When I decided to enter three international photography competitions this year, I had no idea I was about to discover something that would shift how I talk about my work.
But let me back up a bit.
Why I stopped Curating (and started trusting)
Last year’s International Pet Photography Awards (IPPA) experience was incredible – every single photo earned an award, with my highest achiever landing a Silver with Distinction just one point shy of Gold. But the process was exhausting. I spent weeks selecting, perfecting and second-guessing every submission.
This year, when the Australian Photographic Prize (APP), International Photography Awards (IPA), and IPPA all opened for submissions simultaneously in May and June, I was swamped. Between client Sessions, my consultancy work, renovations and life in general, I simply didn’t have the bandwidth for that level of curation.
So I made what felt like a slightly reckless decision: submit my regular client work and see what happens.
No extra special editing. No hunting through archives for “the perfect image.” Just the work I’d been delivering to families like yours.
What each competition values
Here’s where it gets interesting. Having feedback from three completely different judging panels gave me insight into what makes photography work at an international level.
APP’s judges are emotion hunters. They want photos that hit you in the chest immediately – images with movement, energy, and storytelling that doesn’t need explanation. Their feedback briefly touched on the technical aspects; and focused on the feeling my photos evoked.
IPA judges love creativity and vibrancy, but here’s the thing – I suspect the titles you give your photos matter almost as much as the images themselves. The storytelling element seems to come as much from how you frame the work as what’s actually captured.
IPPA operates like a masterclass in progression. At Professional Standard level, they’re scrutinizing your technical foundations. Can you nail focus, exposure and composition? Bronze level demands superior execution of those fundamentals. But from Silver onwards, something changes – they start looking for that indefinable “something special”, the emotional resonance that transforms a technically excellent photo into art.
The IPPA feedback was incredibly detailed. Lots of praise for my technical skills, but with specific, actionable notes on how I can further elevate my work. The most eye-opening moment? Learning that one of my highest-scoring photos could have scored even higher if I’d submitted it in a different category!
The results
APP: 8 Highly Commended
IPA: 1 Honourable Mention, and 1 Official Selection
IPPA: 5 Bronze with Distinctions, 1 Bronze, and 2 Professional Standards
*Not all photos displayed here were submitted to all three competitions.
Here’s what’s remarkable about that – it’s an overall improvement on last year’s carefully curated submissions (despite not achieving another Silver with Distinction). The consistency across the Bronze with Distinction level shows that my everyday standards have elevated.
Those two Professional Standard photos came with particularly valuable feedback about including owners in photos – something I can immediately apply to improve future client work.
And then there was the disappointment: my one non-dog submission (I experimented with a photographing a snake) scored lower than expected. But the feedback was so constructive that I know exactly how to approach that style of photography differently next time.
Mugi: The Accidental Superstar
Let me tell you about the photo that surprised everyone, including me.
Mugi came in for a standard Fall Session in April. Nothing fancy, just another Seasonal Session. But toward the end of our Session, I decided to try something creative.
I directed Mugi’s owners to grab a handful of autumn leaves and toss them into the air around Mugi, hoping to capture something artistic. As I worked on the edit later, I kept coming back to this image. There was something about it that made me stop scrolling every time.
When I showed it to Mugi’s family, their reaction was immediate and emotional. When I shared it with some photographer friends, they had similar responses. That’s when I knew I had to enter it in competitions.
The results spoke for themselves:
- APP: Highly Commended (alongside feedback praising its seasonal feel, movement and emotional impact)
- IPA: Honourable Mention (the same recognition achieved by some of my mentors!)
- IPPA: Bronze with Distinction.
A regular Seasonal Session. A spontaneous creative moment. Receiving two accolades and an international award.
The reactive dog revelation
Here’s something that might surprise potential clients: most of the dogs in my submissions are reactive.
Not the Instagram-perfect dogs who pose on command. Not the calm, easy-going dogs that make photographers’ lives simple. The dogs that need space. The ones that require patience, understanding, and a photographer who knows how to work with their unique personalities.
These “challenging” dogs are creating internationally recognised artwork.
Your reactive dog isn’t a photography problem to be solved – they’re an opportunity for extraordinary images that judges across the continents are celebrating.
My strategic evolution
This year taught me something crucial about competition strategy. Moving forward, I’ll use IPPA as my testing ground – running photos I think will perform well through their judging process first to get that detailed feedback.
Then I’ll select images that align with each competition’s specific preferences, submitting fewer but more targeted entries to APP, IPA and potentially other competitions. Quality over quantity, informed by understanding what each panel actually values.
IPPA’s Accreditation program adds another layer of value to this approach – my submission results contribute to professional recognition and accreditation that goes beyond individual awards. Receiving two accolades and an international award.
What this means for you
Here’s the thing that this whole experience clarified: I don’t have two different standards – one for “regular” client work and another for “competition-worthy” photography.
Every Session I do receives the same technical precision that wins international awards. Every creative decision is informed by the same artistic vision that judges celebrate. Every final edit meets the standards that earn Bronze with Distinction recognition (while also aiming for higher!).
When you book a Session with me, you’re not getting a photographer who’s “doing okay” – you’re working with someone whose everyday standards consistently earn international recognition.
I approach your dog’s Session with the same expertise that created Mugi’s triple competition achievement. I apply the same technical skills that IPPA judges praised in their detailed feedback. I bring the same creative vision that APP judges value.
The bigger picture
This year’s competition experience proved something I’ve always believed but now have concrete evidence for: the work I create for clients every day is genuinely award-worthy.
Not because I’m trying to win competitions with your photos (though that’s certainly a nice bonus), but because I refuse to deliver anything less than my absolute best work. Every session, every dog, every moment gets the full depth of my experience and skill.
Your dog’s personality – reactive, nervous, perfectly behaved, or somewhere in between – will be captured with the same standards that international judges recognise and celebrate.
The question isn’t whether your dog can create award-winning images. Based on this year’s results, I’m confident they can.
The question is: are you ready to see what happens when competition-level photography meets your dog’s unique story?
