Rising Stars: Meet Greg Murray of Cudell Neighborhood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Murray.

Hi Greg, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Lakewood, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland) and also spent time growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I earned his degree in business from Loyola University of Chicago and spent about ten years working a desk job as a Human Resources professional at various private and non-profit organizations in Chicago, Atlanta and Cleveland.

You could often find me firing or laying off employees, putting out office fires, and rummaging through large amounts of paperwork. Spending much of his time in a windowless office five days a week, my mental and physical health began to suffer. I needed a major change.

In 2010 I bought a nicer camera and began teaching myself photography. I could often be found photographing the Cleveland skyline or waterfalls in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Soon after that, I was selling my art at shows and being invited to put my art up at local establishments. I put myself in difficult shooting situations to better learn how to use my camera. I would pretend to be an established concert photographer and get pit passes for local concerts. Photographing indoor concerts helped me quickly learn how to shoot my camera in manual mode.

But my true passion was animals. I grew up with dogs, cats, lizards, fish, rats, birds and guinea pigs. I loved being around animals. I wanted to combine my love for photography and animals.

I his corporate career in early 2014. Shortly thereafter, I became a full-time photographer running my own business. Combining my love for animals and photography was the only natural thing to do. Two short years later, I began working on his first book, Peanut Butter Dogs, and was signed by a national publisher. Years later, I would have three published books: “Peanut Butter Dogs,” “Pit Bull Heroes,” and “Peanut Butter Puppies.” They have sold close to 30,000 copies around the world. I’m now working on his 4th book that comes out in 2023.

My work has been featured by Today, Huffpost, Elle and more, including a full page in People Magazine in 2021.

I’m dedicated to pit bull rescue, advocacy and ending “pit bull” dog bans. Along with a group of dedicated individuals, I helped end my hometown of Lakewood, Ohio’s 10 year ban on pit bull type dogs in 2018.

I have a special spot in his heart for the underdog. Rescue and “pit bull” type dogs play a large role in my work and books.

I live in Lakewood, Ohio with my wife, Kristen, two daughters, Beck and Evie and our two rescued dogs, Leo and Kensie.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think I’ve been fairly lucky. I’m a hard worker and learned how to run a business during my career in Human Resources from 2004 – 2014. As much as I look back and sometimes think I wasted 10 years, I’m thankful for what I learned when it comes to running a business. 90% of what I do is running my business. 10% is actually taking photos.

I’d say my biggest struggle was the couple of years after becoming a full-time photographer. I really wanted to be photographing animals 100% of the time. But I had to work to get to that point. So I took other photography jobs that weren’t related to animals. Headshots, weddings, engagement shoots (although I will do engagements if an animal is involved:), newborns, etc…I really just wanted to be photographing animals!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an animal photographer who makes people laugh and smile for a living.

People hire me to photograph their dogs. I do animal photography for magazines and large companies. My photography is also licensed by companies around the world.

I’m known for my 3 books and fun, colorful and expressive animal portraits. I’m also known for my rescue animal and pit bull type dog advocacy.

I’m most proud of having a job that brings happiness to others. I love what I do and get to make people smile for a living.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Patience. I have to be very patient. Many of the animals I work with are excited or sometimes nervous. I can’t force what I do on them. I have to give them time to be comfortable. I have to be ok with them not doing everything I want them to do. They’re animals and very unpredictable, especially in a new environment like my studio with lighting and other equipment everywhere.

I would not succeed if I wasn’t patient.

Contact Info:

• Email: greg@gmurrayphoto.com
• Website: www.gmurrayphoto.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thegregmurray
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/gmurrayphoto

Image Credits
The photo of me is by Laura Wimbels