HeartsSpeak is an amazing organization that partners rescue organizations with tools they need to help animals find their forever homes! As a photographer, I’m honored to be a part of this amazing program, and to partner with organizations in my area to help get animals seen and adopted!
HEARTS Speak uses the power of marketing to help shelter pets get noticed by adopters who will save their lives. They offer a huge selection of materials to animal shelters to help their pets be seen.
I have worked with HeartsSpeak for four years as an Artist Member. They provide an amazing program with complete integrity. I’m proud to be a part of it.
I’m an Artist Member and wildly enthusiastic supporter of HeARTs Speak. This small but mighty org sparks creativity, encourages camaraderie, fosters compassion, and provides invaluable tools and inspiration to the rescue community.
I have been a Hearts Speak fan long before I wanted to volunteer with this awesome organization. The idea of using photography and other creative arts to help shelter animals get adopted is very near and dear to my heart since I've been a long time social media volunteer at my local shelter. Hearts Speak provides various resources that can found on their website and social media on how one can also help their local shelter and rescue animals. I absolutely LOVE the heart and passion of everyone involved in Hearts Speak's programs!
I'm a pro pet photographer who volunteers much time taking portraits of rescue dogs to help them get adopted more quickly. I joined HeArtsSpeak years ago after hearing how supportive they are to those of us who work in what can be an often thankless environment of shelters. On occasion after occasion, HeArtsSpeak has helped us with online tools, equipment, training, graphic design templates, group support, a rescue pet stock photo agency, group shoots at many shelters across America and educational forums through social media. For instance, one year the prestigious Lowe's camera bag company gave HeArtsSpeak members wonderful camera bags that normally we could not afford. Another year, Savage Company donated rolls of expensive backdrop paper to HeArtsSpeak members. HeArtsSpeak has connections with Petco for stock photo licensing of our shelter photos. I love being a part of HeArtsSpeak and highly recommend them as a Great Nonprofit.
I've been an artist member since 2012 and have been extremely pleased with the support provided to me as a volunteer shelter photographer. HeARTs Speak actively promotes the adoptables that its members share, which then helps their exposure in getting adopted. The Perfect Exposure Project is a great program for shelters as well. I have been very happy with the member resources provided including ideas, calendars, business notes, overlays and general support.
I really respect what HeARTs Speak does to use creativity and art to help shelter animals. The mission is unique and their impact on shelters and animals is undeniable. Marketing and catching the attention for shelter animals is critical to getting community members to think differently about pet adoption and open their hearts and homes to pets in need. By making it easy for organizations of every size and resource-level to do this, HeARTs Speak is impacting animals in every community across the country.
I have been a shelter volunteer and photographer for 11 years. I love the marketing materials that HeARTs Speak provides for shelters and continually rely on their creativity and innovation to help me promote adoptable pets.
HeARTs Speak offers so many valuable resources to shelters, rescues, and many other organizations. They make a huge impact on communities by teaching how to positively market animals and how to take great photos. I am forever grateful to this organization who has donated cameras and time to my local shelter + organized an event that photographed every single adoptable animals at my shelter!
HeARTs Speak continues to amaze me. Such great work being accomplished with minimal resources (they would certainly make great use of any donation). Every year they “up their game” and come up with more and more terrific programs. I love working with this group!
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This charity does so much with so little! Because each of their members are helping hundreds of animals get adopted, the total impact of HeARTs Speak is compounded far beyond the means of the original founder and her small team of executives/staff. I can't say enough good things about them. With more financial resources at their disposal they could accomplish even greater good.
HeARTsSpeak is an amazing non-profit filling a void in the animal welfare community, and accessible to all shelters and rescue groups focused on shining a light on homeless animals and saving lives. Hands-on photography and marketing training is available based on funding and sponsorships, but their expert guidance and useful materials are available free of charge to all, which makes their impact so scalable!
They are run by a small but mighty team on a shoestring budget. A true inspiration!!
