✨ Soulful Harold: Our Entry for the Soul Searcher Challenge

The Challenge 🎯

Every once in a while, a photo challenge comes along that makes you pause and look a little deeper. The “Soul Searcher” challenge was exactly that — the brief asked for a high-angle shot full of connection.

I’ve been looking forward to this challenge since I signed up with Unleashed, because it’s the way we see our dogs every single day 🐶💙. And honestly? Almost every session I do naturally includes a Soul Searcher-style image. (I mean, who can resist those “look up at me” puppy-dog eyes?)

Meet Harold 🐾

Enter Harold — the cutest little guy with the biggest personality. He may be small in size, but don’t let that fool you. His eyes? They tell entire stories. And let’s be real, Harold worked the camera like he’s been waiting his whole life for this challenge. He nailed the soulful gaze, and yes… he got extra treat motivation for it 😂.

The Approach 📸

To meet the brief, I positioned myself high above Harold (not a problem for him — he’s used to looking up at his humans with those melt-your-heart eyes 🥺). We made sure his face was evenly lit, and I focused in tight on that soulful stare. As always, there were squeaks, silly noises, and plenty of laughs behind the scenes.

⚠️ Important note for photographers (or paw-rents with cameras): this type of shot only works if the dog is comfortable. Imagine a complete stranger standing over you with a giant black object in their hands while expecting eye contact 👀… yeah, that could be intimidating! Always move slowly, read the dog’s signals, and if they say “no thanks,” move on. Trust is everything, and there are plenty of ways to get gorgeous images without forcing the moment.

The Results 💖

While Harold’s photo didn’t land us in the Top 10 or Top 20 this time, I couldn’t be prouder of the way his personality shines through. Every challenge is less about ribbons and more about growth — pushing myself creatively, trying new techniques, and celebrating dogs like Harold who remind us why we do this in the first place.

And since almost every session includes at least one Soul Searcher image, I’ll be adding a little scrolling slideshow at the bottom of this blog with more soulful gazes to swoon over. (Warning: may cause heart melting 💖).

Looking Ahead 🔮

The sparkle doesn’t stop here. Each challenge teaches me something new and adds to my toolkit for the next adventure. And don’t worry — Harold is already campaigning to be my model again… I think he’s in it for the squeaky toys. 😉

Until Next Time… 🐾

Want to see more challenge entries? Stay tuned — the “City Slicker” challenge results are coming out soon, and I can’t wait to share what we created!

Until then, here’s to soulful gazes, silly squeaks, and every dog who lets us peek into their heart through the lens.

✨🐾💙

✨ The Sparkle in Their Eyes: A Soul Searcher Series ✨