About Em boyle
Hi, I’m Em – dog mum, photographer, and the human behind Em Boyle Photography. I specialise in photographing dogs (and their people) across the natural beauty of Aotearoa – from Upper Hutt forests to the rugged beaches around the Wellington region. My pet photography is about more than just photos, it’s about capturing connection, character, and preserving the legacy your dog leaves behind.
where it began
Having received my first camera for my sixth birthday, I’ve had a passion for photography since and am rarely found without a camera around my neck. Even as a child, my favourite thing to photograph was always animals.
Having travelled the world extensively (including every country in Europe), I often saw my love of photography culminating in travel and landscape inspired imagery. However, unable to travel for a couple of years due to COVID, in 2021 I found myself enjoying taking photos of my rough collie. I invested in my learning and I am now honoured to be an international award winning pet photographer.
Rhys G.
“Definitely knows what to look for and what backgrounds, positions to place the doggo in. Works with the capabilities of the dog. Can’t recommend enough.”
Meet the family
When I’m not photographing Wellington’s goodest dogs, you’ll often find me at home spending time with (or photographing!) my own two pups.
My husband and I have two dogs, Finlay and Jake. We also had a cat Scratch who we recently lost in May 2025.
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JAKE
4YO | ROUGH COLLIE X GOLDEN RETRIEVER
The most loyal and cuddly pup you’ll meet! He’s the one that dog people absolutely adore, with his energetic, quirky and loving personality. Nowadays, Jake is my best model and knows his job so well. He’s also taught me so much about reactive dogs and how to best work with him during shoots to keep him comfortable and calm.
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FINLAY
7YO | ROUGH COLLIE
My first dog, my soul dog. Fin has brought so much joy to my life and has shown me how incredible the connection is between dogs and their humans. Unfortunately Fin was unlucky with his genetics and has a lot of health problems, so while he gets SUPER excited when the camera bag comes out, he comes along more for location scouting these days and leaves the modelling to Jake.
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Scratch (RIP)
BEST KITTY OF ALL TIME
With my husband for 12 years, this is the most affectionate (and often annoying!) cat I’ve ever come across. He would meet us out in the driveway whenever we got home, sleep on our faces each night, and as my dad said, “had no limit to the amount of love and pats he could receive.” He’s definitely left a gap in our household and I regret not photographing him more.
What I’ve Achieved
I enter photography awards not for the trophies, but to stay sharp. Competitions challenge me to keep pushing creatively and technically - to hold my work to the highest (and exceeding) professional standards.
Every image I submit is judged by international experts against thousands of entries from around the world. That means when you choose me as your photographer, you're choosing someone whose work consistently ranks among the best in the field, both internationally and here in New Zealand.
These accolades aren’t just for show – they reflect a commitment to craft, detail, and storytelling. And ultimately, that translates into better portraits, better artwork, and a better experience for you and your dog.
Alongside over 100 individual image accolades, Em has won, placed or been a finalist in the following photography competitions:
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Top 20 Finalist, Black & White, Asia Pacific Photography Awards
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Black & White Photographer of the Year, Asia Pacific Photography Awards
Portrait Photographer of the Year 2024, NZ Amateur Photography Awards
2nd Place, Pets, WPE Awards (2nd Half)
4th Place, Animals, Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers
62nd Place out of Top 100 Photographers in the World, WPE Awards
Photographers Bar, The Guild of Photographers
Top 10 Finalist, Creative Image of the Year, The Guild of Photographers
Finalist, Black & White, NZ Amateur Photography Awards
Finalist, Portrait, Asia Pacific Photography Awards
Finalist, Black & White Spider Awards
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2nd Place, Pets & People, Dog Photography Awards
3rd Place, Animal Image Makers Awards
36th Place, Top 100 Photographers in the World, WPE Awards
Finalist, Black & White Spider Awards
Em is also a proud member of the following Photography Associations:
the future
My goal is to become Wellington's top dog photographer by continually making every single client fall in love with their family's images along the way.
Having the skills to capture the moments that matter fills me with joy, and I definitely can't wait to work with you on your very own portrait session soon!
