If you haven't heard of the annual "Clear the Shelters" event, where have you been?  Many people don't know that concept was started right here in north Texas by the Irving municipal shelter and in 3 short years has blossomed into a nationwide event is responsible for over 153,000 animals being adopted with over 80,000 in 2017 alone. If you'd like to have your local shelter participate, you can learn more on the Clear the Shelters website. 

When not creating family and pet portraits in an around Dallas, I enjoy a number of other photography genres such as macro, street, photojournalism and documentary.  Last year I decided to photograph the Carrollton Animal Services and Adoption Center's Clear the Shelters experience. I arrived before the doors opened and stayed until the last animal was adopted before closing.  I shared the images with the shelter and both they and the city used them in various city web and printed materials (if you click on the link above, you'll see some of my images on the shelter's website).  

The most rewarding feedback I received regarding the images was from the architect firm that designed the building. They commented that my images "gave life to their design" and that "We can have a beautiful building, but when its photographed without animals/people, it's so stark.  We recently had one photographed with the thoughts of bringing in animals/people, but it appeared so staged." I was thrilled to hear that the story I wanted to tell, that of giving shelter and a second change to helpless animals that cannot speak for themselves, came through in my images.