Since 2021, the International Dog Photography Awards have given professional and amateur photographers alike a platform to showcase their artistic talent, celebrate beloved dog breeds, and shine a light on those that are often misunderstood.
For the 2026 awards, Katie Brockman won Dog Photographer of the Year for her image of a pit bull sporting a newspaper crown and collar. The crown’s headlines read positively, including “Pit Bull Saves Family From Fire” and “Pit bull therapy dog teaches lessons, allays fears.” Meanwhile, the collar carries more negative headlines, such as “A time-bomb on a leash?” and “Words ‘pit bull’ have sparked hysteria.”
The image, aptly titled Loved and Hated, clearly conveys the “complicated relationship” between humans and pit bulls and other “bully breeds.”
“The collar and chain represent breed bans, restrictions, and other ways pit bulls are punished simply for existing, while the crown and gentle hand represent the advocates who support and love the breed. Meanwhile, the dogs themselves are caught in the middle between the two sides,” explained Brockman.
Brockman met Caldwell, her pit bull model, while volunteering at a shelter. He had been overlooked by adopters and developed behavioral issues, lessening his chances of adoption even further. By then, however, Brockman had “fallen in love” with the sweet and stoic pittie. She even bought a house to adopt him.
“Where I live, it’s nearly impossible to find rentals that allow bully breeds,” she noted.
Brockman submitted to the Studio category, which focuses on controlled lighting and creative work produced inside a photography studio.
Here are the other winners of the studio category:
2nd Place: Head in the Clouds, Jill Garrett
3rd Place: This is Growing Up, Belinda Richards
There are five other categories: Portrait Outdoor, Action, Dogs and People, Documentary, and Open.
Keep scrolling to see the winner of these categories.
Portrait Outdoor
This category captures dogs in close-up portraits or expansive natural landscapes exclusively outdoors.
1st Place: Beyond The Track, Elena Marchi
2nd Place: The hunter becomes the hunted, Susan Lang
3rd Place: It’s Her World, Karir Laiapea
Action
This category highlights dogs’ physical energy, movement, and athletic ability.
1st Place: Winter Launch, Nika Kuplenk Golobič
2nd Place: Mission Balance, Gavriella Leon
3rd Place: Weightless, Linda Glomb
Dogs and People
This category emphasizes the unique connection, bond, and shared moments between dogs and their human companions.
1st Place: Close, Sarah Ebner
2nd Place: Nika and Sherry, Eco Lorka
3rd Place: The Weight of Connection, Santos Román
Documentary
This category tells real-life, untold stories, rescue journeys, or emotional narratives (no AI-generated content allowed).
1st Place: Waiting, Tianhang Zhang
2nd Place: On top of the world, Katie Gyltnes
3rd Place: Alone together, Katie Gyltnes
Open
This category allows creative, conceptual, and experimental dog photography styles.
1st Place: Run, Elena Marchi
2nd Place: Losing Control, Callie Soden
3rd Place: Swimming, Tianhang Zhang
