The Perfect Exposure Project is a program anchored in collaboration, innovation, and creativity. In order to supplement the work of the Artists Helping Animals program, the Perfect Exposure Project empowers shelter/rescue staff and volunteers directly with skill-building workshops.

Animal welfare organizations are given 2 full days of hands-on training, as well as studio photography equipment (thanks to our sponsors at Savage Universal), and a healthy dose of inspiration to help them positively and effectively promote the animals in their care. Great attention is given to make each workshop fit the needs and resources of the hosting organization, with the goal of making each component of the training sustainable and effective for the long-term.

59 workshops

We’ve visited 41 cities/counties across the United States, with participants representing over 320 animal welfare organizations.

1500+ participants

Over 1500 animal welfare staff, volunteers, and advocates have joined us to learn new ways to get their animals seen through photography and positive marketing.

395k+ animals impacted

The combined force of our workshops so far has the power to impact over 395,000 homeless animals in the US every year.

The Perfect Exposure Project began in 2013 with two pilot workshops at Animal Care Centers of New York and Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia.

Since then, we've done an additional 57 workshops throughout the U.S. Each year, the requests for the program exceed our reach, so we take applications twice a year to determine where workshops will be held. The next round of applications is slated to open in June 2020.

Your team understood not only photography/marketing but also the realities of a shelter. We have a new arsenal of skills in our approach to marketing effectively, without sacrificing quality

Melissa Janes

Belleville Area Humane Society

I got enough out of it to be able to feel comfortable using a camera that I’ve felt intimidated about using for as long as I’ve had it. This was a real confidence booster. I have been practicing with manual settings and boosting my learning after learning the basics at the workshop. I’ve been relying on point and shoot and a bridge camera for years, but now know that can comfortably move out of “auto mode”.

Virginia Kelly

Volunteer, Hayward Animal Shelter, CA

The tools and tips that HeARTs Speak left behind were invaluable and just days later, we’re already seeing an increase in the quality of our adoption photos. We’re excited to build the HeARTs Speak resources and tips into our photography training sessions for volunteers, and for our current (and future!) volunteers to be able to use these tips to help increase the spotlight on our animals and increase our adoptions.

Christina Hill

Marketing and Communications Director, Atlanta Humane Society

The Perfect Exposure Project is 100% reliant on grant funding and the generosity of our incredible donors. This limits the number of free workshops we can provide each year. If your organization is interested in sponsoring a Perfect Exposure Project workshop in your own community, please contact us!

Support the Perfect Exposure Project

Help us help shelters help more animals! Check out our workshop wishlist:

View Wishlist

download our program brochure

Made possible with the generous support of: