Callie Soden Crowned International Pet Photographer of the Year 2026
In a remarkable achievement, Callie Soden has been crowned the International Pet Photographer of the Year for 2026, marking a significant milestone in her illustrious career. Soden's exceptional talent also earned her first place in both the Creative and Studio categories, showcasing her mastery across diverse photographic styles and techniques.
Judges lauded Soden's extensive body of work as a testament to her versatility, highlighting her seamless transitions between intricate composite imagery, refined studio portraiture, and captivating on-location shots. Despite the varied approaches, her portfolio maintained a distinctive and unified visual signature, demonstrating a unique artistic vision that set her apart from a highly competitive field. This year's competition, celebrating its eighth anniversary, garnered an unprecedented 4,220 submissions from photographers in 48 different nations, distributed across 12 distinct categories. Among these were four newly introduced divisions: Commissioned Portfolio, In-Camera Artistry, Phone, and Studio, complementing established categories such as Action, Canine Portrait, Documentary, Equine Portrait, Feline Portrait, Open Portrait, and Pets and People.
The selection process for category winners was meticulous, based on a three-image portfolio that achieved the highest scores within each specific division, rather than a single outstanding photograph. The esteemed title of International Pet Photographer of the Year, however, demanded an even broader demonstration of excellence, awarded to the photographer with the highest cumulative score across their top five images from any category. Each of the 12 category champions received a prize of $250, a prestigious trophy and certificate, and a year-long premium membership to both Unleashed Education and the Professional Photography Business Network. The overall International Pet Photographer of the Year was honored with an additional $500, a trophy and certificate, alongside exclusive mentoring sessions with experts from Unleashed Education and Mark Rossetto of the Professional Photography Business Network.
This recognition not only celebrates Callie Soden's individual brilliance but also underscores the growing importance and artistry within the field of pet photography, inspiring aspiring photographers to pursue their passion with dedication and creativity.