What pictures do best is capture a moment, and Robin Layton's work somehow captures the life of that moment. That's when your mind's eye does a double take. Her work has the power that great paintings do, generate an energy, a vibration.

With over 25 years as a photojournalist and countless noted photographs to her name, she is one of the greatest photographers of our time. By age 24, she was honored by LIFE Magazine as one of the eight most talented photographers in America. In 1991, her photo of a young soldier embracing his daughter while departing on the USS John F. Kennedy, was chosen to be part of the Smithsonian exhibits. Then on cue, at 34, she was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her photo story on runaway teens in downtown Seattle.

Robin is also an artist and filmmaker. She lives with her partner and 4 dogs in Seattle, Washington.

Robin's amazing dog photos are at the heart of the book, "A Letter to My Dog: Notes to Our Best Friends." The portraits are accompanied by moving letters from the famous--including Oprah, Michael Vartan, Colbie Caillat, Tony Bennett and many other celebrities—and not-so-famous, all of whom share a deep love for their dogs. For more information or to buy the book, visit www.alettertomydog.com or your favorite bookseller.

Learn more about Robin's work at www.robinlayton.com.

Seth Casteel is an award-winning photographer and New York Times Best Selling Author. His series of Underwater Dogs photographs have been seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world. Seth's work has been published in National Geographic, The New York Times and in hundreds of other magazines, newspapers and calendars. You may have also seen him on Good Morning America, EXTRA, The Insider and Inside Edition. He has traveled the world in pursuit of his passion, working with animals on five continents. His non-profit organization, SecondChancePhotos.org, helps to increase adoption rates at animal shelters through better photography.

He is based in Los Angeles and Chicago, and is the proud "dad" to two dogs, Nala the mini-labradoodle and Fritz, the Norwich Terrier. 

Learn more about Seth's work at LittleFriendsPhoto.com.

Actor Tricia Helfer may be best known for her star-turn as "Six" on the award winning series "Battlestar Galactica," from her work in films, or from her many roles on such popular TV series as "Burn Notice," "The Firm," and "Criminal Minds." But two of Tricia's favorite roles are animal advocate and cat mom.

Tricia has lent her time and talent to many an HSUS initiative on behalf of animals, including being a presenter at The HSUS' Genesis Awards.

At home, her feline brood includes cats from the age of four to twenty, all adopted or rescued. And while she isn't a professional photographer, the beautiful photo of her cat, Bug, is proof that even a non-pro can capture the personality, and the soul, of a beloved companion in a photo. It's that sensitivity and insight into animals that makes her a perfect judge for our pet photo pageant.

Find out more about Tricia on her website, keep up with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.