Puppy’s Adorable Ears Photo Wins Dog Photographer of the Year Award

Australian photographer Belinda Richards has been named International Dog Photographer of the Year for her delightful photo series capturing a German Shepherd puppy’s growing ears. Richards, who has been crowned Australian Pet Photographer of the Year multiple times, won with her charming photo titled “I’m All Ears.”

I’m All Ears Belinda Richards, Overall Winner

The inspiration for the series began when a woman named Sarah brought home an eight-week-old puppy named Penny after losing her beloved shepherd, Archie. Wanting to document Penny’s growth, Belinda invited Sarah to the studio every week or two for photo sessions with Penny. Over the course of a year, Belinda noticed that Penny’s ears changed the most—and those evolving expressions became the focus of “I’m All Ears.”

The Dog Photography Awards® is an annual international contest that celebrates the artistry of top dog photographers, uncovers emerging talents, and showcases the extraordinary diversity and charm of dogs. More of the winners can be seen below.

Catch it! Cani Studio (Sylvain Langler), Action 1st Place

The Shape of Stillness. Denisa Zbranková Albaniová, Portrait Outdoor 1st Place
A lone white shepherd stands on a pale stone staircase, gazing upward into a dreamlike expanse.

Watching and Waiting. Rebecca Williams, Documentary 1st Place
A team of sheepdogs, a fox terrier and a German Short haired Pointer, wait patiently as their owner does a farm job that doesn’t require their help. The Quad bike and trailer is a popular mode of transport for teams of working dogs in New Zealand.

Can You Please Trim My Bangs? Jane Thomson, Studio 1st Place
Ricky usually wears his hair braided on the top of his head. During our session, I decided to try ‘au naturel’, but when the fan was turned off, I realized why he prefers the braid!

May the Fur Be With You. Jane Thomson, Dogs & People 1st Place
Rescued from a hoarding situation in Las Vegas, Petunia now thrives in Eugene as an ambassador for Luvable Dog Rescue. She is in training to become a therapy dog, a role well suited to her calm and affectionate nature. With her striking resemblance to Yoda, this portrait was imagined as both a tribute to her resilience and a playful nod to her otherworldly presence.

Suppertime. Katie Brockman, Open 1st Place
A modern reimagining of The Last Supper, this image is a composite of more than a dozen separate shots. My goal was to not just pay homage to a iconic piece of art, but to also showcase the unique personalities of all the pets I was fortunate enough to photograph.

Dog Sanctuaries Around the World. Angelica Briones, Documentary 2nd Place
There are around 200 million stray dogs worldwide, living in vastly different conditions. Some are cared for by their communities, but most are not as lucky. Stray dogs often find me when I travel—drawn to me like I wear a magnet. These moments inspired Dog Sanctuaries Around the World. I have visited seven sanctuaries so far, from Hawaii to Costa Rica to Thailand – documenting their work. I gift them the photos I take to use freely, as a show of my appreciation for all they do. Each place is unique, but all share one goal: to offer dogs safety, dignity, and a chance at a better life.

Rainbow Bridge. He Huapei 狗哥 宠物摄影师, Action 2nd Place

Roaming through the calm. Samara Valent, Portrait Outdoor 2nd Place
A husky roaming through the calm and snowy landscape.

Dog’s Justice. Sandy van Kruysdijk, Open 2nd Place
“They will follow you blindly
They don’t judge
Love them and treat them well
They deserve nothing less”

Soulmates. Alessandro Musicorio, Dogs & People 2nd Place
“Two souls, one breath. No need for words. In that quiet closeness, everything is already known. Love, in its purest form, asks for nothing — it simply is.”

The Kiss. Mia Tepelea, Studio 2nd Place

Majestic. Susan Lang, Portrait Outdoor 3rd Place
A Lurcher in front of a 17th century doorway. Ownership of Greyhounds used to be restricted to the aristocracy, and commoners faced severe punishment for possessing such dogs. Commoners got round this by breeding the Lurcher, which was a cross between a Greyhound and a working breed and was used for poaching game.”

Contrails. Barbara Cesari, Open 3rd Place
A little experiment to portray the vibrant dance of this extraordinary duo, their synergy is so magnetic it draws the space around them into the rhythm of their motion.

My Faithful Shadow. Tony Hertz, Dogs & People 3rd Place
Dogs are like shadows, they follow us everywhere. “A shadow selfie with my dog Lolly. Self-portraits are a testimony of our companionship while we seek more awareness in our world.”

Turtle Watch. Jill Brammer, Documentary 3rd Place
The beach near my house is one of the busiest nesting areas for threatened Loggerhead, Leatherback and Green turtles. My gentle dog watched as a baby turtle made its way into the ocean.

Leaps for Days. Shandess Griffin, Action 3rd Place

Work of Art. Katie Brockman, Studio 3rd Place
“My goal with this image was to portray the regal and sophisticated side of dogs, as each and every one of them is a work of art. This image was created entirely in camera in one shot — without any composites — using a hand-crafted ‘set’ and some creative positioning with the subject.”

This year, the Dog Photographer of the Year competition received 2,036 entries from talented photographers across 48 countries, including China, Australia, Italy, and Finland. Find out more about the annual competition and see more images at their website: dogphotographyawards.com