassador for Hospital Rooms Arts Mental Health charity.
Steve is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Suffolk; former Trustee and Deputy Chair of QEST, External Assessor and External Moderator at RGU Aberdeen. He runs an established mentorship programme and is a regular judge on international panels.
In 2012 Steve was presented with a Royal Warrant from HRH the Prince of Wales for services to industry and education.
Lisa Springer, Curator of Photography Touring Exhibitions, Victoria and Albert Museum
Lisa Springer is photography curator with a wide expertise, ranging from the history of photographic exhibitions to international contemporary fine art practice. She has worked in several major European museums over the past ten years, and since 2019 she has been Curator of Photography Touring Exhibitions at the V&A, London, where she leads the programme of special touring exhibitions, including Arresting Beauty: Julia Margaret Cameron and Known and Strange: Photographs from the Victoria and Albert Museum. Lisa also contributes to exhibitions in the V&A Photography Centre, working as part of a curatorial team responsible for one of the world’s most significant photography collections.
Before joining the V&A, Lisa was Manager of the prestigious Prix Pictet Photography Award. She ran the ambitious global touring exhibitions programme for four years, collaborating with 50 leading photographers and 31 venues, from New York to Tokyo.
She studied Art History and Cultural Studies in Hildesheim and Paris before being awarded a coveted place on the two-year training programme for photography curators run by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach Foundation, Germany.
Lisa acts as an invited juror and portfolio reviewer at international events and has written essays for a number of exhibition catalogues, books and magazines.
Mimi Mollica, Photographer and Founding Director, Photo Meet & Sicily Photo Masterclass
Mimi Mollica is an award-winning photographer, educator, and facilitator with a passion for visual storytelling. With over 16 years of experience mentoring photographers, he specializes in narrative development, project editing, and industry connections. His mentees have published books, won prestigious awards, and secured international magazine commissions.
Mimi is the founding director of Photo Meet and the Sicily Photo Masterclass, fostering a dynamic community for photographers to learn, connect, and grow. His teaching style inspires new work, builds confidence, and deepens photographic literacy, bridging genres from documentary to contemporary practice.
Kimberly Hoang, Picture Editor at British Red Cross & Creative Producer
A photographic director, art buyer and picture editor, Kimberly has over 20 years experience in the industry. Kimberly worked as a senior picture editor for the Guardian for over ten years, during which time she launched the weekly food title, Cook (now Feast), establishing a unique visual aesthetic that set it apart from competitors. She went on to produce award-winning campaigns across digital and print platforms for the Guardian’s branded content department.
Having previously worked for Magnum in New York, Kimberly’s eye for powerful documentary continues to inform her approach to photography. She is currently Picture editor at the British Red Cross where she commissions global, multi-media campaigns that bring humanitarian stories to life.
Kimberly is driven by her passion for authentic storytelling. She works with photographers to challenge perceived boundaries, uncovering fresh perspectives and new talents with each commission.
The Prize
In addition to reaching an international audience by presenting their work at Photo London, the shortlisted artists will be invited to one of Hahnemühle’s UK-certified print studios to oversee the production of their exhibition prints. All shortlisted artists will receive VIP passes for the Fair and travel to the Fair for the special ceremony on Saturday 17 May 2025, where the winning artist will be announced.
The winner will receive a trip to the Hahnemühle mill in Germany and the printing of 5-10 artworks on their preferred Hahnemühle papers, either at the Hahnemühle UK office or at a Hahnemühle Certified Studio.
Past Winners & Shortlist
Discover the previous Prize winners and shortlists:
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