Join Empower!
em•pow•er (ɛmˈpaʊ ər); 1. to invest with power, 2. to endow with an ability; enable.
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.
Enrolment for Empower is currently closed
Are you ready for an exciting new set of challenges?
Keen to be pushed, inspired and empowered?
Of course you are, that's why you're here!
After completing all twelve challenges in both Embark and Emerge, you know just how valuable these Unleashed Challenges are.
You know how they motivate you to get out and shoot while bonding with your own dog, or finding new dogs to work with to expand your portfolio and even generate some income or hype around your business in the process.
You know what a great little community we have created, and you want to continue to let your peers around the world uplift and support you on your journey.
We’ve put our extensive experience and knowledge into creating twelve brand new challenges for you, that we just know you are going to love! Plus, we're welcoming three special guest instructors who are experts in their genres, to instruct, inspire and motivate you - and provide that all-important feedback.
We can't wait to see you in Empower!
- Charlotte & Craig 🐶 📸 ✨
"It's such a unique opportunity, there's nothing out there like it. You will push yourself, you will learn. You will pay attention to the details. It will seep into your own work outside of the challenges. You can't help but grow as a photographer."
- Nancy Paynter, USA
How does it work?
Empower is an interactive dog photography course based on completing shooting challenges. The course runs for six months, and includes 12 challenges - a new one every two weeks. Plus, only in Empower, a bonus 13th challenge!
We guide you step-by-step through the creation of each shot.
We provide a full instructional video, behind-the-scenes footage, plenty of real-life examples and stories, a downloadable cheat sheet and daily encouragement and inspiration.
Meet your new friends in the community.
Each year we create a private group in our community just for Empower students! Get support, feedback and inspiration in this friendly and supportive Empower community.
At the end of each two-week challenge, you get feedback.
In a recorded feedback video we provide constructive critique (guaranteed to help you improve) and select the Top 10 images. This has been described by many as the most valuable part of the experience!
Get your work shared.
Get valuable exposure for your website, blog or social media accounts if your submission is selected for the Top 10 - we share on our socials and blog.
Finish up with final celebration of all your hard work.
At the end of the six month course, we wrap up with the Empower Awards! We assess all the completed image portfolios and choose an overall winner plus second and third place, plus an overall winner of each individual challenge.
Extend your skills even further and challenge yourself with Empower!
"I'm no longer afraid of trying new things because I know with practice, learning new techniques can be a lot of fun."
- Hope Kuo, USA
We don't just throw themes at you and leave you to your own devices...
We show you how to shoot capture these diverse shot ideas, with instructional videos, cheat sheets and some fun behind-the-scenes videos into our own photo shoots!
Learn exactly how to create these shots...
What are you looking at?
Take the viewer on a guided tour through the frame. You create the map and help them navigate.
Let's break some lighting rules.
Create some drama through your lighting choices, but beware, direction is the most important element!
Celebrate the bond.
Focusing on capturing not only the pets we love, but the strong emotions and relationships we share with them.
Play pupparazzi.
A technical challenge where you'll capture dogs performing jobs, with special guest Amy Johnson.
Colour blindness.
Remove the colour and focus on tone, shape, composition, contrast and texture. We love this one!
A deep dive.
A composition challenge all about creating a three-dimensional image in two dimensions. Are you in?
Fake it 'til you make it.
It's just not natural! We're in full cheat mode - bring your own light to this challenge and make your image shine.
Time for some mayhem!
Not one subject, or two subjects, but three subjects... or more! Bring on the edgy album cover photos.
Honesty is the best policy.
Real life, unstaged. Observe carefully and capture the moment in front of you with special guest An Di Prima.
Commercialise.
Get your marketing hat on for this one - sell the concept with special guests Nat and Bill from The Labs and Co.
Open after hours.
Shoot beyond your daytime comfort zone and create something a little outside the ordinary.
Leaping lunacy.
A rocket-fuelled challenge to really test your skills. Action superstar models are required for this one.
Plus, only in Empower...
The 13th Challenge
Spread your wings and show us what you're capable of. We want to see your best photo of the year. It's exactly what it says on the box - Anything Goes!
Plus our special guest instructors...
This time, we're mixing it up a little with some very special guest instructors who will be presenting three of the challenges and also joining us for the feedback videos.
Amy Godfrey Johnson
An Di Prima
Based in Scotland, 2023 International Documentary Pet Photographer of the Year An Di Prima is well known for her Podenco Project, documenting the stories of this misunderstood and mistreated breed.
An will be joining us for Dogumentary in Empower.
Nat Martinez & Bill Parsons
Founders of The Labs and Co, Nat and Bill are masters of commercial pet photography. Based in Northern California they have been photographing pets for over 14 years and worked with some of the world's best known pet brands.
Nat & Bill will be joining us for Product Placement in Empower.
"Each challenge has pushed me a bit further and really helped with my confidence. The whole Embark, Emerge and Empower process has equipped me with the skills to get the shots I'm after. The group has been amazingly supportive and such a safe place to make mistakes... and not feel it's the end of the world! Thank you - you have created such an amazing learning environment."
- Rebecca Williams, New Zealand
Enrolment for Empower is currently closed
Here's what some of our previous Empower students had to say about their experience...
