At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, ten deserving shelter dogs recently got their “Second Shot” at adoption thanks to support from NaturVet. Intake photos often don’t capture a pet’s true spirit, especially in overcrowded shelters where stress and sadness take over.
That’s where our Second Shot program steps in—replacing those photos with professional portraits that reveal each dog’s personality, charm, and potential to be the perfect family companion.
These new photos don’t just look better—they work better. Time and again, we’ve seen adopters connect instantly with pets after their updated portraits are shared online. For these ten dogs, the transformation is more than cosmetic; it’s a lifeline that increases their chances of being noticed, loved, and adopted into forever homes.
Second Shot is only possible with the help of compassionate sponsors like NaturVet—and there are many more pets waiting for their chance. If your company or organization would like to make a direct impact, you can sponsor a Second Shot.
Every $100 gives a shelter pet a new photo session and a better shot at adoption. Together, we can save lives—one photo at a time.
Wan to get involved with Second Shot? Please email adam@agoldphoto.com for more information.
When the Halifax Humane Society in Daytona, Florida reached out about bringing my Second Shot adoption photo program to their shelter, I didn’t hesitate.
Their team told me about several dogs who have been waiting over 150 days for a home. One of them, Gaia, a fluffy pit mix with a heart of gold, quickly became a stand-out.
In her kennel, Gaia’s stress and high energy didn’t always make the best first impression — but once we got her outside for her Second Shot photo session, her true personality shone through. The photos and videos from her session have already started going viral, helping potential adopters see the sweet, playful dog she really is.
That’s the power of professional pet photography. Shelters work tirelessly to care for their animals, but intake photos are often taken quickly under poor lighting and stressful conditions. Second Shot gives these pets a second chance to make a first impression, which can mean the difference between months in the shelter and a new life in a forever home.
I’m excited to share that I’m open to working with other shelters across Florida — not just in Daytona and Tampa. Shelters can bring me in directly, and we can work together to find business sponsors to help offset the cost of the program. These sponsorships not only support the shelter but also give brands meaningful content and a cause to connect with their community.
If you’re a Florida shelter looking to highlight your long-stay pets or a business interested in sponsoring Second Shot in your area, let’s talk.
Together, we can help more pets, like Gaia, finally go home.
Local businesses are stepping up to help Tampa Bay shelter pets get adopted faster—by sponsoring professional before and after photos through the Second Shot program.
This week’s sponsor,Pristine Paws, a dog waste removal company serving Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties, funded a new round of Second Shot portraits for pets at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
These Before and After transformations help pets stand out online and in their kennels—often leading to faster adoptions.
Even better? Pristine Paws will donate $10/month to the Humane Society for every new customer who signs up and selects them on the contact form—for the lifetime of that customer.
👉 Sign up here and choose “Humane Society of Tampa Bay” to make your pet part of the impact.
Lena – ADOPTED
Stryker – ADOPTED
How to Support Second Shot Adoption Photos
– Book a Private Pet Photo Shoot Experience for your pets here.
– Your company can sponsor 10 pets for $1,000.
– Become a Monthly Patreon Subscriber for as little as $5/month here.
Paws N Rec Helps Tampa Shelter Dogs Get Adopted With Professional Photos
Tampa doggy daycare Paws N Rec is helping me use the power of photography to help shelter dogs find loving homes at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
As an official sponsor of the Second Shot photography program, Paws N Rec funds professional portraits of shelter dogs taken by AGoldPhoto Pet Photography. These portraits replace the dogs’ intake photos and showcase their true personalities—smiling, playful, and full of potential.
Each image is printed, framed, and placed on the dog’s kennel at the shelter, helping them stand out to visitors and make an immediate emotional connection.
Thanks to Paws N Rec’s sponsorship, the shelters don’t bear the cost—allowing more dogs to get the exposure they need without straining limited resources.
By funding the Second Shot photography program in Tampa, Paws N Rec is helping local shelter pets get the second chance they deserve—one photo at a time.
We’ve also teamed up with That’s So Tampa to help bring even more exposure to these shelter dogs. They’ll be sharing behind the scenes content and Second Shot photos with their audience too.
Want to be a corporate sponsor of Second Shot Adoption Photos? Please email adam@agoldphoto.com.