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I’ve been involved in the animal welfare community for the past 20 years and am truly honored to serve as an Artist Member and Board Director of HeARTsSpeak. The organization empowers individuals to give back in a meaningful way, while at the same time helps shelters better fulfill their mission of finding homes for animals in need. Fueled by committed individuals and gifted artists giving generously of their time and talents, coupled with the power of a compelling photograph, HeARTsSpeak is incredibly successful at helping shelters all over the world promote adoptable animals through captivating imagery and artwork, resulting in increased adoptions.
A small but mighty core team leads the organization, championing it mission while supporting and leveraging the reach, passion and talents and of its hundreds of members worldwide to increase the visibility of shelter animals. HeARTsSpeak provides the training, support and resources needed for shelters and artist members to create beautiful adoption photos and creative campaigns that capture the attention of potential adopters. It’s a strong and supportive network of like-minded individuals, all working together toward a common objective of improving the image of shelter animals with an end goal of saving lives.
I first learned about HeARTs Speak in April and was immediately a fan! Then I joined and was completely blown away by the amounts of info available, the dedication of the staff to serve animals in need, and the enthusiasm they instill in all of us to serve this mission. Could not be more proud to be a HeARTs Speak Artist if I tried!
Heart Speak taught a seminar at my shelter to help us get more interest in our adoptable animals. It was well attended, we all learned a lot and have become more creative in writing bios, our photographs are better than they were before and Val and Caitlin remain responsive if we have any questions. Just a great non-profit doing terrific work in the animal welfare community!
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Hearts Speak is an incredibly well-run non-profit with programs to help shelter animals by teaching shelter staff and volunteers how to take better photographs, connecting shelters with professional photographers who volunteer their time to the shelters, and by making available educational materials and templates to improve the appearance of shelter promotions and adoption photos. In addition, professional photographers provide Hearts Speak with images for its photo bank. Companies using the photos pay fees that go directly to support Hearts Speak's programs. Hearts Speak supports its volunteer photographers by providing ongoing education on best practices and provides a platform to connect the volunteers to each other for additional peer support.
I absolutely love being a HeARTs Speak member!
I went to the Perfect Exposure Project over a year ago and it has helped tremendously in taking pictures for adoptable dogs. They have great benefits as a member, including educational videos, materials, and always fun overlays for pictures. They do so much to help animals get noticed and adopted.
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HeartsSpeak is a fantastic organization that pairs photographers and artists with animals in need. As a photographer, I took part in the 2019 Seen = Saved event where hundreds of us helped L.A. shelter animals by photographing them to improve their chances of adoption. Because of that event, I now regularly photograph my local shelter's animals and have gotten very involved, resulting in many more adoptions. HeartsSpeak has programs to educate those who want to use their skills to help, provides resources, and has built a friendly, encouraging, supportive community. They deserve our support.
HeARTs Speak Inc is a game changer for animal welfare organizations. They work tirelessly to be able to bring knowledge and supplies to the shelters and rescues who are in need. Their work and mission truly has saved countless lives - and I personally put their teachings and assets to use everyday at the shelter I work for. As the Communications Coordinator, I use their freebies in their EDU library to elevate a photo or bio of a homeless animal, and that had resulted in quicker adoptions! Our data shows that great photos have increased viewership online, which most people check out before deciding to come to our facility. We were also lucky enough to host the Perfect Exposure Project, in which they taught us and surrounding organizations throughout Virginia photography and creative biography writing. HeARTs Speak not only helps shelters and rescues one-on-one, they have created a network of professional artists that will help shelters in need of great photos! They are willing to meet you where you are in terms of experience and equipment, and will even get equipment sponsored and donated to those in need to bolster their resources!
Such a great organization making a huge difference in the lives of so many animals! As a photographer member, this organization has been so helpful and supportive.
Thanks to the skills HeartSpeak shared with us at our shelter, we are able to help get our animals noticed by the public in a way which leads to higher asoption rates and a better life for these creatures we care so much about. Their seminar led to the start of a group of dedicated volunteers who photograph our pups every Saturday. We love doing this as we see how it helps get them adopted faster. Today it’s all about social media ans HeartSpeak has shown us the way.
