Does Your Dog or Cat Have
Main Character Energy?
Enter your dog or cat in the Pooch
Playoffs™. The ONLY competition
where big personalities, floppy ears
and dramatic whiskers go head-to-
head for the crown (and prizes!).
Raise your paw 🐾 if you’re ready for fun!
No payment is collected when you click the button.
This simply tells us you’re interested so we can contact
you, share details and schedule your pet’s photo session.
Raise Your Paw if You’re
Ready for Fun!
Chance to Win A portion of
proceeds benefits The Bond Between
Professional Pet Portrait Session
with Elissa Bean Photography
What Are the Pooch Playoffs™?
Pooch Playoffs™ is a fun, March-Madness-style competition… but for pets. 🐕🐈
Your dog (or cat!) gets their own
photo session with
Elissa Bean Photography.
We’ll create an epic portrait, feature them in our Pooch Playoffs bracket. Friends, family and the community can vote to help them advance round by round until we crown the Top Dog (or Cat!)
A.K.A. the Ulti-Mutt Champion of The Twin Cities
.
The winner will then go on to the National Worldwide Pooch Playoffs competition.
Along the way, we’re also raising money for The Bond Between, a local organization helping animals in our community.
Your Pet’s Game Plan (It’s Easy!)
Step 1 – Tell Us You Want In
Fill out the short form below to apply... No payment is required today. From there, we’ll reach out to you with all the details to schedule your pet’s session.
Step 2 – Schedule Your Pet’s Photo Session
We’ll give you a quick call within 48 hours to go over how it works, answer questions and pick a session time.
Step 3 – Cheer Them On in the Brackets
After your session, we’ll choose a favorite image of your pet to enter in the competition. When voting begins on April 1st, you’ll get a special link to share so your friends and family can vote for your pet through each round.
Step 4 – Winners, Prizes & Artwork
As rounds progress, pets move closer to winning our grand prize of a 12x18 framed WOOF! portrait, other sponsor goodies and potential recognition beyond the Twin Cities.
What Your Pet Gets When They Enter the Pooch Playoffs
Spoiler: It’s a paws-down good time.
A professional pet portrait session
A feature in our Pooch Playoffs bracket
The opportunity to purchase custom wall art of your pet
A fun experience and memories that last long after the competition ends
The warm fuzzy feeling of helping support The Bond Between
No payment is collected when you click the button.
This simply tells us you’re interested so we can contact you,
share details, and schedule your pet’s photo session.
Your Superstar Can Win These Fetch-Worthy Awards
Grand Prize: A custom WOOF! framed portrait
Runner-Up & Category Prizes: 4x6 and 5x7 tabletop framed portraits.
Additional sponsor gifts from The Bone Marche, The Block and Dukes Restaurants, and others may also be included.
Mark Your Calendars,
It’s Game Time.
Raise your paw if you’re ready!
Photo Sessions Run: March 2nd through March 31st
Voting Begins: April 1st
Final Round / Winners Announced: April 15th
Spots are limited so we can give each pet the attention they deserve. Once we fill the bracket, entries will close.
Pooch Playoffs isn’t just about bragging rights. It’s also about giving back.
A portion of each entry fee will be donated directly to The Bond Between, founded in 2009 as Secondhand Hounds. Since then, they have rescued over 30,000 dogs and cats with the help of thousands of fosters, volunteers, and supporters in our community. The Bond Between has grown from a rescue to a first-in-its-class animal well-being organization! So your pet’s moment in the spotlight also helps other animals in need.
Elissa Bean Photography has raised over $2000 for local non-profits in 2025 alone.
Pooch Playoffs™ photographers nationwide, including our studio, have helped raise more than $188,415 for animal-specific charities since 2023.
Perfect If…
Your pet is fully ready for their “paws-parazzi” moment
Your dog or cat is part of the family
You’ve always thought, “My pet is seriously the cutest”
You’ve wanted professional photography but needed the perfect excuse
You’d love artwork of your pet that makes you smile every time you walk past it
You like the idea of helping other animals while celebrating your own
Do I pay anything when I click the button?
No payment is collected today. All you’re doing is raising your hand and letting us know you’re interested in learning more..
We’ll follow up to walk you through the details and book your pet’s photo session.
What’s a “bracket”?
Think of it like a friendly NCAA March Madness Basketball tournament but instead, it is a pet photography tournament.
Your pet goes head-to-head with other contestants in voting rounds.
Winners advance until we crown the Local Champion. The Local Champion goes on to National / Worldwide brackets.
It’s simple, fun and ridiculously cute.
How does voting work?
After all sessions are photographed, we’ll release the official bracket.
Friends, family, and the community can vote for their favorite pets in each round. The pet with the most votes moves on!
What do I get when I enter?
You receive a professional pet portrait session, a gift included with your entry and a chance for your pet to advance through the bracket and win fun prizes.
What if my pet is shy or wiggly?
Totally fine!
We specialize in photographing pets with big personalities, big feelings, and big wiggles. We’ll guide your pet with patience, treats, and lots of encouragement.
Can cats enter too?
Yes! Cats are welcome.
How does the charity part work?
A portion of the entry fee is donated to The Bond Between, our local partner. YApril 1stour pet gets an unforgettable experience and another pet gets the help they need.