Achieving Recognition with The Guild of Photographers: My First Competition Results

Mid-2024, I joined The Guild of Photographers to benchmark my pet photography skills against professional standards. The Guild, one of the UK's most respected photography associations, runs monthly competitions called Image of the Month that let photographers test their work against international judging criteria.

I decided to put my pet portraits to the test and submitted six images to The Guild of Photographers' Image of the Month competition. The results? Two silvers, two bronzes, and one qualified merit - a solid start for my first entries. The silver awards featured Riley the Saluki in autumn woodland and Moose the whippet showing off his personality while standing on a log.

About The Guild of Photographers' awards

The Guild of Photographers' Image of the Month competition uses a strict judging system where each level represents a specific standard:

Qualified Merit: Images at this level meet professional standards and are deemed suitable for clients. This is the first step on The Guild's recognition ladder.
Bronze Award: These images demonstrate strong technical skills and creativity, showing work notably above basic professional standards.
Silver Award: Reserved for images showing excellent technical and creative skills. These photos represent some of the best in their category.
Gold Award: Exceptional images that stand out for their technical excellence and artistic merit. These are rare and highly sought after.
Platinum Award: The ultimate recognition, so challenging that it hasn't been awarded in several years.

The Image of the Month competition isn't just about monthly recognition. These submissions count toward The Guild of Photographers' Photographer of the Year title and the prestigious Photographers Bar, awarded to those who maintain consistently high standards throughout the year.

For 2025, I'm committing to regular submissions in The Guild of Photographers' Image of the Month competition while working toward formal qualifications. This ongoing assessment helps ensure I'm delivering the highest quality pet portraits for my clients.

Want professional pet portraits that could be competition-worthy? Let's book a session for your four-legged friend.