The world’s largest pet pictures competitors noticed 1000’s of submissions this yr, starting from canine and cats to lizards and livestock. In its seventh yr, the 2025 International Pet Photography Awards drew submissions that includes a wide range of animals from all around the world. Here are a few of the highlights.
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Photographer of the yr
The annual contest topped photographer Katie Brockman as 2025 International Pet Photographer of the Year for a submitted portfolio that included pictures of her personal canine and several other foster pets.
In a press release, Brockman stated one in every of her motivations for coming into the competition was to encourage others to think about fostering or adopting a rescue animal.
The winner of every class, just like the profitable submission to the canine portrait class proven right here, acquired US$250 and a trophy, organizers stated.
In addition to the money and trophy, class winners have been awarded a yr’s membership to on-line pictures training platforms. Pictured is a picture from the winner for feline portraits.
While “pet photography” may evoke pictures of canine and cats, organizers acquired submissions of creatures of all types, together with reptiles, rodents, and extra. They’ve created a class particularly for equine portraits.
Organizers acquired 4,011 entries from photographers in 45 nations this yr. Pictured is a picture from the winner of the class for pictures of pets and other people.
“Open portrait” a brand new class
Ellen Reus, the primary winner of the newly created “open portrait” class, stated in a information launch she was thrilled by her win as a result of it confirmed that lovely portraits of all species have been attainable, including that snakes are “incredibly photogenic.”
The contest included a “creative category” that allowed photographers to showcase their picture capturing and enhancing methods, deviating from normal pet pictures. Pictured is a picture from total winner Katie Brockman, who additionally received this class.
A name for documentary-inspired submissions prompted photographer Emma Boyle to submit this and different photographs from Istanbul, the place she described witnessing a “special relationship with stray cats and dogs.” In a information launch, Boyle stated her pictures are an try to display how people and stray animals co-exist respectfully within the main Turkish metropolis.
The documentary class required animals to be pictured in actual conditions equivalent to shelter or rescue organizations, on the job, competing in sports activities or different non-staged settings. Pictured is a picture from a finalist within the class.
Among this yr’s modifications have been measures to make sure synthetic intelligence was not used. Organizers required uncooked or unique seize information to be submitted with entries for that reason.
The International Pet Photography Awards are open to all photographers – skilled and newbie. “Pet” was outlined, in accordance with the awards’ web site, as “a domesticated species or an animal that’s saved for companionship or pleasure.