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Charleston Photographer Unleashes Pooch Playoffs National Competition and Fundraiser
Lea Austen, owner and photographer at Lea Austen Photography in Charleston, has always loved pets. When the opportunity to help Pet Helpers presented itself, she jumped on it.
“This year has been especially hard for charities,” Austen said. “So a group of photographers and I got together and decided to host a competition to find Charleston’s Ulti-Mutt Cutie as a way to help out Pet Helpers while remaining safe and socially distanced.”
The bracket style competition will be unleashed on March 1st with 16 pooches competing for exciting prizes from Barks and Bubbles, Hairy Winston, CrewLaLa, Lost Dog Café, WikiWiki Sandbar, Charlie Brown and Friends Dog Walking, Woofgang Bakery, and a few more. There will be more goodies for the final four and a big prize for the ULTI-MUTT winner. Each week, 2 dogs will face off in an online vote. Each week’s winner advances with the goal to be voted the Ulti-mutt Cutie of Charleston. Charleston’s winner will move on to a national competition.
Lea Austen will photograph 16 pooches for a $99 donation to Pet Helpers. The $99 donation includes a 5 x 7 metal print of the pup and a s’WAG bag of treats.
“It’s funny,” Austen said. “Our pets are such important members of our families yet most of us don’t think to have a professional photo taken of them. The Pooch Playoffs gives everyone a fun way to get a portrait of their pet made, by a professional who knows how to photograph pets, while also supporting Pet Helpers.”
Contact Lea Austen for photo opportunities now (843-452-3175). Only 16 dogs will be chosen.
You can learn more about Lea Austen Photography at leaausten.com.