Well, look who made Top 10 in the second round of Unleashed Education’s Embark Challenge! 🎉 Spoiler alert: it’s me. Okay—technically it’s Mabel, but I did drive and carry the snacks, so I’m claiming partial credit.

This challenge was all about the theme “Get Down”, which meant capturing dynamic low-angle portraits. Naturally, I decided to go big—as in, drive up into the scenic Black Hills and took Mabel on her very first real Black Hills adventure. We headed to the stunning Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park. Not a bad spot for your first modeling gig in the mountains, am I right?

Aunt Toni was busy that day (how dare she have a life), so I recruited my husband to step in as the official leash wrangler and light stand substitute. He did great—10/10 for effort, even if Mabel did try to negotiate better treat distribution. Teamwork makes the mountain magic happen!

Let’s just say it was a whole thing. Between the tourists, the rocks, the wind (again), and the sheer excitement of being somewhere new, Mabel had plenty to take in. But once we found our spot and she settled into “model mode,” magic happened. Light bouncing off her ears, unique rocks in the background, Mabel giving me those “treat now, photo later” eyes. It was everything I hoped for and more.

And the best part? Our image placed Top 10 out of over 100 entries in an international challenge full of incredible talent. I’m still kind of floored. 

But beyond the excitement, this one meant a lot. It wasn’t just a photo—it was a memory. A real, beautiful moment from our first hiking session together. That’s the kind of experience I want to create for you and your pet too. These aren’t just “pictures in nature.” They’re adventures. They’re bonding time. They’re part of your story together.

Want to see all the winning images (including ours)? Check out the official blog post from Unleashed Education right here:
👉 https://www.unleashed.education/blog/embark-2025-get-down-top-10

So if you’ve ever dreamed of a photo session that’s more than just pretty poses—if you want to explore, play, and make some core memories with your dog against a breathtaking South Dakota backdrop—I’m ready to plan something special just for you.

Sylvan Lake is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more chaos, challenges, and cuteness.

—Erica (and Mabel, now accepting booking inquiries through her agent—me)