Australian Pet & Animal Photographer of the Year 2019 announced

Melbourne photographer Belinda Richards from Frog Dog Studios was announced as Australian Pet & Animal Photographer of the Year at the...

Melbourne photographer Belinda Richards from Frog Dog Studios was announced as Australian Pet & Animal Photographer of the Year at the prestigious national Australian Institute of Professional Photography Awards, held in Sydney on 10-12 August 2019. 

“I was completely floored when I won! It is such an honour to be recognised in such a large and talented field of photographers. This was completely unexpected!” said Mrs Richards. 

The Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) Awards attract well over a thousand entries from around the country and overseas each year. The awards are highly contested and coveted as they have helped launch and establish many careers. 

All the entries are judged anonymously over three days by a panel of five judges who include some of the most qualified and renowned local and international photographers. 

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“I think my biggest strength in my work is connection. Having worked with animals for the majority of my working life I feel like my second language is Dog! I am able to intuitively see what the dog is going to do next which allows me to capture the perfect moment which then becomes the basis of my digital composites”.

Belinda’s photographs were highly placed being awarded two gold medals and one silver distinction and a silver medal.

Belinda also recently won the 2019 Nikon NZIPP International Photographer of the Year, 2019 Epson AIPP Victorian Pet/Animal Photographer of the Year and was awarded the AIPP Australian Emerging Photographer of the Year in August 2018.

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“The awards are such a great way to push yourself creatively and give you an idea of where you sit in the industry. It is a daunting and at times quite stressful thing to do but also one of the most incredible and rewarding things to be a part of. We are lucky as photographers to be a part of such a wonderful and supportive community”. said Belinda 

Mrs. Richards, a full time pet photographer spends her time extracting human like expressions from our canine companions. 

To see more of her award winning work, please visit www.frogdogstudios.com.au

MEDIA RELEASE, 15th August 2019