“THE FETCHER” aka Knuckles / Australian Shepherd, 7 years old
Dogs may not speak our language, but they still express their unique personalities through their actions, interests, and favorite items. Animal portrait and lifestyle photographer Alícia Rius believes that “the items that shape their daily routine—the ones they carry, keep, and even eat—offer a glimpse into their hearts and minds.” In a series titled A Dog’s Life, the photographer brings these personalities to life, capturing dogs alongside the objects that define them.
“All my life I’ve been an animal lover, and when I started doing animal photography I wanted to go beyond just beautiful portraits,” reveals Rius. “I wanted to capture each dog’s unique personality. Most of the time, in order to accomplish this, I would get the subject in action, capturing what they like or do the best.”
For this particular series, Rius took a deeper approach, focusing on specific objects that instantly convey a dog’s unique lifestyle. “With us as human beings, things all around us, such as our belongings, what we like, what we enjoy doing, the music we listen to, the things we read, and even the things we must do no matter what defines who we are,” she says, “the same applies to dogs. But sometimes it isn’t much of what they have, but rather an object or scene that surrounds them which enhances their personalities and tells you more about who they are.”
To get to know her canine subjects, Rius spent time with each dog's owner, chatting about their personalities and looking through photos. Then, she took a closer look at the dogs' belongings and quickly noticed how each item seemed to match their individual personalities and lifestyles. Rius decided to make the dogs’ belongings a key part of the portraits. As she puts it, “I chose to represent their true stories in two frames: the dog and his world.”
The playful photo series includes a “neurotic” English Bulldog named Bear next to a series of chewed-up shoes and destroyed toys. “English Bulldogs are known for their stubbornness and sometimes get frustrated when they don’t get what they want,” says Rius. “So how does he channel all that frustration? By chewing everything he can!”
Rius also photographed Lola Rose, a 1-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu mix who is “a very spoiled dog that has her own Instagram profile and she’s very much treated as the princess of the house.” Her personal objects include pink outfits, booties, and even nail polish. Then there's Zig, a 3-year-old Afghan Hound who competes in dog shows. Known for his flowing coat, his personality shines through in the array of hair products in his accompanying frame.
Not all of Rius’ subjects are pampered pooches though. Before Marmaduke, the 7.5-year-old Pitbull mix was rescued, he lived on the streets. He’s photographed next to a collection of rotten food. Rius says, “Life on the streets is very rough, tiresome, and hopeless. So I knew I had to capture his journey in his eyes next to all the rotten food which was basically what he ate before being rescued.”
Check out the series A Dog’s Life below and find more from the photographer on Alícia Rius’ website.
Animal portrait photographer Alícia Rius’ A Dog’s Life series captures dogs alongside the objects that define them.
‘THE BEST IN SHOW' aka Zig / Afghan Hound, 3 years old
Each image reveals the dog’s personality through chosen objects that highlight its unique lifestyle.
“THE PRINCESS” aka Lola Rose / Maltese Shih Tzu mix, 1.3 years old
‘THE STRAY' aka Marmaduke / Shar Pei Pitbull mix, 7.5 years old
‘THE NEUROTIC' aka Bear / English Bulldog, 4.5 years old
‘THE SENIOR' aka Magda / Cocker Spaniel Dachshund mix, 13.3 years old
Alícia Rius: Website | Facebook | Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Alícia Rius.
Related Articles:
Gravity-Defying Photos of Determined Dogs Catching Frisbees in Mid-Air
Up-Close Photos Capture the Diverse Textures and Patterns of Dogs Fur
23 Adorable Then and Now Photos of Dogs Who Are the Same Puppies But Bigger
“Before” and “After” Photos Reveal Dogs’ Adorable Makeovers in Japanese-Style Grooming
