About the Project

One of the projects I’m most proud of is "Rescued"—a powerful photo series and book celebrating the remarkable transformations made possible through dog rescue. What began as a simple idea to document “before and after” stories of discarded dogs quickly evolved into something much bigger. As I followed these dogs’ journeys—from neglect and abandonment to love, health, and happiness—the project became deeply emotional and profoundly inspiring. Each portrait told a story of resilience, and of the incredible good that can come from giving dogs a second chance. This photographic series evolved into an album for competition and went on to earn top honors in Minnesota, received a perfect score of 100 at the PPA District Competition, and then placed second at the International Photographic Competition. But perhaps the most meaningful recognition came after John Lauritsen featured the story on WCCO-TV. The response was overwhelming. Viewers asked where they could get a copy of the book, so I quickly self-published a small run. It sold out in just a few hours. A second printing was needed to meet demand. Every dog featured in Rescued came through Save-a-Bull Rescue in Minnesota, and 100% of the proceeds from book sales went directly to the rescue to support more dogs in need. This project reminded me of the power of photography—not just to capture beauty, but to change lives. Above, watch the original WCCO-TV story that helped launch "Rescued" into the hearts of dog lovers across Minnesota.