Showcase your photography skills and love for cacti and succulents in the CSSA’s 2025 Photo Contest!
Theme
A Succulent Paradise – The Natural Beauty of Succulents and Cacti
Contest Period
Start: January 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM (Pacific Time)
End: March 15, 2025, at 12:00 PM (Pacific Time)
Prizes
1st Place: Full-page or cover feature in the Cactus and Succulent Journal + $250
2nd Place: Half-page feature in the Journal + $100
3rd Place & Honorable Mentions: Publication in the Journal + $50
How to Enter
Submit your best cactus and succulent photos for a chance to have your work featured in the Journal and win cash prizes!
📅 Entry Period: January 1 – March 15, 2025
🌵 Enter Here: Photo Contest Form
📸 Winners will be announced during the CSSA 2025 Biennial Convention, April 23-27, 2025!
Submission Guidelines
- We are seeking visually striking images of succulents and cacti in sharp focus
- Original photos only, with copyright owned by the entrant
- Each entrant may submit up to three high-resolution JPG images (max 20 MB per image)
- File naming format: First initial + last name + image number (e.g., DJones1.jpg)
- Include the location and year photo taken, and plant name for each image
- All photographic techniques and app editing are allowed—no AI-generated photos
- Entries must be submitted through our website portal
Contest Period
- Start: January 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM (Pacific Time)
- End: March 15, 2025, at 12:00 PM (Pacific Time)
- Submissions outside this window will not be accepted
Eligibility
- Open to all current CSSA members and their immediate family members
- No entry fee is required
- CSSA board members, employees, judges, and their family members are ineligible
Prizes
- 1st Place: Full-page or cover feature in the Cactus and Succulent Journal + $250
- 2nd Place: Half-page or back cover feature in the Journal + $150
- 3rd Place & Honorable Mentions: Publication in the Journal + $100
Previous Winners
Click images to view full screen
2022 Winner – “The Artistry of Cacti and Succulents”
– Rob Skillen, Central Coast Club
2023 Winner – “Patterns and Textures in Cacti and Succulents”
– Lucas Liebischer, Ventura, CA
Our 2025 Jurors
This year’s entries will be judged by a panel of jurors with both an art background and expertise in the succulent hobby.
Irwin Lightstone
Irwin is a renowned professional photographer featured in National Geographic and CSSA publications. He serves as the Vice President of the CSSA board and chair of the conservation committee.
John Martinez
John is an artist and CSSA board member with a passion for xeric plants and photography. He is the chair of the affiliates committee.
Kelly Griffin
Kelly is a published author and plant hybridizer for Altman Specialty Plants in Vista, CA, with nearly four decades of experience photographing succulent habitats, especially the genus Dudleya. He serves on the CSSA board and is the President of the San Diego Cactus & Succulent Society.
Contest Details
The Fine Print
By entering, participants grant CSSA a royalty-free, perpetual license to use their photos, name, city, and state in CSSA publications, social media, and web content. Entries may not be modified or withdrawn once submitted.
CSSA is not responsible for late, lost, or misdirected entries or technical issues. Participants engaging in cheating, deception, or harassment will be disqualified.
