Greg
Greg is an experienced and nationally recognized lifestyle, portrait and commercial animal photographer, author and rescue animal advocate living in the Cleveland, Ohio area with his wife, two daughters, and two rescue dogs.
He is dedicated to pit bull rescue, advocacy and ending “pit bull” dog bans. Greg, along with a group of dedicated individuals, helped end his hometown of Lakewood, Ohio’s 10 year ban on pit bull type dogs in 2018.
While he doesn’t play favorites, Greg has a special spot in his heart for the underdog. Rescue and “pit bull” type dogs play a large role in his work and books.
Greg hasn’t always been in this profession and it took him a long time to have the courage to pursue it.
He was born and raised in Lakewood, Ohio and also spent time growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Greg earned his degree in business from Loyola University of Chicago and spent about ten years working a desk job at various private and non-profit organizations in Chicago, Atlanta and Cleveland.
Between 2005 and 2014, you could often find him 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, Greg’s mental and physical health began to suffer. He needed a change.
Greg left his corporate career in early 2014. Shortly thereafter, he was a full-time photographer running his own business. Combining his love for animals and photography was the only natural thing to do. Two short years later, Greg began working on his first book, Peanut Butter Dogs, and was signed by a national publisher. Life is full of unexpected turns! He is now working on his 4th book that comes out in 2023.
You can view some of Greg’s press coverage here.
Giving Back
Greg donates photo sessions to local nonprofit organization fundraisers to help raise money for animals in need.
At no cost to the shelter or rescue organization, he photographs about 50 shelter dogs each year who are currently looking for forever humans.
As people who have always had rescue dogs, Greg and his wife Kristen are passionate about working with and giving to organizations that advocate for the voiceless and educate the public about animal welfare and safety.
Pictured here is Nugget. Photographed by Greg in early 2022, her forever humans saw Greg’s photo online, visited the Cleveland Kennel and adopted her soon after. Nugget was very timid and not thriving at the shelter. She is now living the good life and excels at dock diving. You can check her out on IG here: This Nugs Life
Books
Greg is the author and photographer behind three published books that have sold over 30,000 copies around the world and have been featured by Today, People, Huffpost, Daily Mail, Elle, WGN and dozens of other media outlets throughout the world.
The Story Behind the Peanut Butter
In 2016 Peanut Butter Dogs started as a fun series to keep me busy during a slow winter season. My plan was to self publish a book. I successfully raised over $20,000 on Kickstarter thanks to over 300 supporters. Then the unimaginable happened! Peanut Butter Dogs went viral and the photos were featured on Huffingtonpost, People, Today, Daily Mail, Elite Daily and countless other media outlets around the world!
Weeks later, a publisher reached out to me about making a book together. Of course I said yes! The rest is history. Peanut Butter Dogs, a book featuring 140 dogs enjoying peanut butter, was released in 2017 and has sold close to 15,000 copies worldwide. In 2019, my second book was published with Gibbs Smith Publishing. Pit Bull Heroes: 49 Underdogs With Resilience & Heart. In 2021, Peanut Butter Puppies, the follow up to Peanut Butter Dogs, was released. I’m excited to say that my 4th book will be coming out in 2023!
Peanut Butter Puppies
PEOPLE MAGAZINE “Peanut butter and rescue puppies make a tongue wagging pair!”
TODAY SHOW “Peanut Butter Puppies celebrates and supports animal rescue in a ridiculously cute way.”
POPSUGAR “This new book has photos of rescue puppies eating peanut butter and we’re in love.”
THE DOGINGTON POST “These adorable portraits of rescue dogs will tug at your heart strings.”
Peanut Butter Dogs
HUFFINGTON POST "We think you'll go nuts over the tongue-snapping, jowl-flapping fun."
TODAY.COM "These photos of dogs eating peanut butter will make you smile."
THE LITTLE THINGS "Photographer Greg Murray is about to seriously make your day."
PEOPLE MAGAZINE "Forget peanut butter and jelly! Peanut butter pooches and pooches is the real dynamic duo."
ELLE "SO MUCH CUTENESS."
WKYC "Peanut Butter Dogs is taking over the world."
CLEVELAND MAGAZINE "Cuteness alert..."
Pit Bull Heroes: 49 Underdogs With Resilience & Heart
A celebration of pit bulls doing a world of good.
Pit Bull Heroes spotlights forty-nine underdogs who beat the odds and became heroes in their families, neighborhoods, and communities.