{"id":215864,"date":"2025-07-17T15:49:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T19:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/?p=215864"},"modified":"2025-07-23T06:23:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T10:23:53","slug":"he-makes-a-living-photographing-dogs-theyve-taught-him-the-secrets-to-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/articles\/he-makes-a-living-photographing-dogs-theyve-taught-him-the-secrets-to-life","title":{"rendered":"He Makes a Living Photographing Dogs. They\u2019ve Taught Him the Secrets to Life."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Elias Weiss Friedman, also known as the Dogist<\/a>, has an unlikely day job: He makes a living photographing dogs on the streets of New York, and has done so for the past decade, after leaving a corporate job and casting about for a new calling. His quirky canine portraits and their accompanying stories have rocketed him and his subjects to fame\u2014scroll his Instagram<\/a> to meet Panko the wrinkly bulldog, a Dalmatian wearing yellow shoes, and June, a Chihuahua\u2013Jack Russell mix who rides around in her human\u2019s purse. Today, Friedman has a social media brand with a whopping 11 million followers, and he travels the world to meet and celebrate dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Matthew Williams<\/div>
Elias Weiss Friedman, also known as the Dogist.<\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, following two books of photography, Friedman has a new, personal book out: This Dog Will Change Your Life<\/a><\/em>. It delves into his own story and relationship with dogs, sees him travel the world over to meet other canine enthusiasts working at shelters and at canine rescue operations, and illuminates the nitty gritty of the human-dog bond.<\/p>\n\n\n

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There are stories of Friedman\u2019s friends and their dogs, a whole delightful chapter dedicated to \u201cDoggelgangers\u201d that breaks down how people and their dogs mirror one another, many references to Friedman\u2019s own Siberian Husky mix, Elsa, and lots of advice for adopting a companion of your own. (Fair warning: You might run to the next shelter after reading).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, we caught up with Friedman about what he looks to capture when taking doggy portraits, adopting older dogs, and how canines make human lives better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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You write that your friends often come to you for advice when they\u2019re thinking of getting a dog. What do you say to them\u2014or anyone thinking of making that choice?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I ask them what type of dog they\u2019re thinking about getting. Sometimes their answer includes a sense of their goal in getting a dog\u2014they want a rescue, a dog that matches their lifestyle, a look they\u2019re going for, etc. If they\u2019ve been thoughtful about that aspect, they\u2019ve probably been thoughtful about managing the responsibility of having a dog. If it seems like they haven\u2019t done enough research into getting a dog, they may not be ready for one. We love to hear about great dog\u2013person relationships, but sometimes there can be a misalignment that can create issues down the line. Not everyone\u2019s ready for a Belgian Malinois. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Highlight some of the inspiring characters you met along the way while writing this book. I loved boxer and canine rescuer Chrissy Boom Boom. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chrissy is a great example of someone with an unwavering spirit and a devotion to\u00a0helping\u00a0dogs live great lives with great people.\u00a0She illustrates one important principle, at least\u2014that you have to get your hands dirty to do so. Most people don\u2019t know the amount of work it takes to get that cute puppy delivered to your arms at the airport. There\u2019s so much that happens before you take that puppy home. Saving dogs from a life of starvation, dehydration, disease, injury, and more is a noble, selfless thing that we should support.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Got any words of encouragement for someone considering adopting an older dog from a shelter?<\/strong><\/p>

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Do it! All dogs in a shelter deserve to be adopted, but senior dogs are often overlooked in favor of puppies and younger dogs. An older dog is often a great fit for someone with a relaxed lifestyle. I also think senior dogs possess wisdom that will grow your heart in ways other dogs cannot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tell us about your own pup, Elsa.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elsa is paw<\/em>fect in every way! We\u2019re truly lucky to have a dog like her. We can bring her anywhere, leave her at home without worry, take her to caf\u00e9s, introduce her to any person or dog (except Frenchies for some reason). She doesn\u2019t bark really, is non-destructive, and doesn\u2019t eat random things off the street. The only thing about her\u2014I won\u2019t say it\u2019s a negative thing, because it\u2019s not negative, just a thing\u2014is that we have to keep our vacuum fully charged at all times because she sheds. \u201cAll just proof that a dog lives here,\u201d as @josiebalka<\/a>\u2019s poem goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When you go to photograph a dog, what do you try to capture?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I look to capture that dog\u2019s personality in an honest and positive way. I want the Dogist community to learn something about each dog\u2019s unique personality or situation. If an image or story can make someone smile, laugh, learn something, or cry, I\u2019ve created something meaningful. <\/p>

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A post shared by The Dogist (@thedogist)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n