I Made the Top Ten! | Colouriffic Challenge Entry

On May 11th, I joined a 6-month-long pet photography challenge that I’ve been so excited about! Every two weeks, we receive a themed brief to interpret creatively with our cameras. The first challenge, titled "Colouriffic", was due last Saturday—and I have some exciting news to share...

🎉 I MADE THE TOP TEN! 🎉
(Out of 80 entries!)

This challenge was all about color, vibrance, and capturing the spirit of our pets in a vivid and unforgettable way. To give myself the best shot at finding the perfect image, I photographed three different dogs in three separate sessions, each one full of personality and color.

👉 Want to see the magic of post-processing?
Check out the before & after slider on the images below!
It's a fun peek into the transformation from raw photo to finished artwork.

🖼️ Session One: Holly the Black Lab

This shoot was with my dear friend Angie and her sweet therapy dog, Holly, a gorgeous black Labrador Retriever. Holly is an experienced model and always brings patience and charm to the set. We headed downtown to scout out some bold murals, and landed on one that was absolutely bursting with color.

Some photographer friends loved the explosion of hues behind Holly. Others found the background a little too busy—art is subjective, right? Either way, Holly nailed it as always, and I was thrilled with what we captured. (If you’re in Panama City, Florida, check out the mural behind El Weirdos for yourself!)

🎨 Session Two: Porsche the Painted Poodle

My second session was with Hayleigh and her fun-loving, rainbow-colored therapy Poodle, Porsche. We shot this session at the Visual Arts Center in Panama City, Florida—a perfect backdrop for such an artistic dog!

This session was full of laughter (and a few hilarious outtakes—stay tuned!). Porsche’s unique look is full of purple and aqua tones, which just so happen to be the brand colors of Unleashed Education, the organization running the challenge. That felt like a sign.

💚 Session Three: Gus the Laid-Back Cattle Dog

The final contender was Gus, Tina’s lovable therapy dog and an Australian Cattle Dog with the perfect mix of calm and sass. We shot his session at the Margaritaville Adirondack chair in Pier Park, Panama City Beach—a playful and vibrant location that perfectly matched Gus’s vibe.

It was a hot day, and Gus made it clear that modeling was only happening if he could lie down. I obliged! His relaxed pose against that striking lime green backdrop turned out to be simple, strong, and totally eye-catching.

🏆 The Winning Shot

In the end, it was Porsche’s vibrant portrait that felt just right. The colors, the composition, and her playful presence just screamed "Colouriffic." After plenty of edits to fine-tune every detail, I submitted it—and I’m so proud it made the Top Ten!

Don’t forget to use the before/after sliders above to see how each image came to life through careful editing. It’s one of my favorite parts of the creative process.

Interested in a Portrait Like This for Your Pet?

This challenge is just the beginning! I love capturing the joy, color, and character of every dog I photograph. If you'd like to book a creative, bold, or even whimsical portrait session for your pet—I’d love to hear from you!

Let’s make something beautiful together.

📸 [Contact Me] or [Book a Session Now]

🐶 Want your pup to be part of a creative shoot like this?

I’m still looking for models! Fill out the model call form here!

Tags: #PetPhotography #DogPortraits #PoodlePower #AustralianCattleDog #BlackLabLove #ColorfulPets #TopTenPhotographer #UnleashedEducationChallenge #PanamaCityPhotographer #TherapyDogs #CreativeDogPortraits #BeforeAndAfterEdits