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 aim of the Up Ups challenge is 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, and we think this is our strongest top 10 for Embark so far this year! Here, in no particular order, our those 10 images.

- Charlotte & Craig 🐶 📸 ✨

Abi Bradbury | Abi B Photography

The lovely soft light and hazy background give this a dreamy feel. The angles of the pose and elevation of the front paws are sublime and make the dog feel heroic!

Claire Penno | Flagstaff Photography

Beautiful colour palette, wonderfully seen texture that works with the texture of the dog. The posing is excellent.

Melissa Mattingly

What a joyous image, the expression, and the colour palette all scream happiness. There's a childlike quality of a little one at the park on their favourite climbing apparatus!

Michaela Trujillo | BMAC Pet Photography

There's something really engaging in the tentative footstep and expression of this dog. The spotty ears mirrored by the spots on the rocks, the leading lines pull you in and hold you at the centre. 

Nancy Grice 

This has so much to enjoy, the detail and texture almost like line drawings, but al the while the dog is the central focal point. Beautifully lit and edited, and a really fun elevation with the wider angle giving the paws a larger than life appearance.

Nicola Stewart

What a striking image filled with warmth. The posing is stunning, the expression undeniably engaging and the textures and colours all work harmoniously with one another.

Nikki McDonald | Royal Tails Photography

Fantastic use of light to emphasise the texture of the fur. Great use of negative space and the posing up on the rock is just what we're looking for in the Up Ups challenge.

Polona Železnikar

A Beautiful direction of light, fantastic tones and the prefect use of framing elevate this Up Up into the top 10!

Rachel McCready | Furtographer

The atmosphere of this is wonderful. Cool tones, a hint of the environment provided by the wind parted fur, and a lovely sense of the location too.

Tehya Hunter | Collie Tales Pet Photography

Those crossed paws! Beautiful light and another stunning colour palette. Gorgeous expression and bright sparkly eyes that draw you right in!

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.