One dog photography technique that works wonders for dogs who tend to wander is putting them up on something. Fallen logs, benches, rocks or steps all make great platforms for encouraging them to stay in one place. While elevating the dog also has many other benefits. Elevating them is a great alternative to getting down low.

The Up Ups challenge was simple, elevate a dog up on something and capture a great image!

We had a lot of submissions for this challenge so narrowing them down to a top ten was tough. But these are, in no particular order, our ten favourites of this challenge.

- Craig & Charlotte 📸 🐶 ✨

Annabel Richman

What a wonderful idea and a great way to use this sculpture to enhance an original idea, rather than rely on the piece to make the image. Great use of black and white, lovely composition and a very good take on this challenge brief.

Tracey Walker | Tracey Walker Art

Fantastic humour, great story telling and an excellent up up!

Chantal Levesque | Chantal Levesque Photo

Moody and stormy yet soft and ethereal. This is a wonderful submission that has the dog perfectly posed on a rock in the calm before the storm.

Tiffany Wilson | Tiffany Wilson Pet Photography

We always love a good 'dog on a log' shot, but this takes that idea to the next level! This is beautifully composed, shot, and edited with lots of gorgeous detail, all while making sure the dog is the absolute focus of the image.

Courtney Bryson | CM Bryson Photography

There's a lovely subdued mood in this image, really elevated by the misty weather and the dog's calm and serene pose and expression. 

Pauliina Saarinen | Pauliina Saarinen Photography

The depth in this composition is great, the use of the location and giant tress and foliage really give it a sense of place. Fantastic posing and expression.

Fiona Lovett

What an engaging expression from this little corgi enjoying their adventures in the rain! The composition really leads you through the image and it's a really lovely edit 

Nicole Wesley

How adorable is this tiny pooch! Really engaged expression, lovely light and a detailed edit.

Jilian Turner | Gone To the Dogs Photography

This is a super striking portrait not least because of the stunning pose and location. But also the editing treatment and depth created really enhance the mood of this up ups shot.

Lauren Clark | DesiLu Pet Portraits

Beautiful colours, excellent composition and a solid, comfortable-looking dog doing their best up ups!

Embark is made up of 12 challenges over 6 months and is the first interactive course in the Unleashed Challenges series.

Much more than just a challenge, Embark is 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 and we'll send you all the details when enrollment next opens in April 2023.