In 2013 my adoption group was lucky enough to have a member of HeartsSpeak come to our foster home to photograph our adoptable dogs. The photos she produced were amazing and helped the two dogs get adopted very quickly. The HeartsSpeak member also took the time to teach me some tips on taking better photos and how to use my camera. Because of this, it started my path to becoming a pet rescue photographer and 2 years later I was able to join HeartsSpeak as a member artist to pay it forward. I strongly believe in HeartsSpeak’s mission and i’m a very proud member. An image is worth 1000 words, and it can save many lives.
This is one of the most amazing non profits for photography and animal lovers. I love it so much! People are so kind to help you, and everyone is soooo lovely! I’m only 17, and I started when I was 14 with photography. I love this so much! And I love HeartsSpeak!❤️
One of the best community ever, members are supportive and always available to motivate and help everyone to grow. There is no competition, but the awareness that we are all here for the same reason: making a true difference in shelter animals' lives!
I love being part of this nonprofit.
They have helped me refine me skills as an artist/photographer to better help rescues. I’m able to produce better quality photos to “market” dogs and cats to get adopted faster
I have been involved with HeartSpeak for many years and the passion of the community to do good for animals is like no other. Working together allows the whole organization to make a difference all over the world in helping shelters and rescues improve their adoption rates and marketing strategy. I am proud to be a part of it all!
The HeARTs Speak community is a dream for budding and veteran photographers alike. The ideas and inspiration shared among peers are incredibly helpful, and the support members offer one another is such a blessing. We give our time and our hearts to this cause, and it is sometimes very challenging. But knowing we have a network of like-minded people who have likely had similar experiences to support us and share their insight makes it that much easier. The resources HeARTs Speak offers help take my work to the next level so I can do even more to help animals, and I'm go glad to be a part of this community.
I hear again and again 'your photos made me want to adopt that dog'... this is why I do what I do, and I'm proud to be a member of HeARTs Speak Inc. They support me and many other photographers and artists, who donate our work to help save animals. I'm thrilled to be in the company of so many like-minded volunteers, and am very grateful to HeARTs Speak for their constant support. Any time I reach out for advice, they are there to assist. Their programs and resources are vital for changing the lives of shelter animals.
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I've been a member of HeARTs Speak since 2012. I have found it to be such a welcoming organization. Being surrounded by like-minded artists, all working to help promote animal adoption has been so fulfilling. The knowledge, support and education, and resources freely shared is so valuable and encouraging.
I’m relatively new to HeArtSpeak as an artist member photographer and I am so grateful to have found this organization and community! They offer an amazing library of free education and materials to aid me in photographing and marketing shelter dogs. And the community of artists is amazingly supportive of each other. I love seeing all the work members are doing to get shelter dogs exposure so they have a better chance at being adopted! I’m proud to be a member of this amazing non profit!
Hearts speak is an amazing organization helping rescue groups ensure that rescue pets sparkle and shine and help them find a forever home! They also help teach rescue groups on how to improve their own photographs of adoptable pets. They also offer great resources and are incredibly supportive, kind and generous.
I absolutely love this organization. They work hard every single day to help animals in shelters and rescue. They also help teach others to photograph dogs in shelter situations. They are truly an amazing group.
I've been a member of Hearts Speak for several years and I photograph animals at my local shelter. Hearts Speak is a great resource for me and offers a lot of resources, positivity and group support. They help us do better and do more for our local shelters and animals. The fact that go around the country teaching shelters to take better photos is amazing! Better photos save animals lives! I love Hearts Speak!
HeARTs Speak is a unique organization in the animal welfare/rescue world and they fill a very important role by focusing on positive marketing, photography, advocacy, and partnerships. This small but mighty team travels the country training shelter/rescue staff and volunteers how to effectively promote the animals in their care. They have also created an active and supportive community of artists and I am proud to call myself an Artist Member.
Hearts Speak provides a wealth of tools to help artists to help rescues to help save the lives of homeless animals! Their library of resources is comprehensive and educational. Their community of artists are very supportive and encouraging. I feel fortunate to be a part of their initiative.
