For our 9th challenge of Empower, we were joined by special guest instructor An Di Prima of The Faithful Hound Photography. Andi is an accomplished portrait photographer based in Scotland and was the winner of the documentary category in the 2023 International Pet Photography Awards.

So naturally Andi was out guest instructor for the Dogumentary challenge.

Highlighting story-telling images that have been created using traditional photographic processes with no heavy editing and no composite techniques. Capturing something in-camera that speaks to the photographer.

We were completely blown away by this challenge. It's a style of photography not often seen in the pet photography space and our challengers really embraced this theme.

Here are our top 10 images for this challenge. We invite you to sit with them for a while and read the beautifully told stories contained within these frames, congratulations to our photographers for creating this heartfelt and captivating work.

- Charlotte & Craig 🐶 📸 ✨

Chantal Levesque | Chantal Levesque Photo

This is a spectacular shot that is energetic, dynamic and masterfully captured. So much is contained within this frame to enjoy and guide the viewer to the story, the light coming through the water droplets add so much emotion!

Courtney Bryson | CM Bryson Photography

What a naughty little kitten, defiant in its hunger! This has great humour, great framing and the editing treatment is very nicely executed.

Immie Keizer-Westra | Keizer Fotografie

What a graphic image, using the light coloured tiles to great advantage. The expression of the dog is excellent and all the little accessories tell us exactly what we need to know to fully understand what the story is.

Iris Van Velzen | Iris van Velzen Fotografie

What a great shot of this guardian tending his herd! The goats frame the central character fantastically and then you wonder around all the little personalities and not on scratching another peeking in on the right and continue to explore.

Jennifer Patterson | Blue Moose Photography

Speedy, what precious souls you and your friends are! There is a lot to enjoy in this image and the more you sit with it the more you notice and interpret. Beautiful storytelling that uses depth of field well to tell it.

Kelly Pettitt | Kelly Pettitt Photography | Speed Noodle Studio

What a great use of framing, using the human legs. The gentle centre of the dog going to nuzzle in to the hand is wonderful.

Magda Szklarska | Your Best Furiend Photography

What a precious moment, beautifully captured. The expression of the dog is where our eye lands and the we explore the frame, the humans, the location, and we come back and rest at the dog. Fabulous composition! 

Megan Purtell | Megan Purtell Photography

This gave all three of us an instant emotional reaction, which we believe is the mark of a great image. It's beautifully shot, heart felt and poignant.

Nancy Paynter 

This dog wins the award for most patriotic dog! The way it is sitting in the buggy is so heroic! The little hints of it being some kind of parade in the background add to this heroism. The light, which is challenging when it's this bright in the middle of the day, is very well handled.

Rebecca Williams |  Rebecca Williams Photographer

There is much to take in when viewing this image. the obvious action, the different expressions on the sheep, the horses, the little collie longing to join in. And it's all bundled up together in this beautiful light.

Are you ready to transform your pet photography in just 6 months?

The Unleashed Challenges are a series of 3 interactive challenge based courses, Embark, Emerge and Empower. Each one with 12 challenges running over 6 months. 

Much more than just a challenge, Then Unleashed challenges are an invaluable educational resource that will help you build up a go-to list of shots to help create variety in your work. Designed for anyone to be able to complete whether you just want to photograph your own dog or you are a professional pet photographer.

If you'd like to know more head over here to register your interest.