If you’ve ever wondered what I’m doing when I’m not actively photographing client sessions, here’s the honest answer: I’m still photographing dogs… but with homework.
I’ve recently started Embark, a 6-month, interactive, challenge-based online dog photography course through Unleashed Education. The entire purpose is to sharpen shooting skills, expand creative range, and create more variety in your work—without losing consistency or quality.
It’s structured, it’s a little intimidating, and it’s exactly the kind of thing I love—because it pushes me to grow on purpose, not just by accident.
And if you’re the kind of person who treats your dog like family (the best food, the best care, the best life), you’ll understand why I’m doing this: because your dog deserves photographs that feel just as considered as everything else you invest in for them.
What is the Embark Challenge?
Embark is a foundation 6-month online course that works a little like an accountability-driven creative bootcamp—specifically for dog photographers.
Here’s how it runs:
- There are 12 challenge categories
- We complete one challenge every 2 weeks
- Each submission is marked and we receive feedback both verbally and in writing
- A Top 10 is chosen for each round
- At the end of 6 months, there’s a winner for each category, and then one overall winner
But honestly? The award side of things is fun… the real value is the process. It forces you to practice skills you might not naturally choose, and it makes you refine the details that separate “a nice photo” from “wow, that belongs on the wall.”
Why I’m doing it (for the love of the craft… and for you)
First: I’m doing this because I genuinely love what I do.
Dog photography looks effortless when it’s done well, but it’s a craft that demands constant learning—light, timing, body language, location choices, focus accuracy, editing consistency, and the ability to adapt in real time to whatever mood your dog is in that day.
Second: I’m doing it because improving my skillset directly benefits my clients.
Most of my clients here in the Northern Rivers, NSW aren’t just looking for “a few cute photos.” They want something elevated and lasting—high-end artwork of their dog. The kind that sits proudly on the wall of a beautiful home. The kind of images that still feel special years from now.
So while Embark is absolutely a personal creative challenge, it’s also professional development that helps me deliver:
- more variety in your final gallery (without it feeling random)
- stronger composition and cleaner backgrounds
- more flattering angles (hello, legs and necks!)
- better use of light, especially in tricky situations
- more confident direction and a calmer session experience
- more consistent, premium-looking final images
The 12 Challenge Categories (and what they’re teaching me)
One of my favourite things about Embark is that the categories are practical. They’re not abstract ideas—they’re specific skills that make you better fast.
Here are the 12 categories we work through:
1. Colourific
Shoot against a coloured background and show colour harmony.
This is all about training my eye—choosing backgrounds, tones, and props that complement your dog’s coat and make the image feel intentional (not chaotic).
2. Get Down
Shoot from a really low angle while still showing all of the dog.
Low angles create drama and presence, but they’re technically tricky (focus, distortion, background clutter). This one is a game-changer for creating “hero” style portraits.
3. Composition 101
Get the subject centralized.
It sounds simple, but strong composition is what makes an image feel expensive. Centralized portraits can be striking when the framing is clean and confident.
4. Up Ups
Get the subject up on something.
This is about safely using height to create separation from the background, cleaner lines, and a more commanding pose—great for dogs with presence.
5. Dogscapes
A natural landscape with the animal as the main focal point (stitched images allowed).
This is very Northern Rivers in spirit—think beach, hinterland, forest trails. It’s storytelling plus technical skill: exposure, scale, and composition.
6. Soul Searcher
A photo from above looking into their eyes.
This one is all emotion. It’s connection. It’s for the people who look at their dog and feel their whole nervous system settle.
7. City Slicker
Urban dog photography with attention to man-made landscapes.
Not every dog photo has to be in nature. This teaches me how to use architecture, leading lines, and texture—perfect for clients who love a modern, editorial vibe.
8. Front Runner
Dog running directly towards you.
Technically demanding and SO satisfying. Fast autofocus, timing, and handling excitement without stress. Great for active dogs who love to move.
9. Say What?!
A dog that cocks its head.
This is about expression—capturing personality in a split second. The kinds of images you laugh at, but also want printed.
10. Glow Up
A backlit image.
Backlighting can be magical when it’s controlled: rim light, golden glow, dreamy atmosphere… and not just “washed out haze.”
11. Splash
A dog in the water.
Movement, reflections, fast shutter speeds, and water safety. Ideal for ocean-lovers, creek dogs, and anyone whose dog lives for a swim.
12. Party Time
More than one dog playing together.
This category is chaos management (in the best way). It teaches me to anticipate interaction and capture genuine play while keeping the scene visually clean.
What this means for your dog’s session
If you’re the kind of person that would like to send their dog a funny meme when you are at work, you’re my people. You’re not buying bargain anything. Your dog eats well, travels well, is trained (or training), and is deeply woven into your everyday life.
And because of that, your session should feel like an experience—calm, organised, and considerate of your dog—and it should result in artwork that looks like it belongs in your home.
This challenge improves my ability to:
- work confidently with different dog personalities (from “polished and obedient” to “sweet and chaotic”)
- create a wider range of images in one session: portraits, movement, wide scenic frames, close emotional frames
- deliver galleries with more “frame this immediately” images—not just a handful of good ones
Want your dog to be part of the challenge?
I’m looking for a limited number of dogs to feature as I work through these categories over the next six months. If you’re in the Northern Rivers, NSW, and you’d love your dog to be included, I’d love to hear from you.
How it works
Send me a message with:
- your dog’s name, breed, and age
- a quick description of their personality (confident, shy, playful, calm, water-lover, etc.)
- where you’re located (Ballina / Byron / Lennox / Bangalow / Mullumbimby / Lismore—anywhere local)
- which category you think your dog would be perfect for (or tell me their favourite thing to do!)
Call to action
If you’d like your dog to be part of my Embark Challenge sessions, email me / DM me on Instagram with the subject/message: “Embark Challenge Dog” and I’ll send you the details and next steps.
If you’ve been thinking about booking a session—especially if you want something modern, heartfelt, and wall-worthy—this challenge is one of the ways I’m making sure the work keeps getting better.
Because I’m not here to take the same photo 100 times.
I’m here to create photographs that feel like your dog—beautifully, consistently, and with intention—every single time.
