Anyone who has tried to photograph a restless dog or a disdainful cat knows the struggle: the perfect moment is often gone before the shutter clicks. The winners of this year’s International Pet Photography Awards, however, make it look effortless—whether they’re freezing a dog mid-leap or capturing the quiet brooding of a bovine.
The competition, founded in 2019 by Australian photographers Charlotte Reeves and Craig Turner-Bullock, has grown into what organisers call the world’s largest professional pet photography awards. This year, more than 4,200 entries poured in from photographers in 48 countries, and a panel of 27 judges whittled them down to category winners and one overall champion.
Australian photographer Callie Soden took the highest honour, International Pet Photographer of the Year, and also swept the Creative and Studio categories. Her winning portfolio includes the ethereal ‘Amazing Grace,’ a dog seemingly suspended in a heavenly pose. Soden’s success was built on consistency: each category winner is determined by the three highest-scoring images, while the overall title combines scores across five photographs spanning any category.
A European flavour in the winners’ circle
While the top prize went to Australia, European photographers made a strong showing across the 12 categories, which range from Action and Canine Portrait to the newly introduced Commissioned Portfolio, In-Camera Artistry, Phone, and Studio. Germany’s Andrea Zachrau took the In-Camera Artistry award, while Belgian photographer Mark Vandijck won Canine Portrait with sweeping shots of dogs in natural landscapes.
Germany’s Linda Glomb won the Action category with a portfolio featuring her rescue dog, Schnuffi. “She’s a little whirlwind and happily goes along with every crazy idea I have,” Glomb said. One of her winning images was lit only by her car headlights, a testament to improvisation and patience.
In the Equine Portrait category, Laura Brockhoff triumphed with images that seek “honest moments and genuine emotion.” Meanwhile, Belinda Richards’ playful mosaic of a cat named Moosha earned her the Feline Portrait award. What began as a lighting test with a friend’s cat turned into a series showcasing Moosha’s mercurial personality. “She gave me so many expressions and poses that I had to put together something showcasing her complete personality,” Richards explained.
French photographer Jennifer Chassagnol won the Open Portrait category with tender images of baby lambs and a close-up of a calf with stylish bangs. “These images were created to inspire deeper respect and appreciation for all animals, especially those we so often overlook,” she said. Her work is a reminder that the competition isn’t just about pets—it also honours farm animals and wildlife.
The Pets and People category saw Sandra Ferwerda capture an intimate close-up with an owl, while other entries featured horses, frogs, rabbits, and even a photogenic cow. The full gallery, including a video of the top 100 highest-scoring photos, is available on the awards’ winners page.
For those inspired to pick up a camera, the awards are a masterclass in technique and creativity. As the competition’s founders have noted, the key is not just technical skill but a deep connection with the subject—something that clearly shines through in this year’s winning images.
