Getting a pet to sit still for a photo is hard enough. Getting an award-winning shot is another thing entirely.
Australian photographer Callie Soden has taken top honours at the 2026 International Pet Photography Awards, after judges picked her from more than 4,200 entries submitted by photographers in 48 countries.
Founded in 2019 by Australian photographers and educators Charlotte Reeves and Craig Turner-Bullock, the annual competition has grown into what the organisers describe as the world’s largest professional pet photography awards.
A panel of 27 judges named Soden International Pet Photographer of the Year, the competition’s highest honour. She also won the Creative and Studio categories.
The awards span 12 categories, including Action, Canine Portrait, Feline Portrait, Documentary, Pets & People and Rescue. Four new categories debuted in 2026: Commissioned Portfolio, In-Camera Artistry, Phone and Studio.
Each category winner is selected based on their three highest-scoring photos, rather than a single image. The International Pet Photographer of the Year title is decided by combining the highest scores across five images spanning any category.
Among the featured images was work by photographer Glomb, whose Action category portfolio included a shot of her rescue dog, Schnuffi.
“Many of my artistic images feature my rescue dog, Schnuffi. She’s a little whirlwind and happily goes along with every crazy idea I have,” Glomb says.
She took the image using her car headlights for light.
Belinda Richards’ portfolio started as a lighting test with a friend’s cat, Moosha, before becoming a series of images focused on the cat’s changing moods.
“She gave me so many expressions and poses that I had to put together something showcasing her complete personality,” Richards says.
Open Portrait winner Jennifer Chassagnol said her images had a broader aim.
“These images were created to inspire deeper respect and appreciation for all animals, especially those we so often overlook,” Chassagnol says.
The competition featured animals including dogs, cats, horses, frogs, owls, rabbits and a cow. A video of the top 100 highest-scoring photos is available on The International Pet Photography Awards’ winners page.
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