When I first started in pet photography, I never imagined I’d be submitting my work alongside thousands of the best pet photographers in the world. Being a professional dog photographer for five years now, I wanted to take my skills to the next level, so for the past three years I have been submitting my work and getting valuable feedback from the judges.

I’ll be honest, having someone critique your work and break it apart can be really hard. There were times when I felt discouraged by the results. But the only way for me to grow is to step out of my comfort zone and take the feedback I get in order to better myself.

From my first year of entering to the second, I didn’t seem to make much progress and that was definitely discouraging. I knew I didn’t want to stay stuck in one place, so I reached out to my Unleashed Education community for guidance.

At the time, I wasn’t yet a member, but I wanted to know how others felt about their membership and the community. I was also considering joining the Embark Challenge. After hearing from other members about how wonderful this community is, I took the plunge, became a lifetime member, and joined Embark to better my skills.

If you’ve been following along, you know I’ve been blogging about my experience and growth in the Embark Challenges. The challenge is almost coming to an end, with just three more challenges to go.

I have to say, joining Unleashed Education and the Embark Challenge has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and without a doubt, money well spent. This community is helping me move from professional status closer to competition-worthy status.

This year, one of my photos received a Bronze Award, and I was also awarded Associate Accreditation in the pet photography industry. My other photos were very close behind, and it’s encouraging to know I’m no longer being “dinged” for composition. Instead, my feedback this year focused on fine-tuning my editing skills, something I’ll definitely be working on moving forward.

The International Pet Photography Awards is the largest competition of its kind, drawing thousands of entries from photographers around the globe. This year, there were 4,011 entries worldwide and the images were evaluated by 25 world-class judges.

Each judge is an accomplished photographer in their own right, bringing unique expertise and perspective to the panel. If you’d like to explore their incredible work, simply click on their names below:

Alex Cearns, Alice Loder, Alicja Zmysłowska, Amy Johnson, An Di Prima, Anne Geier, Belinda Richards, Bill Parsons, Charlotte Reeves, Craig Turner-Bullock, Danica Barreau, Denise Landerberg, Diana Lundin, Elke Vogelsang, Ewan Cheyne, Jessica McGovern, Jo Howell, Mareike Konrad, Melissa Farlow, Monica Van Der Maden, Natalia Martinez, Nicole Begley, Nils Jacobi, Phyllis Burchett, and Travis Patenaude

This was the image that earned me a Bronze Award. I took this image during the Composition 101 Challenge of Embark. I ended up re-editing it after receiving some great feedback from the Embark judges. I think this photo really helped me start paying more attention to my highlights.

The judges loved the dog’s expression and the connection with the camera. They also praised the composition and the effort I made to achieve parallelism, something I’ve been working hard on.

Of course, every image has room to grow. The judges pointed out that the yellow bars in the scene were a little distracting and suggested I could have replaced the yellow with a wood tone to match the floorboards. They also reminded me about the importance of tonal harmony. In this shot, the mix of low-key elements (the dog and green background) with high-key areas (the sides and ground) created a bit of visual conflict. Their advice was to keep everything in the same key, or, if mixing tones, do it intentionally so the subject stands out.

For me, this feedback was encouraging. It showed that I’m nailing the connection and overall composition, and now it’s about fine-tuning those details that make an image truly polished.

Below are the other images I submitted, along with the feedback I received from the judges.

This image was taken for the Get Down Challenge in Embark. It took me two separate photoshoots to get the shot, and after some guidance from the Embark judges, I was really happy with the final outcome.

The judges described this image as a “very beautiful portrait” with a “lovely expression” from the dog, and they appreciated how the soft bokeh in the background complemented the subject, keeping the dog as the clear focal point. I loved hearing that the colors were balanced and that the environment helped highlight the dog in such a harmonious way.

The judges suggested slightly reducing the redness in the eyes for a more natural look and toning down the highlights around the ear and muzzle on the left side to retain more detail. They also noted that the light was just a pinch bright and toning it down a bit would help the dog feel more integrated with the environment.

One of the biggest takeaways was the reminder that the eyes are the heart of a portrait. They cautioned against over-editing, which can make them appear unnaturally sharp compared to areas like the nose, which may have motion blur. With these small adjustments, portraits like this can become even stronger and more captivating.

This feedback reinforced the importance of balancing in-camera technique with careful editing.

This was a fun morning in Washington, DC, during the Cherry Blossom Festival, and Murphy was the sweetest husky model. Poor guy was so distracted by everything going on around him that it was hard to keep his attention, and this was before the massive crowd rolled in! Still, we all had a fantastic time.

