Why I Gave Up a Corporate Career to Help Rescue Dogs Get Adopted
Key takeaways:
Lisa Binns started photographing rescue and shelter dogs to help them find an adoptive home and get a shot at a better life.
Then, she gave up a six-figure corporate career to start a nonprofit taking pictures of dogs.
She photographs pets with all kinds of medical conditions and injuries and has become familiar with measures needed to nurse many of them back to health.
GoodRx for Pets: Here’s how to save on pet medications with GoodRx.
Twelve years ago, Lisa Binns had a six-figure consulting career helping Fortune 500 companies with market research, innovation, and corporate training.
But she wasn’t fulfilled.
Searching for balance and the chance to combine her love of photography with her passion for dogs, Lisa reached out to a photographer friend who specialized in dog photography. She asked if she could tag along to a photo shoot at a county shelter. As a devoted mother to two rescue dogs, Lisa understood that a compelling photograph could boost an abandoned pet's chances of finding a forever home by drawing in potential adopters.
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From her very first rescue shoot, Lisa was hooked.
Leaving the boardroom was a leap of faith
After 2 years of volunteering at shelters and rescues near her home in Crescent Springs, Kentucky, Lisa found herself spending more time photographing dogs and less time consulting.
That’s when she realized what her true calling was. She gave up her corporate career and dedicated her life to giving rescued pets a second shot, which eventually led her to founding a nonprofit animal rescue photography business.
“I thought, ‘Why am I dedicating my entire life, 12-hour days and my weekends, to give my very best to executives who will never appreciate me, when I could be saving the lives of some of the most appreciative, loyal, and caring beings walking this earth — dogs?” Lisa says, explaining that her priorities gradually shifted.
“I wanted to spend more time working with the dogs and less time working with people who weren’t nearly as pleasant,” she says. “I just kind of walked away — probably a little bit too soon, but walked away.”
Financial strain but emotional gain
Lisa’s choice to switch careers has left her scrambling to pay the bills, but she says she’s emotionally much more fulfilled.
Over the years, Lisa has encountered many dogs that have faced health challenges and says helping them has validated the switch. She jokes that her rescue photography is her “full-time nonpaying career.”
“My heart is full,” she says. “I just love it. I love being with the dogs. I love saving the dogs’ lives. I love meeting all of the people who are of like mind. It’s just a very different life than I had before as a consultant.”
Looking for the perfect shot to save a pet’s life
Lisa, who’s 59, photographs rescue animals two to five times a week. She focuses mostly on dogs but sometimes photographs cats and other animals. She works from a donated studio in a dog care facility’s basement. And when pets can’t come to her, she goes to them.
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Sometimes, she’ll spend an entire day at a shelter photographing all of the animals available. The rest of the time, she edits and posts images and stories about the animals on her social media.
Lisa compares her work to online dating, because her aim is to present each dog at their best in the hopes that someone will fall in love.
“When people are flipping through social media, which is where the majority of the connections are made these days, they can look into these dogs’ bright, clear eyes and be like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m in love,’” she says.
Behind the lens, she also captures hope
Lisa says she gets as much out of her work as the pets.
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On the heels of the pandemic, she faced personal losses, including her two dogs and her brother. Shortly after, while transporting a 5-year-old dog for a rescue, the dog bit her. Rather than being upset, she saw it as a sign from her past dogs and decided to adopt the dog. She named her Erica, after her late brother, Eric.
“Don’t worry, as soon as I got her in the car at the shelter, she was all love,” Lisa says. “And it’s been that way ever since.”
That bond with Erica echoes throughout Lisa’s work, inspiring her daily. She typically photographs dogs on their road to recovery, and certain encounters have left a lasting emotional impact.
She remembers each dog and their names and medical issues: Byrdie with her severe infection, Uncle Kracker who couldn’t walk, and Tony Hawk in his doggie wheelchair. These dogs, and many others, hold a special place in her heart.
Through her rescue efforts, Lisa has also become adept at managing various pet health issues, like fleas, ticks, heartworm, and ringworm. She’s gained valuable knowledge about different ailments and medications — and when to seek veterinary care.
“When you foster dogs, you become familiar with the medicines pretty quickly,” she says.
This work is a labor of love
Lisa is well versed in the expenses tied to owning a pet, which include food and treats, veterinary care, and supplies. Yet, for her, the costs are outweighed by the joy and companionship that come from having dogs.
That’s why she wants others to adopt pets. And that’s why she offers her photography services for free, relying on tax-deductible donations. She works as a restaurant server 5 days a week, trains dogs, dog sits, and helps a dog trainer with social media content — “anything to survive and make ends meet,” she says.
It is a far cry from her previous career. But she loves what she is doing.
“I just wish everyone’s hearts could be, you know, at least half dog,” Lisa says.
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