Why You Should Take Photos For Your Local Shelter

[Camilla and Darwin]

Hi everyone, it's yet another discussion from me! I promise I will stop after this one. :-)

Karen posted a comment earlier that had a link to an article. This article had before and afters of shelter dogs who had been photographed by a photographer. It really stuck with me, and it made me want to do my own before and afters so that I could demonstrate how much this can help.

See, when I first volunteered it was for two reasons. 

1: I made a goal when I started college that I would complete 400 hours of service before I graduated. (I just reached 200, yay!) This was always something I had wanted to do for service, so I called local shelters and asked them about it.

2: I love dogs and routinely go to shelters just to play with them and hold puppies. It's actually what I used to request to do for every birthday, before I got Darwin. Seriously!

Well, It's been over a year and it's still one of my favorite things to do every week. I go every Saturday for 1-2 hours, and I love it more each time. Not only is it a blast, but it's very rewarding to see people come in because they reacted to a photo they saw on the website or the Facebook page. 

I just wanted to encourage all of you, if you are thinking about doing this, DO IT! You don't have to be an expert at pet photography (I'm not!) You don't have to have a perfect location or time of day (I definitely never do!). You don't even have to have a DSLR. Most kill shelters just have animal control or a busy front desk person snap a photo, with flash when they come in. They don't know about angles, lighting, or even getting a cute shot of the dog. Any person who can come in and have a knowledge about photography, and spend a few minutes of one on one time with the dog, will improve the photo. 

If you don't have a lot of time, this only takes me a couple of hours a week. That really isn't much time at all! Take a look at the before and afters from the dogs I shot today. The first photos are the photos that animal control or the front desk took of them when they came in.  My photos were all taken on a small patch of grass, at 1pm, with kennels and a shed for a background. Not ideal, but it really doesn't matter! All that is needed is clear, bright, happy looking pictures to get people to fall in love.

There are even dogs that we can't take outside because they are too afraid, in that situation all we do is open the kennel door, and snap a picture right there, the key is to make a lot of embarrassing kissy noises. :-)

Finally, I know some of you may be worried about being overwhelmed with the sadness of being there. While that does sometimes happen, I can personally attest to the fact that it is by a vast majority, happy! You get to interact with these dogs who have been dumped or abandoned, and are in a foreign environment, yet they are loving, happy and just overwhelmingly excited to be near you. It's incredibly humbling and inspiring and it really just lifts my spirits to be around them. In addition, knowing that what you are doing will really help them is incredibly rewarding!

So there is my plug. I hope that if anyone has been considering this, but has been holding back for one reason or another will take the leap. I hope that those who have never considered it will consider it. Because it's awesome, and I'm sure all of you would do amazing jobs, and love it, and think of how many dogs the awesome PG members could save! 

Sandy and Ronna both do this too, and I bet you anything they will agree that it is a great and fun thing to do!

[Vivian & Mojo]

This is such an amazing and wonderful thing your doing, I'm touched and inspired and going to find time to take some photos of the dogs in my local shelter.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Yay, you are awesome Vivian!

[Camilla and Darwin]

You are responsible! :-)

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Your pictures are awesome Camilla! I can see where these would really be helpful for someone just looking at pictures to want to come in and see the dogs for themselves. These pictures are worth more than 1000 words! They are worth 1000+ kisses!!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

That is the hope Lori. I think so many people these days (myself included) go first to a website or fb page, find out information, then do a site visit. This is true with shelters too. Now that listings are online, people will browse there first, before they even decide to go look in a shelter.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

What a difference a good photo makes. In this case, it saves lives! Mom of Monty's girlfriend volunteered for the local animal shelter and I did offer my services. Never heard back from the shelter. She moved out of Colorado, so I have no further connections with the shelter, but I'm going to stop by and talk to them in person next week.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Great! Sometimes shelters can be really bombarded and aren't very responsive. I had to be pretty forward/persistent to get someone who would talk to me initially. They really wanted the help but weren't responsive to e-mails or calls really.

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a wonderful thing to do. The before and afters are like night and day. You are inspiring, Camilla.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks F! I am very happy that I found something I can do. For a long time I wanted to foster (although I was scared of that at the same time) but I wasn't allowed because I live in apartments, and even if I had been... it's a daunting task that I don't know if I'd be well equipped for.

 I think everyone has an opportunity to help in some way, in whatever way they are capable of and willing to do. 

[Linda and "Toby"]

Camilla, this brings tears to my eyes... if you saved even one life because of your photos it would be worth it, and I am sure you've saved MANY lives, and brought so many of them joy, comfort, and love when they were feeling scared and alone. Your kindness and generosity touches my heart! You are an amazing woman! 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Amen.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thank you so much Linda! That is very kind of you to say. I know  when I am feeling sad or less than happy, Darwin and all of the dogs at the shelter bring me joy, comfort and love. Dogs are absolutely amazing!