Dahlias are art! As your garden grows and you attend dahlia events please take lots of photographs. The, share your dahlia season and enter the 2025 ADS Photo Contest and People’s Choice (2026) Photo Contest. There are not many rules, but the most important rule is to have fun!
Winner 2024 ADS Photo Contest – Hollyhill Honeygold – Kay Mackey, photographer
2025 ADS Photo Contest Categories
Grand Prize winner earns $50. First place-$20 Second place $10 Third place $5
Three photos per class allowed – up to 30 photos for the ADS Photo Contest and 1 photo for the People’s Choice Contest
Class 1 – Undisseminated Dahlias/Seedlings
Class 2- Dahlia Portrait—Portrait of a single cultivar
Class 3 -Dahlia Blooms- More than one bloom or multiple cultivars
Class 4-Dahlia Gardens
Class 5- Dahlia Shows and Personalities
Class 6-Dahlia arrangements- Cut flowers welcome.
Class 7-Dahlias and Kids
Class 8-Dahlias and critters- Insects, pets
Class 9- Macro View- Up close photo
Class 10- Digital Darkroom- Have fun and experiment.
What is the difference between the Photo Contest and People’s Choice?
For those who are new to the contests, you might be wondering what is the difference between the Photo Contest and People’s Choice? The ADS Photo Contest has set categories. Photos are judged by a panel. People’s Choice has no set categories, the photographer decides what to submit. ADS members vote for the winner. You do not need to be an ADS member to enter your photos. You can participate in one contest or both.
Winner People’s Choice 2025 – Ketchup & Mustard … More Mustard! – John Kwak, Photographer
Deadline
The deadline is December 15th, 2025. Please send your photos unlabeled or labeled. If labeled, please omit your name. Please submit photos for each class as a separate email to adsphotocontest@dahlia.org. For example, class 1 photos in one email. Class 2 photos in another email. The maximum number of photos per class is 3. People’s Choice is 1 photo, unlabeled, as a separate email with the subject “People’s Choice”. Please include one copy of the entry form (below). Online voting for People’s Choice begins January 15th, 2026. Winners for both the ADS Photo Contest and People’s Choice will be announced February 14th, 2026 on the ADS website (dahlia.org). Please check the ADS website (dahlia.org) for more information during the dahlia season. Enjoy your gardens and take lots of photos to share.
Good luck!