Thanks to a Tampa-based sponsor, Pristine Paws, several shelter pets at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay received professional photo sessions to give them a Second Shot at adoption.
These new portraits capture each pet’s true personality—something their intake photos just couldn’t do. With better visibility online and in the shelter, these Tampa pets now have a better shot at finding loving homes.
Pristine Paws is Giving Back to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay
Pristine Paws is a Doggy Waste Removal Company and services all of Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
In addition to sponsoring Second Shot next month too, Pristine Paws is also going to donate $10 per new customer sign-up back to the Humane Society every single month for the lifetime of the customer!
**Make sure to select the “Humane Society of Tampa Bay’ on their contact form when you sign up.**
Zaza – ADOPTED
Clare – ADOPTED
Bobi – ADOPTED
How to Support Second Shot Adoption Photos
– Book a Private Pet Photo Shoot Experience for your pets here.
– Your company can sponsor 10 pets for $1,000 which also includes numerous content for sharing on social media too.
– Become a Monthly Patreon Subscriber for as little as $5/month here.
When your dog is your entire world, capturing your bond in a photograph becomes more than just a session—it becomes a memory you treasure forever. That’s exactly what Daniella, one of our Tampa clients felt, when she reached out to us about her loving, happy, and playful pup, Koda.
Koda, a fluffy, always-smiling companion, was preparing for an upcoming surgery that would require shaving her entire neck. Her mom had originally planned for a summer session but realized that waiting might mean missing the chance to photograph Koda before her signature fluff was gone for a while.
Koda wasn’t just any dog—she had been there through every life chapter, from school to long work shifts in anesthesia.
When her mom walks through the door after a long day, Koda would run to the couch, flip herself over into position, and lock eyes as if to say, “I’ve been waiting just for you.” She’d put her paw on her mom’s arm and sit at her level—always close, always connected.
The session was also a celebration of a major milestone: Koda’s 10th birthday. Reaching double digits is something truly special, and her mom wanted to mark the occasion with portraits that captured all the joy, love, and playfulness that Koda brought into her life over the years. It was more than a photo shoot—it was a birthday celebration full of love, smiles, and tail wags.
Daniella had never had a professional photo with her mom before, and this was their moment.
During our session, we captured her signature smile and her joyful spirit as she soaked in every moment.
Koda’s story reminded us that our pets don’t just live with us—they live for us. They’re by our side through life’s hardest days and biggest milestones. And sometimes, they deserve to be the star of the show.
If you’ve been putting off a photo session with your pet, now might be the time. Don’t wait until after the surgery or the senior years. Celebrate them now—fluff, joy, birthdays, and all.
At AGoldPhoto Pet Photography in Tampa, we believe every dog deserves to be seen for who they truly are—not just how they look behind shelter bars. That’s why we recently invited 7 incredible bully breed dogs from Polk County Bully Project to our studio for a Second Shot photo shoot.
These pups—often misunderstood or overlooked because of their breed—got the chance to shine in a calm, comfortable setting away from the noise and stress of the shelter. Their playful personalities, gentle eyes, and goofy smiles came to life in front of the camera.
Thanks to our partnership with Polk County Bully Project, we’re helping rewrite the first impression these dogs make online. Eye-catching, professional portraits increase visibility, spark interest, and ultimately help more dogs get adopted into loving homes.
The Second Shot program is our way of changing lives—one photo at a time.
#Ad – We recently teamed up with Brookdale Senior Living to promote pet adoption with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. The shelter brought 5 adoptable animals to sit with Brookdale residents for a photo shoot.
The Brookdale residents really enjoyed interacting with the dogs and the dogs really enjoyed their time away from the shelter!
Socializing shelter dogs outside of the shelter helps reduce their stress build their confidence and allows their true personality to shine—making them more adoptable. It also gives potential adopters a better sense of how the dog behaves in a real-world environment.
As a bonus…2 of the 5 dogs got adopted by the staff at Brookdale Senior Living.
Seniors 65+ also get 50% off the adoption fee at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
You can also learn more about pets at Brookdale here.
Michelle, the proud owner of Zoom Room South Tampa, recently stepped in front of the camera with her soulful, goofy Great Dane, Koda. As someone who trains dogs every day, it was extra meaningful to capture this bond on camera—especially with the understanding that tomorrow isn’t promised.
