ANDREW RAVEN
London Dog Photographer and Canine Portrait Artist
Pet Photographer of the Year 2025, British Photography Awards
I’m Andrew, the photographer behind Raven Imagery. Dogs entered my life unexpectedly and changed its direction completely.
How This Began
Viñales, Cuba - where it began
I didn’t grow up with dogs.
In fact, for most of my life, I knew very little about them.
That began to change while I was travelling through Cuba, where stray dogs seemed to find me almost everywhere I went.
I fed them whenever I could, sharing whatever food I had with me. Some approached because I had something to offer, while others simply appeared and chose to come along.
Even when my hands were empty, dogs I had only just met would follow me. Some joined me through the towns, while others came with me up mountains and became part of whatever adventure the day happened to bring.
I found it incredibly touching that they simply wanted to be with me.
One of those dogs was Cashew. She was so sweet and affectionate that, even now, it breaks my heart to think of her. I had known her for such a short time, yet when I returned home, I missed her far more than I expected.
I thought about the other dogs too, especially those who had simply chosen to walk beside me. Their trust, their affection and the way they stayed close, even when I had nothing to give them, remained with me long after I returned home.
Through those encounters, I began to see dogs differently: as individuals, each with their own history, sensitivities, pace and way of moving through the world.
When I returned to England, I wanted to understand them properly and find a meaningful way to give something back.
I began volunteering with rescue dogs, and that decision became the first step towards Raven Imagery. I will always be grateful to Cashew for changing the way I saw dogs, and ultimately, the direction of my life.
What Followed
Volunteering with rescue dogs quickly showed me how different every dog could be. Some came forward straight away, seeking affection and reassurance, while others needed time and space before they felt safe. I learnt quickly that trust could not be hurried and that paying attention mattered far more than trying to take control.
I was still working as an engineer, but I began photographing dogs in my spare time. My earliest portraits were all of rescue dogs looking for homes. I hoped the photographs might help people pause and see who they were, rather than only the kennel around them.
I wanted to understand them properly, so I studied canine behaviour and handling and completed canine first-aid training. Together with my rescue work, this taught me to notice the smaller signals, recognise when a dog needed more space and shape each session around the dog in front of me.
Over time, photography became far more than something I fitted around my working life. I left corporate life and founded Raven Imagery.
Everything I learnt from stray and rescue dogs continues to shape the way I work today: taking the time to understand each dog, respecting what they need and creating photographs that feel true to who they are.
What Photography Means to Me
Some of my happiest mornings are spent alone with a camera, walking through London before the streets become busy. I notice the first light falling across a familiar building, a reflection changing a street, or a place I have passed many times suddenly looking completely different.
I often find myself returning to the same places again and again, sometimes dozens of times, because they are never quite the same twice. The light shifts, the streets reveal small details I hadn’t noticed before, and ideas I’ve been carrying for months suddenly click into place. It’s the act of looking closely, waiting patiently, and staying curious that I love most about photography.
That curiosity also shapes my portraits. I choose each location around the dog, their character, their comfort, and the way they move through the world. I think about how the light will fall, what the place adds to their story, and how everything might come together in that moment. London may set the stage, but it is always the dog who holds the frame.
Recognition I Am Proud of and Grateful For
I never set out chasing awards. The most important lessons I have learnt about photographing dogs came from patience and the hours I spent in kennels, learning to understand what a dog was telling me before I ever raised the camera.
Even so, having the work recognised more widely has meant a great deal. In 2025, I was named Pet Photographer of the Year at the British Photography Awards. That same year, a series of photographs from Iconic Dogs of London was awarded Bronze at the 1839 Awards, while other portraits received Honourable Mentions at the Dog Photography Awards. In July 2026, I received Gold at the reFocus Awards. Most recently, in August 2026, three further photographs received Gold, Silver and Bronze awards at the International Pet Photography Awards.
My work has also appeared in The Times, The Sunday Times and other publications, and has been featured on BBC One and ITV.
When a session begins, the dog in front of my camera knows nothing about awards or press. They only know whether they feel safe, respected and understood, and that will always matter most.
Dog Photography Talks & Guest Appearances
Alongside my photography, I occasionally give relaxed talks about dog photography, working with each dog’s individual personality in front of the camera and creating photographs that feel natural and individual. Recent talks and appearances have included National Dog Day at Control Room B, Battersea Power Station, and The Ultimate Schnauzer Sunday at Love My Human Townhouse in Chelsea, where I shared practical photography advice and stories from my work.
The Dogs Who Started All of It
Every session still catches me somehow, even now. The way they lean their full weight into the person they trust most. The half-second before a tail begins to move. A glance over the shoulder for reassurance before they settle again.
I have photographed them at Horse Guards Parade at dawn, inside some of London's grandest hotels, including Raffles London at The OWO, Brown's Hotel, and The Lanesborough, on residential streets and in gardens I would never find again without a map. Wherever we are, it is usually the smallest moments that stay with me.
The flick of an ear. The particular way they lean against the person they love. The second they turn to check that their person is still there. I notice these things because I treasure them in my own life with Jack Jack. They are the little details that become part of loving them, and the ones we never want to forget.
They pass so quickly. A photograph is the only way I know to hold on to them.
Every dog was born an icon. My work is simply to prove it.
I would love to hear about the dog who is your whole world.