HeARTs Speak is an emerging nonprofit in the animal welfare world. Having worked in shelters in California, Hawaii and Wisconsin, one fact holds true across these different areas: images and storytelling save lives.
What is great about HeARTs Speak is that it serves so many different stakeholders in animal welfare - the animals looking for their furever home, the shelters that often need their animals receive that "perfect exposure" to be adopted, amateur and seasoned photographers looking to lend their skills to help save lives, businesses looking to make that connection to animal welfare cause marketing as well as the potential adopters who can now get the best "first impression" because HeARTs Speak's impact.
I photograph cats and dogs for a rescue local to me, and this organisation is a godsend! So many ideas, and resources available to members plus the ability to share work and discuss issues with other members is invaluable. Thank you HeartsSpeak
HeARTs Speak has helped me improve my photography skills to photograph shelter dogs. The skills I have learned from them are helping dogs get adopted in my community. Their free online materials are so helpful and the organization is always there to help!
I love HeARTs Speak's mission and am proud to be a part of their team, volunteering as a photographer at shelters and rescues. They provide artists with wonderful resources, tips and a community of team members who are always willing to critique work and share their experiences. I know the shelters and rescues that I have worked with appreciate the photos I take and they certainly help in their efforts to find homes for pets in need.
A few years ago, I began helping a couple of shelters/rescues in my area with photos so they could get their animals adopted sooner. It was so great when I found HeARTS Speak - an organization whose purpose is to ensure no shelter animal goes unseen! Match made in heaven! Thank you for all you do and the exposure you give to the cause!
HeARTs Speak is the reason I really got into photography. I've always loved photography, and I've always photographed my own foster dogs to help get them adopted, however, then I heard about HeARTs Speak. I was so excited to learn about others doing the same thing. I pushed myself to keep learning photography so I could join HeARTs Speak. I was so excited when I was accepted into this wonderful group of artists. Not only have they been a great support system for me, but they have also helped me grow as a photographer and a person. This non-profit group means the world to me and I can't say enough good things about HeARTs Speak!
I was welcomed into the HeARTs Speak family this year. I am very proud and honored to call myself a member. It is a very supportive group of people, everyone is willing to help each other out, share knowledge & stories or lend a sympathetic ear when needed. It's a wonderful organization filled with wonderful people sharing a common goal of raising awareness of the plight of shelter/rescue animals all around the world and I couldn't be happier to be a part of that!
I value my membership with HeARTs Speak. From them, I've learned about the importance of presenting a professional bio and photograph for homeless animals. I've also gained many tips about how to work with shelters, take photos, and network with other artists. HeARTs Speak leaders and members regularly encourage and inspire one another in passion for animals. This is a truly supportive and dedicated organization.
I am honored to be a part of this outstanding organization. The staff, volunteers and artist members are compassionate and dedicated to helping animal welfare organizations all over the world. Collectively, they are a wealth of knowledge, experience and skills which they share freely. The level of professionalism and willingness to help can be see at all levels in the organization. Hearts Speak is saving lives and developing programs that save animals, promote social change and bring communities together.
I’ve been working with HeARTs Speak for two years now, first as a volunteer and more recently as a board member, per the vision to achieve the widest reach possible in supporting animal welfare organizations’ efforts to better promote themselves and their adoptive animals. I began working I’m so impressed with the passion, professionalism and drive of all HeARTs Speak employees, board members and supporters with whom I’ve interacted, and was amazed to experience the enormity that this organization manages to accomplish with such a lean operation. Their vision and the impact of their work continue to inspire me – in my efforts to support the animal welfare community, and just generally on a personal and professional level.
I belong to one of thier artist members and they have provided me with a great platform to reach out to other like minded artists and draw upon the nuermorus resources to help shelters in our communities get animals re-homed faster.
This amazing group is so supportive and provides so many tools to help those of us who want make a difference. It can be scary and it can be heartbreaking, but it can also be the best feeling in the world when you know an image saved the life of a dog or cat. And this group understands that and supports you thru the technical issues, emotional issues and everything in between. Their passion and their genuine love for the animal shines thru in every way.
