When we were setting the Empower briefs, we immediately had a multi-dog challenge in mind, building on the skills we taught for the Double Trouble challenge in Emerge. After all, who doesn't love groups of dogs (or other pets)?

"Multi Mania" is a portrait challenge so intentional posing and composition are a must and we wanted to see all dogs nicely in focus making sure the plane of focus was correct. In-camera captures were encouraged, but compositing techniques like head swaps were also allowed.

We were completely blown away (do we sound like broken records at this point?), but truly, one of the most incredible sets of submissions we've EVER seen. 🤯

We reckon a shoot gets about 10x more challenging for every extra animal added into the mix and you all rose to the challenge as always!</p><p>So this week we want to extend our congratulations to everyone who submitted for Multi Mania, and of course a special mention to our top 10. Well done everyone. 

Charlotte & Craig 🐶 📸 ✨

We provide video feedback on all images submitted for the challenge, and from there, we select our Top 20 and Top 10. Without further ado, here are the Top 10 images for this challenge!

Beatrix Szekelyi | @pawtion.dogphotography

We can't even begin to comprehend the difficulty level of this shot! Four stunning subjects, perfectly balanced and posed, and that glorious twilight sky. Perfection!

Carol Mudra | Apawture Studios

A creative studio technique has been used here to achieve the goal of multiple dogs, from just the one dog. It's an out-of-the-box submission that feels edgy and clever - we especially loved all those legs!

Clarice Olayvar | R Olayvar Photography

We can easily guess the cheeky characters of these three - great expressions on all of them. The posing works well to get the subjects close while also highlighting their unique physical characteristics. Nice work!

Gabriela Ciobanu | LightStories

Something original and unique will always catch our eye, and these three fish did the trick! We also loved the creepy stalker cat barely visible in the background - what a great piece of storytelling.

Ginger Wick | Ginger Wick Photography

From the engaged expressions to the perfection of the scene, this is a highly captivating image that we really enjoyed. The different looks and personalities of this pack are on show, and in such a fun way!

Jannene Meyer | Jannene Meyer Photography

Props have been used perfectly here to complement the dogs' colours, size and overall look and feel. All three dogs have engaged expressions and they've been "arranged" beautifully!

Jo Lyons | Jo Lyons Photography

The high quality of this image was immediately obvious, with so much lovely texture and colour to enjoy. All three dogs have engaged expressions and the image is beautifully lit.

Juliette Bercovici | Juliette Bercovici

What a fun shot - taking an often-done concept and putting a new spin on it has worked beautifully here. The placement of the subjects draws attention to their different heights and unique looks, with engaging expressions on all subjects, well done!

Melissa Schiestel

The differing and humorous expressions on all three subjects immediately captured our attention - three similar dogs with very different personalities. The symmetry works well and the colour palette is harmonious.

Samantha Alter | Samantha Brown Photography

A classic dog-on-a-log shot that has been executed perfectly with five dogs - we're on board for that! The subjects are arranged in a deliberate way, leading to balance and harmony, and each subject is sharp and has a great expression.

Empower is the advanced 6-month interactive challenge-based dog photography course in our Unleashed Challenges series, investing you with the power to refine your creativity and explore new horizons in dog photography.

Empower is open to students who have previously completed the first and second courses in the series, Embark and Emerge.

Want to be the first to hear when Embark opens for enrolment each year? Register your interest here.