Each edition of PhotoKTM presents an Award of Excellence to an individual or group who has made instrumental contributions towards the development of Nepali photography and journalism. Recipients of the PhotoKTM Award of Excellence in previous years have included:

Recipients of the PhotoKTM Award of Excellence in previous years have included: 

2022 – Mr. Shyam Chitrakar

2018 – Dr. Shahidul Alam

2016 – Mr. Shridhar Manandhar

2016 – Mr. Kiran Shrestha

2015 – Mr. Mani Lama