Elevating Focus w/ Winnie Au

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Using Photography As A Tool To Help Dogs

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About The Episode

Winnie Au didn’t have an easy experience with her first dog as an adult. Tartine came into her and her now-husband’s life and made a big impact, but then all of a sudden (the dog) got throat cancer after only a year and a half. They took her to the hospital, tried chemo, and more – but after it was clear she was suffering and it wasn’t doing the trick, they knew they had to let her go.

After getting into photography, Winnie realized it could be a potential career during college and started assisting photographers in Boston - where she was going to school (originally from Illinois). It was around then that Winnie rook her first dog portrait. She wanted more than just cute photos of dogs, she wanted to make them special and even painterly. Her career continued when she moved to New York City, soon becoming a freelance photographer of her own. In addition to client work and documenting her own dogs, Winnie has also brought them into some personal projects. Canine Chronicles was a book she published with her sisters (one did writing, one design, and Winnie the photos) that reimagined famous people owning dogs and how those dogs led to their success.

Most recently, though, was when it came full circle. Her photo series, Cone of Shame, was created to help raise money for Animal Haven's Recovery Road Fund. The purpose of it is to provide financial assistance to those who need help paying medical bills for their dogs, which Winnie knows very well how quickly and suddenly that can come about after her experience with Tartine (which was the motivation behind doing it).

The Cone of Shame series imagery itself aimed to flip the perception of the cones dogs wear when injured. She would always see dogs wearing them around and there was this weird feeling where you feel bad for them, undoubtedly, but they also have a silly look to them. And she wanted to elevate them and give it a more positive view, so she photographed them against colorful backgrounds and worked with a costume designer on the cone shapes.

Currently, Winnie is Brooklyn-based and has a furry companion with her husband in a basset hound name Clementine (or Clem Clem).

About The Guest - Winnie Au

Winnie Au is a photographer based in Brooklyn, NY, who has found a muse in dogs throughout her career. She specializes in creating poignant and playful editorial dog photos. After her own dog, Tartine, received a cancer diagnosis, she pursued a long, traumatic, and expensive treatment plan that ultimately could not save her pet. This experience inspired Winnie to partner with a non-profit for a photo series to raise awareness for those who need financial assistance for medical bills of their dogs. The photo series, Cone of Shame, also flips the negative stigma of dogs wearing cones around their heads and presents them in an artistic, positive, and playful light. The eye-catching photos helped get attention for Animal Haven's Recovery Road Fund, which helps take away the burden of choice based on affordability for your dog’s care.

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