The judges stated that this was a good environmental portrait that makes great use of the location to add interest and storytelling. The placement of the Washington Monument in the background gives the image a strong sense of place, while the cherry blossoms add seasonal charm. The dog was well posed and engaging, and the natural palette of the scene gives the portrait a fresh, quiet feel.

They noted that the dog appeared slightly soft in focus, particularly around the facial details, which reduced the overall impact. Ensuring the eyes are tack-sharp will really elevate the portrait. They also suggested that using a slightly wider aperture could soften the background more, creating stronger separation between the subject and the scene. This would allow the monument to remain recognizable without competing for attention.

Other feedback focused on expression and composition. The eyes appeared slightly over-sharpened in an attempt to correct softness, which made them look unnatural. The dog’s gaze, fixed on the owner, slightly disengaged the viewer, and the very wide mouth felt at odds with the breed’s wilder essence; a more closed expression could strengthen the impact. The judges reminded me that in environmental portraits, it’s important to consider how the subject and setting interact to create cohesion, rather than simply placing the subject in front of a backdrop. Overall, they called it a very thoughtful use of location and concept, and with refinements to sharpness, depth of field, and expression, this portrait could be truly striking and memorable.

This has to be one of my all-time favorite photos! It was my first attempt at taking pictures in the snow. In the past, I probably wouldn’t have even attempted this shot for fear of ruining my gear, but this time I had a wonderful support group I could turn to for guidance, and I did just that. They helped me with technical settings for snow photography and how to acclimate my camera to the cold weather.

The judges said this was such a perfect spot to photograph the dog. They praised how the colors worked together and how beautifully the dog was posed. They also noted that the tree branches framed the dog nicely and that the placement in the composition was very strong.

On the technical side, the judges pointed out a few areas to refine. They mentioned that brightening the face had blown out much of the detail, and that the brightened greenery drew the eye away from the dog. The eyes had also been slightly over-sharpened and brightened, while some of the fur lacked definition. Overall, they felt the image was solid and could be improved with some careful re-editing to better highlight the subject.

This is another photo of Murphy during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. By then, the crowd had thickened, and we were just about wrapping up our photoshoot. Of course, I had to get a shot of Murphy with all those beautiful cherry blossoms in the background. This was our last shot of the day, and luckily I found a spot with minimal people where I could take a few quick photos before the next group arrived. I really got lucky this year, being in DC during peak cherry blossom season. I couldn’t have planned it any better myself.

The judges praised this photo for featuring a gorgeous dog in a beautiful location, with the cherry blossoms captured at their peak for maximum effect. They appreciated the compositional choice of framing the dog between the two farthest trees, which added structure to the scene.

They offered some guidance to enhance the image further. Using a shallower depth of field, through aperture and focal length choices, would help soften the background and keep the focus firmly on the subject. They also suggested subtle editing to remove all traces of the collar for a more natural presentation.

The judges noted that the dog’s upward gaze, likely toward the owner, lost some connection with the viewer. Encouraging eye contact with the camera would create a stronger sense of engagement. Additionally, they observed that the natural depth of field from the lens was not fully realized: the sharpness on the dog’s back leg began to soften while the background remained relatively sharp. They recommended matching the background softness to the subject to create a more natural, cohesive look. Overall, they felt this was a beautiful portrait with a strong model and a lovely environment, and these refinements could elevate it even further.

This beautiful photo of Lucky was taken during the Get Down Challenge in Embark. I had originally planned to submit it as my final image, but I felt I hadn’t gotten low enough, so I decided to do a reshoot for the challenge.

The judges loved this sweet shot of Lucky, especially that raised paw, which they described as adorable. They noted that the sharpness was well-crafted, particularly around the face and eyes, and praised the attention to detail in the image.

They also offered guidance on areas to improve. There were a few masking issues, mainly along the tail and back of the dog, and some highlights in the background that distracted from the subject. They suggested adding a narrative element to show what the dog is looking up at and why the paw is lifted. Incorporating a human element can strengthen the storytelling and give context to the pose.

The judges also pointed out that some of the dog’s body language showed slight discomfort, with ears back, corners of the mouth downcast, and a “whale eye” visible. Without context, the paw trick could be misinterpreted as the dog being in discomfort rather than being playful. Finally, they recommended refining the masking and lighting between the dog and the background to make the image feel more cohesive. Overall, they felt it was a charming image with a few areas to polish that could make the storytelling even stronger.

