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Dog Photography Awards 2025

Suppertime with a Twist: Katie Brockman – Open Category Winner

This year’s Dog Photographer of the Year title goes to Katie Brockman, whose image “Suppertime” impressed the judges with its originality, storytelling, and technical skill. Katie’s creative approach to dog photography blends thoughtful concepts with a genuine appreciation for the animals she photographs. Her winning image reinterprets the Last Supper in a fun and meaningful way, featuring foster and shelter dogs — a subject close to her heart. The photo not only showcases her artistic vision but also highlights the individuality and value of rescue animals. In this interview, Katie shares how her journey into dog photography began, the process behind her award-winning image, and the projects she’s currently developing.

How did you get into dog photography?

I started photography around four years ago to take better pictures of my dog after he had a sudden health scare and I realized I didn’t have any professional photos of him. I also wanted a way to document our adventures together, so I got a camera and the rest is history.

Can you walk us through your creative process for your winning image « Suppertime » ?

I wanted to pay homage to the iconic Last Supper painting, but with a little extra chaos and cuteness. This image is particularly special to me because, other than the white dog, all of these animals are either my foster pets or shelter dogs who were awaiting adoption at the time of their photoshoots. Shelter animals have always held a special place in my heart, and I specifically chose to use them for this project to show that rescue pets are beautiful, lovable, and full of personality — and of course very photogenic models!

Throughout the process, what posed the greatest challenge for you?

Because there was no way for me to get this many animals together in one place for a single shot, they were all photographed individually and composited together. This was definitely one of the more complex Photoshop jobs I’ve done, but it was great practice and I learned so much from it.

What does the award mean to you?

It’s always so special to be recognized by fellow pet photographers. This genre is so unique in many ways, and the standard of work in this competition is through the roof. I really appreciate the judges seeing something special in my work, especially for an image that means to much to me.

Lastly, can you give us a glimpse into any upcoming projects you’re currently working on?

Right now I’m working on a series that makes creative use of frames to make dogs look like beautiful paintings (my Third Place image in the Studio category is part of that series!), and I also recently finished up a series with “painted” animals to showcase their unique markings and personalities.

More about Katie: https://www.katiebrockmanphotography.com/

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