Paws for Sophie is a heart-led calendar contest and fundraiser proudly run by Allira Fontana Photography, with 100% of proceeds supporting Sophie’s Legacy, a charity committed to changing the conversation around mental health in the veterinary industry.
This initiative aims to raise at least $3,000 to help Sophie’s Legacy continue its vital mission: to create safe, supportive workplaces for veterinary professionals, raise national awareness of the mental health crisis within the industry, and influence real change through advocacy, education and policy reform.
Pet parents from across Sydney are invited to enter their pet’s photo for a chance to win a coveted spot in the 2026 Paws for Sophie Calendar. The top 13 pets with the most votes will be professionally photographed by Allira Fontana, featured in the calendar (with the most-voted pet earning the cover!), and help shine a light on an important cause.
Every vote is just $1, and every dollar goes directly to Sophie’s Legacy. After entering, don’t forget to share your pet’s entry with friends and family – the more votes, the more impact we can make together.
Calendars will be professionally printed and available for sale through the Allira Fontana Photography website from October.
Join us in celebrating the pets we love while honouring the people who care for them.
Prizes
The top 13 pets with the most votes will win a spot in the 2026 Paws for Sophie fundraising calendar and receive a professional pet photography session with Allira Fontana Photography.
Each session will run for approximately 60 minutes and take place at selected outdoor locations across Sydney between July and August 2025.
All winners will also have the opportunity to upgrade to a full-length session, which includes additional print credit and the chance to purchase wall art, albums, collections and packages following their session.
1st Place – Cover Star
The pet with the highest number of votes will be featured on the cover of the 2026 Paws for Sophie calendar.
The 1st place prize includes:
- A 60-minute professional pet photography session for the 2026 calendar
- An 11inch x 14inch inch glassless framed print of your chosen photo, valued at $400
- A $300 print credit to spend toward wall art, artworks, collections and packages
- A social media sized digital file of the calendar photo
2nd to 13th Place – Monthly Features
The next 12 pets with the highest number of votes will each be featured on one month of the 2026 calendar.
Each winner will receive:
- A 60-minute professional pet photography session for the 2026 calendar
- A $200 print credit to spend toward wall art, artworks, collections and packages
- A social media sized digital file of their calendar photo
All winners will also be invited to an online viewing and ordering appointment following their session to view and purchase additional products if they choose.
Please note: If your pet places in the top 13, you must be available to bring them to a photo session in Sydney on the selected dates and locations between July and August 2025. If you are unable to attend, your place will be offered to the next highest voted pet.
Please review the Contest Rules carefully for all submission guidelines. Entries that do not follow these rules will not be eligible to win. Fees for photo submissions and votes will directly support Sophie’s Legacy in their work to improve mental health awareness and outcomes within the veterinary industry and to create lasting, positive change for veterinary professionals across Australia.
Entry Rules
- Each photo entry requires a $5 fee.
- All breeds and types of pets are welcome to enter.
- A maximum of two pets per photo is allowed. Unfortunately, people cannot be included in the images
- Photos that do not follow the rules will be removed and will not be eligible to win. Entry fees are non-refundable.
- If a winning image includes two pets, they will share a month in the calendar if placed among the top 13 vote-getters.
- All images must be uploaded digitally. We cannot accept printed photos or images taken by professional photographers other than Allira Fontana.
- The submission period runs from 9:00:00 AM (AUS Eastern Time) on Monday, 02 June 2025 to 11:59:59 PM (AUS Eastern Time) on Monday, 30 June 2025.
- You can submit multiple entries, but posting more than one photo of your pet will not increase their chance of winning.
- The top 13 pets with the most votes will be selected for the 2026 calendar. The pet with the highest number of votes will be featured on the cover.
- Each pet can only win once. If multiple entries of the same pet place in the top 13, only the highest-ranked entry will be used, and the next eligible entry will take the remaining spot.