The 2025 International Pet Photography Awards has crowned its overall winner, with St. Louis-based photographer Katie Brockman earning the prestigious title of International Pet Photographer of the Year. This year's expanded competition drew more than 4,000 entries from photographers across 45 countries, showcasing an unprecedented diversity in animal photography talent worldwide.

Brockman's victory represents a significant achievement in her already distinguished photography career. Her winning portfolio featured creative portraits using her own dogs and foster animals as models, demonstrating exceptional artistic vision and technical skill. "The dog in two of these images is my own dog, Caldwell, who has been my best model since I started photography a few years ago," Brockman explained. "All the other animals are my former foster pets, and one of my goals by entering these images was to show that rescue animals can not only make loving family members, but fantastic models, too."

The competition revealed interesting trends in pet photography subjects, with dogs dominating the field as the most popular models, followed by cats and horses. However, this year's contest showcased remarkable diversity beyond traditional pets. Photographers submitted stunning images featuring pigs, cows, chickens, parrots, lizards, snakes, frogs, rabbits, ferrets, and goldfish, proving that professional pet photography extends far beyond conventional companion animals.

A particularly noteworthy achievement came from photographer Ellen Reus, whose beautiful studio portrait of a snake won the inaugural Open Portrait category. Reus expressed her excitement about the recognition, stating, "I'm so happy and proud. Especially because this shows that even if your pet is a snake, you can still get beautiful studio portraits of them. I really love photographing snakes, they're incredibly photogenic!"

The awards featured multiple categories, allowing photographers to showcase different aspects of their craft. Winners were announced across various divisions including Canine, Feline, Equine, Creative, Action, Pets and People, Documentary, and the new Open Portrait category. Each category highlighted unique approaches to capturing animals, from dynamic action shots to intimate studio portraits and documentary-style images of stray animals.

Brockman's success extended beyond the overall title, as she also won the Creative category with her innovative approach to animal portraiture. Her work stood out for its artistic composition and ability to capture the personality of rescue animals, aligning with her advocacy for animal adoption and welfare.

The complete gallery of winners and top 100 finalists demonstrates the global reach and artistic excellence of contemporary pet photography. From documentary images capturing the lives of stray dogs to charming portraits revealing the personalities of beloved companions, this year's winners represent a comprehensive look at the evolving field of professional pet photography. The competition's growth and international participation reflect the increasing recognition of pet photography as a legitimate and artistic photographic discipline.