I learned about HeARTs Speak from seeing their logo on beautiful images of adoptable animals across social media. I went to the website to learn more about the organization and immediately set a goal for myself of achieving Artist Member status. I had been photographing dogs for my rescue of choice for a couple of years, and wanted to become a member in order to gain access to the amazing tools and resources they offer. At the time, I was unaware of the awesome community they also foster for members. The knowledge sharing and support is just wonderful, and I'm thrilled to be able to learn from the talented members gathered there. I have learned so much and have been able to expand my volunteer photography to a large city shelter where they were thrilled to be offered the services of a HeARTs Speak member. I'm very proud to be a part of this dedicated community of talented animal lovers, and wholeheartedly encourage anyone interested in donating or joining to do so.
I've been a member of HeARTs Speak since the beginning and I am still amazed at all great things they do for shelter pets around the world. HeARTs Speak is made up of so many great people and artists, who work tirelessly to promote adoptable animals through great imagery and artwork. It's really an amazing organization and I am proud to be a member.
This wonderful organization made such a difference to Charleston Animal Society. It is amazing how the photos of our animals have changed so much for the better, after their HeARTSpeak's visit and seminar. The result is that animals are being adopted sooner, which is what HeARTSpeak is all about - getting animals adopted by showing them in their best light. The professionals who visited us were so patient and helpful, and the materials they provided were exceptional. There is no doubt that good photos of adoptable animals make a huge difference in helping animals to get adopted sooner.
I have been a member of HeARTSspeak for many years now. The organization and members are extremely generous with their knowledge and expertise and I've gained valuable education and guidance with my rescue photography. I have had several rescues reach out to me through HS "find a member" resource guide and have been able to help rescue pets find their forever homes. Every single person associated with HeARTSspeak is incredibly dedicated and passionate about making sure all shelters, no matter how big or small, are provided the resources to showcase their animals to the public.
HeARTs Speak has given me the tools and confidence I needed to donate my photography to my local shelters and rescue groups. Through my involvement as an artist member, I've been able to help one of these rescue groups raise monumental funds toward helping the dogs of its organization via a calendar contest.
One of the best parts of this organization is the amazing support of its community who is there to cheer one another on every step of the way as we work together for a common cause: more lives saved through beautiful, heartfelt adoption photos!
HeARTs Speak is a fantastic organization that does so much through their members to help more shelter and rescue animals find loving home. And their members benefit from this organization too. Hard working and honest organizations that get important work done are wonderful and me need more like HeARTs Speak Inc.
Love being part of HeARTs Speak, a great community working so intensely to help animals from all over the world (I'm from Brazil, for instance, and they already helped me sooo much)! It is a great way to share knowledge and learn, whether we talk about mainly about ART and pets, some of the passions that unites all HS members, or about kindness, love and finding solutions for any challenge we face, since we can easily see a huge community of members willing to help everyone!
I want to submit a review for a Heart Speak photographer - Elaine from I Got the Shot, in northeast PA.
Elaine takes time about once a month to come to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter and showcases her talent by capturing the spirit of each animal she photographs. Her photos are crisp, clear, and beautifully edited. Each animal she photographs is posted with a brief paragraph about that animal. Elaine will blend her own experiences with the animal, with its general description, adding an animated dynamic to an already stunning portrait.
I also want to point out that Elaine photographs not only dogs, but also cats and small animals just as beautifully!
Heart Speak brought Elaine to the shelter, and in turn Elaine is bringing adopters to the animals she photographs. She also has referred another Heart Speak member to our neighboring county's shelter. Through this non-profit, two shelters near and dear to those who live in North East PA are now benefiting from the artistic endeavors of amazing professional photographers. 5 stars!
Personally, I heard about Hearts Speak by reading some posts from my friends on Facebook - with the same goal in mind - to save as many dogs as possible! I found out about Valerie Bruder through Barbara Blackman (pittie angel) and Gina Giordano (Fassa's Friends Boxer Rescue). I contacted Valerie Bruder approximately 6 months ago about her FABULOUS dog photos for rescues... The rest is history - I am convinced that if it was not for some of Val's photos - that she so generously took the time to do - some of Fassa's Friends would still be looking for Furever homes!!! Valerie Bruder is awesome and a PERFECT representative of Hearts Speak : )
I have worked with not 1 but 2 Hearts Speak members! One more than the other.
