About
Jessica McGovern FBIPP FSWPP
Dumfriesshire’s high-profile dog & horse photographer.
Jessica McGovern creates captivating artwork from the ordinary through a combination of creative vision, photographic skill, Fine Art retouching, printing, and bespoke framing.
She’s taught dog photography internationally, won internationally, and has a truly international community of students too.
As a multi-award-winning, internationally renowned photographer, Yorkshire-born Jessica thrives on creating conceptual pieces and stunning portraiture to suit specific spaces. It always starts with a brief, a subject and a location - these can be decided by either party for as much or as little creative control as you would like.
Equine, canine, human or something else, there’s nothing that cannot be paired with a bit of Scottish magic to result in a genuine, one-of-a-kind piece of art.
“Jess’ photos make my heart smile everytime I see them, and I will never be able to thank her enough for a gift I will always treasure.”
Jessica is titled as a photographic leader across regional, national and international industry associations, including:
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Jessica is focussing on other projects in 2024 but she has entered a handful of competitions including:
2024 Overall International Photographer of the Year in 20x16 Print:
With the 90+ scoring print “Abandoned”, which highlights the plight of dogs in rescue who have all been abandoned in some way.
2024 International Open Photographer of the Year in 20x16 Print:
For “Abandoned” as above.
2024 International Pet Photographer of the Year in 20x16 Print:
Scoring 94 for an image titled “Still”, shot at sunrise in the Lakes, this award from the Societies is very highly coveted.
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Jessica is focussing on other projects in 2023 but she has entered a handful of competitions including:
2023 International Pet Photographer of the Year in 20x16 Print:
Taking the title and 2 of the 3 finalist spaces with outdoor portraiture, this award from the Societies is very highly coveted.
3rd in Overall International Photographer of the Year in 20x16 Print:
An insane achievement with the image competing against 550+ prints in all different categories from wedding to commercial and everything in between.
Fellowship in Portraiture:
The highest accolade a photographer can achieve, this success with the Societies of Photographers is the second of Jessica’s successful Fellowship panels.
Fellowship in Portraiture:
The third of Jessica’s successful Fellowship panels came in October, this time with the BIPP.
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Jessica is focussing on other projects in 2022 but she has entered a handful of competitions including:
2022 PPOTY Finalist x2:
In both the digital and print competitions for The Societies, Jessica achieved the highest scoring outdoor pet portrait, resulting in a top 3 placing.
2022 EPPOTY 4th Place:
In early 2022, Jessica achieved 4th place in the coveted European Photographer of the Year contest with the FEP. She placed highest for outdoor portraiture.
2022 NPPOTY:
In early 2022, Jess achieved the Northern Pet Photographer of the Year from the Master Photographers Association.
2022 YDAPOTY & YIFAPOTY:
In July Jessica achieved the Yorkshire Domesticated Animals Photographer of the Year and the Yorkshire Illustrative & Fine Art Photographer of the Year from the BIPP.
All other competitions have not completed yet.
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Jessica received a total of 65 acknowledgements, awards, mentions and titles in 2021 including:
2021 NEPOTY & NPPOTY:
In early 2021, Jess achieved the Northern Equine Photographer of the Year & the Northern Pet Photographer of the Year from the Master Photographers Association.
2021 ND Panoramic POTY:
In the summer of 2021, Jess achieved the Panoramic Photographer of the Year from the ND Awards, a part of the ND Magazine group.
2021 Honorable Mentions:
In the 2021 Awards Season, Jess received a wide variety of HM titles including some additional Bronze & Silver awards in the International sessions, including the International Photography Awards, ND Awards and the Prix de la Photographie Paris.
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2020 PPOTY:
Jess was honoured to receive the 2020 Pet Photographer of the Year at the International Master Photography Awards from the MPA in October 2020. Jess won this award under her maiden name, Jessica Wealleans.
2020 PPOTY & RU:
Jess also secured the Pet Portrait of the Year along with the runner-up for the same title from The Guild of Photographers.
