Rescue Dogs of Atlanta, Georgia
If you've been here a while you probably already know: I have a big soft spot for rescue dogs.
I love all dogs — I support responsible preservation breeding and believe that where a dog comes from doesn't define what they're worth. But I feel a particular calling to rescue work, and I always have. I was the kid who carried home every stray animal. I'm the adult who co-founded a rescue, moved to a farm an hour from the city, and spends a meaningful portion of every year photographing adoptable dogs to help them find their people.
The connection between rescue and photography has always felt natural to me. The first skill they share is the same: learning to see who an animal actually is, not who their circumstances have made them look like.
Georgia Rescue Organizations Worth Knowing
Atlanta is home to an extraordinary network of rescue organizations — people doing hard, important work every single day.
Here are the ones closest to my heart:
Humane Society of Morgan County — My county's no-kill rescue in Madison, GA. I serve on the board and volunteer regularly to photograph their adoptable dogs and cats. If you're in the Athens/Madison/Morgan County area and looking to adopt, start here.
Rescue Ranch Pups — The Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, and Pug rescue Renee and I co-founded, dedicated specifically to medically fragile and special needs brachycephalic dogs. If you're interested in fostering or adopting a medically complex smushy-faced dog, reach out to us directly.
Atlanta Humane Society — One of the largest and most established shelters in Georgia, with multiple locations and an enormous adoption program.
Furkids — Georgia's largest no-kill shelter, with a strong network of foster homes across the state.
Lifeline Animal Project — Operates Fulton County Animal Services and DeKalb County Animal Services, working to make both shelters no-kill.
PAWS Atlanta — A foster-based rescue with a strong community presence and a solid adoption program.
Photographing Rescue Dogs
My favorite rescue dog stories always end with a forever home. And one of my favorite things is photographing those dogs after they've landed — when they're settled and safe and showing their full personality for the first time.
Some of my most meaningful client sessions have been with rescue dogs. There's something about the relationship between a person and an animal they chose deliberately — went out of their way to find, said yes to despite the unknown history — that photographs differently. The trust has been earned on both sides. The love is specific and intentional.
That shows up in every frame.
