The International Pet Photography Awards has announced its 2025 winners, with photographer Katie Brockman claiming the top honor for her exceptional creative portfolio. Brockman's victory stands out among a record-breaking field of 4,011 entries submitted from photographers across 45 different countries worldwide.
Brockman's success in pet photography has been significantly aided by her loyal canine companion, Cadwell, who has served as her primary model since she began pursuing photography several years ago. Beyond working with her own dog, Brockman also dedicates her talents to photographing foster animals, helping showcase pets in need of homes. Her award-winning images were predominantly captured in-camera with minimal post-processing, with the notable exception of a playful bunny photograph that forms part of an ongoing series she has been developing over the past couple of years, specifically featuring animals with distinctive and unique markings.
This year's competition saw significant expansion in its scope and categories, reflecting the growing diversity and sophistication of pet photography as an art form. The 2025 awards featured eight distinct categories: Action, Canine Portrait, Portrait, Creative, Documentary, Equine Portrait, Feline Portrait, Open Portrait, and Pets and People. This expanded framework allowed photographers to showcase their work across various specialized areas of pet photography, from dynamic action shots to intimate portrait work.
The diversity of animal subjects represented in the competition was remarkable, though dogs remained the most popular choice among participants. The final tally included 3,232 dog photographs, 319 cat images, and 303 horse pictures. However, the competition's appeal extended far beyond traditional pets, with submissions featuring an eclectic mix of animals including pigs, cows, chickens, parrots, lizards, snakes, frogs, rabbits, ferrets, goldfish, and even a couple of whimsical unicorn images.
Category winners each receive substantial recognition for their achievements, including a cash prize of $250, a commemorative trophy, and a one-year membership to both Unleashed Education and the Professional Photography Business Network, two prominent online photography education platforms. The overall winner receives enhanced rewards, including a $500 cash prize, trophy, and personalized mentoring opportunities with both Unleashed Education and the Professional Photography Business Network.
Among the category winners, Shandess Griffin claimed the Action Category with dynamic shots capturing pets in motion. Emma Boyle won the Documentary Category for her compelling project documenting the stray animals of Istanbul, Turkey, bringing attention to urban wildlife and abandoned pets. The Equine Portrait Category was won by Renate Zuidema, while Janneke De Graaf took home honors in the Canine Portrait Category. Mirka Koot earned recognition in the Feline Portrait Category, Petra Nestelbacher won the Pets and People Category, and Ellen Reus claimed victory in the Open Portrait Category.
The competition has undergone significant policy changes in recent years following previous criticism. A couple of years ago, the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards faced scrutiny for allowing judges to enter and potentially win prizes in the competition. In response to this feedback, the organization implemented new rules that now prohibit judges from becoming finalists or winning categories. However, judges are still permitted to submit entries to receive constructive feedback from their peers, maintaining their connection to the creative process while ensuring fairness in the competition.
The Top 100 selections showcased the incredible talent and creativity within the pet photography community, featuring works by photographers including Fiona Lovett, Craig Turner-Bullock, Carolyn Bray, Belinda Richards, Jaana Vuola, Denisa Albaniova, Celine Hagelauer, Anna Bittner-Dahms, Monica van der Maden, Stephanie Dalman, Rhea Nellen, Cindy Mayes, Jennifer McNichol, Andrea Wafler, Emma Steel, Malva Hellman, and Polona Zeleznikar. These selections represent the breadth and depth of talent in contemporary pet photography, spanning various styles, subjects, and artistic approaches.
For complete results, additional winning photographs, and detailed information about all participants and categories, interested viewers can visit the official International Pet Photography Awards website, which features comprehensive galleries and photographer profiles from this year's competition.
