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Dear WDPA Members,
As we reach the end of another year, I want to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come together in 2025. It has been a year of progress, collaboration, and continued growth for our association — and I am immensely grateful to work with our community.
A Year of Meaningful Progress
One of our proudest achievements this year has been the continued development of our agreement with the FCI. We are moving forward step by step, strengthening the WDPA’s position as a trusted and valued organization within the global canine community.
In 2025, we were honored to be an official Partner of the World Dog Show in Helsinki, where we hosted a truly beautiful WDPA Press Photo Award Ceremony on Saturday night. This year’s exhibition featured 77 entries and an impressive total of 113 images, showcasing the extraordinary talent within our membership.
A special highlight of the evening was presenting the Media Award to the Finnish Kennel Club – a well-deserved recognition for their work and commitment.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Charles Allen from Birdbrook Rosettes, who generously sponsored our stunning award rosettes this year.
Standing up for our Profession: Challenges & Advocacy
The landscape around dog show photographers continues to evolve, and so do the challenges we face. Our advocacy efforts this year have been fruitful.
After open communication with the Italian Kennel Club, we agreed that there will be no photographer fees at the WDS in Bologna. I would like to recognize Vince Hogan from OurDogs for his help in this achievement. We have also established constructive dialogue with organizers of major shows in the upcoming years.
We produce a huge amount of imagery that tells the story of the purebred dog world in a unique and powerful way. I encourage more members to share their work with us – these images are one of our strongest assets when showing kennel clubs what we contribute in return for access and working conditions at their shows.
Building for the Future
This year we launched our Members Directory, now available on our website. Although only a few members have registered so far, we warmly invite all of you to be part of it. Simply send us an email to hello@worlddogpress.org if you’d like to be included.
We will begin promoting and advertising the directory next year once more profiles are added.
The board is also planning to introduce new marketing and promotional materials, as well as additional channels to help our members elevate their visibility. More details will be announced after the upcoming board meeting.
A significant milestone this year was our first online General Assembly, held on December 3rd. Attendance was low, so we hope to see more of you participate next year.
Updates on Membership and Press Cards
Starting in 2026, membership fees will increase to 35 € per year, accompanied by the introduction of an early payment discount of 10 €. This means that the effective membership fee will remain the same for everyone paying on time.
There will also be a 5 € surcharge for those who wish to receive a printed press card, in order to cover the cost of materials and shipping.
From now on, all membership payments will be processed through our website, unless agreed differently with Karl and Bettina.
If needed, you can reach the finance team at: hello@worlddogpress.org
Growing Stronger Together
With your support, dedication, and ongoing feedback, our association continues to grow stronger. Each member contributes to shaping the WDPA- your ideas, concerns, and experiences guide our steps forward.
With around 200 members from 80+ countries, we are a truly global community. I invite you all to share your ideas and thoughts. Whenever you see me at a show, please feel free to stop for a chat. Your voices are the heartbeat of this association.
Finally, I’d like to recognize Karl, who has spent over 25 years advocating for better working conditions for the press. His dedication inspires me to push forward and aim for official recognition of our association – putting us where we belong.
Season’s Greetings
On behalf of the entire board, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and warm holiday season.
May the New Year 2026 bring inspiration, success, and many unforgettable moments – both in and outside the dog world.
Warm regards,
Mak Dodan
