Unleashed Education Emerge Challenge

Six months, twelve challenges, seven Top 10s, one win, and a whole lot of growth.

I’ve just completed the Emerge Challenge – a six-month creative challenge run by Unleashed Education – and I’m feeling incredibly proud and grateful.

Some of you might remember I did my first challenge, Embark, during lockdown back in 2022. We were confined to our farm, and I was photographing our senior dogs Daisy, Luna and Harvey. My confidence was at rock bottom and I didn’t complete it on time. But I finished it self-paced last year – and that was the spark I needed to step into this one.

Emerge was a new challenge every two weeks. If you submitted your image by the deadline, you received feedback from two incredibly generous mentors, Charlotte and Craig. I submitted every single challenge. And I’m thrilled to share I placed in the Top 10 for seven of them, was awarded Overall Winner for Under Cover, and my portfolio was Highly Commended.

From the very first brief (Framed), I felt something shift. My creativity opened up, and I decided to complete as much of Emerge as I could in the studio – a space that’s become a real source of joy for me. There’s something deeply grounding about working in the studio – the light, the quiet, the intentionality of it all. It’s where my love for fine art dog photography has truly taken root.

Jesse was the absolute star of the show – he featured in six of my seven Top 10 images, and worked with me so willingly, always up for whatever I asked of him. He’s steady, soulful, and gives me everything I need without fuss. And Sprite, once my shy girl, found her groove too. She blossomed in front of the camera, growing more confident with every challenge.

There were other highlights too. I got to know my new Wootton friend Nicole and her gorgeous border collie Gary, and together they helped me bring two challenges – Pantastic and Shake – to life. Neal, my ever-patient husband, helped with some of the trickier concepts, and even he was chuffed when those ideas landed me a Top 10 spot. And through it all, I found connection and camaraderie with other artists in the Unleashed community, many of whom were cheering each other on behind the scenes.

To Charlotte and Craig – thank you for the care and insight you brought to your feedback. Your critiques didn’t just make me a better photographer – they made me braver. You helped me push beyond what I thought I was capable of.

And to my wonderful circle: Neal, Nicole, Gary, Jannene, Kelly, and most of all Jesse and Sprite — thank you for being part of the magic.

Next up? The Empower Challenge in 2026. It’s the next level – more technical, more creative, and definitely more challenging. I’ve never been particularly competitive, but something has stirred. There’s a fire now – a renewed sense of purpose and play.

Bring it on. Not just for the thrill of it, but to keep growing as an artist, so I can tell your dog’s story with even more depth and soul.

Studio and Outdoor Dog Photography from the Emerge Challenge

Below are the images I created during Emerge — each one tells a little piece of our story together.

2026 Empower Challenge

Projects like this only work with dogs who are happy to engage at their own pace. I’ve signed up for the 2026 Empower Challenge, and if you think your dog might be a good fit to be considered, I’d love to hear from you.