I want to assure everyone that this dog was in no way uncomfortable. He was excited and completely fixated on the treat his human mama was holding. As for his ear, that’s just the way it is! He has one floppy ear and one he can control, which makes him all the more adorable.

This photo was taken during the Colourific Challenge of Embark. I had been wanting to photograph this beautiful red door at The Attic restaurant ever since I first saw it. If it weren’t for this challenge, I probably wouldn’t have stepped out of my comfort zone to create this image.

The judges praised this image as a great and unusual idea. They appreciated the creative use of red light and the interesting texture in the background. The composition and framing were well considered, the dog’s pose was complementary, and the low camera angle helped create a sense of connection.

At the same time, they noted that the model didn’t fully fit the story and that the color of the dog appeared a bit flat, with the flash on the head making the eyes look slightly gray. They suggested that more dramatic lighting on the dog could enhance the effect. Additionally, while the color choice was interesting, it was a little intense. The judges reminded me that when using color and light to convey emotion, less can often be more, and it’s important to consider how the dog’s behavior contributes to the overall concept and narrative.

Overall, they encouraged continued experimentation with different models and lighting setups to refine the impact of future images.

This photo of my husky was taken during an open photo challenge called Four On The Floor, created by Unleashed Education prior to the Embark Challenge. Charlotte and Craig wanted to give everyone a taste of what to expect if they join Embark. This is also one of my favorite photos of him. I just love his cheeky expression and his tail swish.

The judges loved the sense of adventure in this image. They noted that the dog’s positioning gives the impression of setting out down the path, glancing back with excited impatience for us to catch up. The swoosh of the tail adds a pleasing sense of movement, enhancing the narrative and giving the portrait a candid, lively feel. They also appreciated the relaxed mouth and gaze, and praised the overall sharpness of the image.

On the technical side, the judges suggested paying closer attention to highlights during capture and editing, as some detail was lost in the whites of the face. They also felt that the eyes had been edited a bit too strongly. While the technique was sound, a more restrained approach would make the portrait feel more natural and believable. The judges emphasized that the storytelling in this image is wonderful, and with just a touch more polish in the editing and color processing, the photo could become even stronger and score higher in competition.

I took this photo of my husky during the Embark Dogscapes Challenge. The deadline to submit images for the International Pet Photography Awards came before the challenge deadline, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to make the changes recommended in the challenge feedback.

The judges appreciated the tranquil, moody atmosphere of this lakeside scene and felt that the dog’s placement was well considered, helping to anchor the composition. They praised the general direction and the dog’s pose looking back, which added a lovely, contemplative feel to the image.

At the same time, they noted areas for improvement. There was a disconnect between the foreground and background elements, particularly around the dog’s outline and the mist on the lake, which gave the impression of heavy post-processing or a composite. The green tint across the scene felt slightly unnatural, affecting tonal balance and making the image feel a bit stylized in a way that didn’t fully serve the story. They also observed that the dog's eyes were over-sharpened, which contributed to a sense of disconnection from the background.

The judges suggested fine-tuning color grading, blending transitions, and ensuring all elements (light, shadow, focus) work together cohesively. With just a bit more finesse in post-production, they felt this image could become a truly immersive and believable piece.

Participating in the International Pet Photography Awards over the past few years has been an incredible journey. From submitting my images and receiving thoughtful feedback from world-class judges to finally achieving a Bronze award and Associate Accreditation, the experience has pushed me to grow in ways I never imagined.

Each image I submitted taught me something new, whether it was paying closer attention to highlights, refining editing techniques, or thinking more deeply about storytelling and connection with the subject. One of the most common pieces of feedback was about over-editing the eyes. I need to remember not to overdo it. In the past, I wasn’t sharpening the eyes enough, and now I’ve been going a bit too far in the opposite direction. I’m working on finding a happy medium.

Last year, I was devastated by my results because it felt like my work hadn’t improved from the previous year. But this year, the difference is clear. My work has improved significantly, and the consistent feedback shows it. I’m happy with my results and now know exactly what to focus on to do even better in next year’s competition.

If there’s one thing I want to leave you with, it’s this: don’t be afraid to ask for help or join communities that share your interests if you want to grow. Joining supportive groups like Unleashed Education and the Embark Challenges made all the difference. They gave me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone, experiment, and learn from experts and peers alike. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and this experience has made me even more excited for the future, both in competitions and in my everyday work with amazing dogs.