We　investigate　the　effect　of　the　dipole-dipole　interaction　(DDI)　on　the　photon　statistics　with　two　atoms　trapped　in　an　optical　cavity　driven　by　a　laser　field　and　subjected　to　cooperative　emission.　By　means　of　the　quantum　trajectory　analysis　and　the　second-order　correlation　functions,　we　show　that　the　photon　statistics　of　the　cavity　transmission　can　be　flexibly　modulated　by　the　DDI　while　the　incoming　coherent　laser　selectively　excites　the　atom-cavity　system＇s　nonlinear　Jaynes-Cummings　ladder　of　excited　states.　Finally,　we　find　that　the　effect　of　the　cooperatively　atomic　emission　can　also　be　revealed　by　the　numerical　simulations　and　can　be　explained　with　a　simplified　picture.　The　DDI　induced　nonlinearity　gives　rise　to　highly　nonclassical　photon　emission　from　the　cavity　that　is　significant　for　quantum　information　processing　and　quantum　communication.　©　2016　Chinese　Physical　Society　and　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.