I have worked with Janice Smith, who had a prettiest pittie contest and my Ellie Mae won a photo shoot! It was absolutely a wonderful experience.
I have worked with Valerie Bruder on several occasions, and she is my GO TO photographer. Every experience with her has been a fantastic one. She knows EXACTLY how to capture the dogs in their element. They are always crisp, clear and BEAUTIFUL photos! She is the most patient, funny, creative photographer I have ever worked with. She is a true gem and an asset to the Hearts Speak group! Thank you Valerie Bruder and Janice Smith for your talent and sharing it with the world and also of course with Hearts Speak!
I have been volunteering as a membership committee member and photographer for over a year and I love it! Such great, sharing and wonderful people.
As a co-founder of a non-profit dog rescue, we couldn't be happier or excited about a group such as Hearts Speak! There is such a need in the community for better photographs of animals waiting for their forever homes. Valerie Bruder our friend and local Hearts Speak volunteer and photography has done such an amazing job, not only with photographing the dogs in our rescue, Lilo's Promise Animal Rescue but many urgent and homeless dogs in the area. She has a true passion and love of both photography and animals and it shows! Hearts Speak is a God send to animals in need!
As a photographer at HeARTs Speak, I travel to local animal shelters and rescues, creating quality images that bring out the best in shelter animals. The adoptions in our area has increased DRAMATICALLY due to my participation. I am able to increase my skills thanks to the expertise and kind encouragement of the staff and members at HeART's Speak. The organization is attempting to branch out in all areas, and the staff is always willing to answer questions and communicate thoroughly. I endorse and would recommend working with a HeART's Speak Member, or the organization as a whole with the utmost confidence.
I have been a member of Hearts Speak for a short time (about 5 months). It took me a long time to find a place to use my talents to help a cause so close to my heart. My fellow members are extremely supportive and caring individuals who feel as strongly as I do about the plight of homeless animals. I am honored to be part of such an amazing group of talented and generous people who actually are making a difference.
Review from Guidestar
I do a lot of volunteer work with a variety of shelters and rescues. Many shelters do not realize the affect that an animals image can have on how quickly they may get adopted. By utilizing the members of HeartsSpeak to take images of their adoptable pets, they will greatly increase their chances of improving their adoption rates. By using professional photographers - they are getting images that are clear and bright and focus on the personality of the dog to be able to showcase them in the best light. And who does not love sharing pretty pictures of animals across the social networks? The more shares, the more visibility, the more visibility, the more adoptions - it is a win win!
Review from Guidestar
Creating gorgeous images to give gorgeous animals a better shot at the life they deserve with loving families - a fabulous cause. heARTspeak is wonderful for facilitating the connections between photographers, artists, shelters and rescues. Through the group many thousands of animals have been saved and helped.
When I started photographing shelter animals I thought there weren't many others out there with the same goal - to show that shelter and rescue animals are not just "pound puppies and kittens". When Lisa approached me to join HeARTs Speak I was immediately on board. It's so rewarding to talk to fellow artists all over the world that all have the same ideals. It's amazing to be part of a group that truly supports and admires one another without competing. Together we've already saved thousands of animal lives!
Review from Guidestar
I have been volunteering with rescues for several years. I donate my services to take better photos so that the animals have a better chance of finding a home. I was thrilled to find a group dedicated to this very thing.
After learning about HeARTs Speak and their work with shelters and rescues, I knew I had to become a part of it. In 2011 I was accepted as a service professional.
Through HS I have been able to reach out to more organizations and offer my services. I have been able to make a difference in so many lives; many more than had I continued to go at it alone.
The members of HS are dedicated, inspiring and have such compassion for the homeless pets. Through their charitable work they make a huge difference.
Lori Fusaro
Review from Guidestar