“Koda is my absolute soul dog,” Michelle shared. “I’ve been wanting to get her photo taken forever. With our new partnership on the Second Shot Adoption Photos project, it felt like the perfect time.”
Koda isn’t just big in size—she’s big in personality too. Described as goofy, stubborn, and incredibly loving, Koda has been a life-changing presence in Michelle’s world. She’s taught Michelle patience, helped her look inward, and even inspired her to open Zoom Room in the first place.
“She challenges me in all the right ways. Her judgmental looks, her snuggles, the way she perks up when she sees me through the window—it’s everything,” Michelle said. “She’ll run downstairs, tail wagging, like she hasn’t seen me in years. Then she lays her head in my lap and all the stress disappears.”
Despite the chaos of running a business, parenting, and life in general, Koda brings comfort, calmness, and joy. Whether she’s galloping around the house in her clumsy way or curled up next to Michelle on the couch, she brings peace and purpose to every day.
“I’ve never had a dog photographed before,” Michelle admitted. “But having these moments of Koda captured means the world to me.”
Koda is more than just a dog—she’s a healer, a teacher, and a best friend. And now, thanks to a beautiful photo session, those memories will last forever.
Looking to capture the bond you share with your dog?
Book a professional pet photography session today and celebrate your own soul dog. You’ll never regret preserving those moments—because they truly are timeless.
We’ve been working hard behind the scenes for months to bring you a new video series called Lights Camera Adoption.
We’ve teamed up with Attn, a production company in LA, to follow the journey of several shelter dogs at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, to bring even more awareness to pet adoption.
In addition to our Second Shot Program at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, we also open our studio occasionally to foster dogs and rescues to have their Second Shot adoption photo too.
Our friends at V-Flat World sponsored this photo shoot so the rescues and fosters could be gifted a photo shoot and not incur any cost.
Aubrey – Another Man’s Treasure Rescue
Aubrey Jean is a charming three-year-old with beautiful brown eyes and the cutest freckles (aka spots). She is the ultimate snuggle buddy, always ready to lay on you and squish her face against yours, especially when you need some cheering up. Aubrey is incredibly in tune with her family, showering everyone with love and affection.
She loves to follow you around the house, whether you’re cooking, watching TV, or working. Aubrey is a quiet coworker who enjoys being by your side. She also has a playful side, loving to run around the yard and play fetch.
Aubrey is crate trained, potty trained, and knows basic commands. She thrives on pleasing her people and would do great with a smaller dog for playtime. Her loving gaze will surely make you fall in love with her!
Adoption fee: $150 which includes her spay, microchip, and vaccines!
Shenzi is an 1 year old Australian Shepherd-Corgi mix. She is crate trained, potty trained, fantastic on leash and extremely smart. She was dumped at an elementary school in Wimauma. She is a fantastic dog! She will get along with anything. She is will need guidance and time to acclimate to the new home and the new family. We know this to be true because we can put her around 20 of ours and every dog is harmonious. She will get along with cats, but she does like to chase them so until she gets to know a new cat, it is definitely recommended that they be kept separate and introduced slow as she should be to any other dog.
Fran is a gentle giant with a heart as big as her paws. This sweet girl has come a long way from her intake weight of 65 lbs and is now thriving at 93 lbs, with a goal of reaching 100 lbs. She’s housebroken and great with everyone-dogs, cats, kids, you name it!
Fran isn’t much of a barker, though she’ll chime in if others start. She’s happiest when she’s snuggled up on the couch or in bed with her people, so she’s looking for a home that will let her enjoy those cozy comforts. She’s also a huge fan of car rides and would love to be your road trip companion.
If you’re looking for a calm, loving, and low-maintenance dog who will be your loyal snuggle partner, Fran is your girl!
Blue spent most of his whole life with one family, but they felt he would be happier in a new home and almost considered euthanasia due to overcrowded shelters. Luckily, we stepped in, knowing how sweet this boy is. Blueford just had a dental and a mass removal, and now he’s ready to find a loving retirement home.
He’s a laid-back guy who enjoys the simple pleasures: kind words, plenty of snacks, and relaxing in front of the TV. Blueford also loves walks, car rides, and being with his family—he’s happy as long as he’s by your side.
