Dog photos are most successful when they're engaging, when they show the personality of the dog and make you feel like you're right there with them when you're looking at the photo. For maximum engagement, you just can't go past a doggy head tilt.

The jury is out on exactly why they do it, but it's thought to be in order to hear us better. A change in head and ear position can help them more accurately locate the direction and distance of a sound.

Whatever the reason they do it, it's always something to strive for in your work to take the expression and emotion of your photo to the next level.

The "Say What?" challenge is all about capturing those tilting heads. After much deliberation (seriously, this is one of the best-ever sets of challenge submissions), here are the top 10 images. Huge congratulations to the photographers.

- Craig & Charlotte 📸 🐶 ✨

Tracey Walker | Tracey Walker Art

This is SUCH a fun, humourous image. But there are lots of lovely little details too, from the human feet outstretches, to the face being mostly obscured and the little shadows on the wall. With all that said, you just can't go past that gorgeous expression and head tilt.

Marie Wulfram | Marie Wulfram Photography

Beautiful depth and textures are created using the ferns, the textures and pattern of the dog's fur works well in this setting too. Of course, the head tilt is also excellent and fits the challenge brief perfectly.

Allison Schwickerath | Allison Mae Photography

This is a really different and engaging expression. Not your typical head tilt, but there's a lovely emotive quality to it that is perfect for the "Say What?" challenge

Annabel Richman

Beautifully composed and combined with the paws over that edge, the gorgeous head tilt and the pastel pink setting, this is a lovely image filled with whimsy.

Julie Cork | J Cork Photography

The slightly elongated features down to the use of a wider angle lens really bring character to this shot. Lovely expression and a great heat tilt make this an excellent Say What? image.

Jonathan Yearsley | Jonathan Yearsley Pet and Equine Photography

This has a very classic, almost painterly feel. It could easily hang in an ornate frame in a stately home somewhere. Lovely depth and colour and an excellent head tilt.

Chantal Levesque | Chantal Levesque Photo

There's a lovely sift and ethereal feel to this image. The colour palette is lovely and the bandana ties it all together. The beautiful expression and head tilt really complete the shot for a super engaging portrait.

Courtney Bryson | CM Bryson Photography

This is a very simple image done incredibly well. The tones are harmonious throughout, the expression is wonderfully whimsical and the tilt is great!

Fiona Lovett

This image has an epic feel. The dog is lit and up front and centre with a gorgeous head tilt. But the light falling on the hills and buildings in the background is so cinematic. The backlight hitting the dog's left really finished it all off beautifully.

Darlene Woodward | Pant the Town Photography

Stunning colour and tonality, gorgeous expression, lovely head tilt, and the super low angle really immerses us in the dog's world too.

Embark is made up of 12 challenges over 6 months and is the first interactive course in the Unleashed Challenges series.

Much more than just a challenge, Embark is an invaluable educational resource that will help you build up a go-to list of shots to help create variety in your work. Designed for anyone to be able to complete whether you just want to photograph your own dog or you are a professional pet photographer.

If you'd like to know more head over here to register your interest and we'll send you all the details when enrollment next opens in April 2023.