They say winning isn’t everything, but that person probably didn’t have to wrangle 30 dogs for a photo. Jose Soares, who owns Woof Pack, a dog training and boarding facility in Miami, Florida, did just that.
Jose entered this photo in NextDoor's 2023 #LoveYourNeighborhood Photography Competition. He won the grand prize, beating out over 35,000 other photos. In doing so, he taught a lot of old dogs, some new tricks.
Jose’s photo first won the category #NeighborhoodCreatures before taking home the grand prize. He and his partner, Sandra Alvarez, co-own Woof Pack, so they are no strangers to getting the perfect dog photo.
"We've been doing group photos for years now,” Jose said. “We love working with the pack, and it has always been fun to get them to stay still while they look at the camera. Always a challenge we're ready for — the owners love it!"
Jose explained how he and Sandra got the perfect shot.
"Normally, one of us holds the pack while the other one sits one by one, and after everyone is in position, we snap the picture,” he said. “Not all of them have done training, so sometimes it takes longer because they are unable to stay still, so being patient is key!"
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It took Jose 18 tries to get the award-winning photo. Another great photo tip he gave was to have a strong bond with your pup.
"The most important thing is to create a bond with your dog, dedicate time to training, and don't be afraid of making a clown of yourself while attempting to get their attention," he advised.
To learn more about how to get the perfect photo of your furry friend, watch this video.