We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elena Maas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Elena, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Building out my own business as a dog photographer has been one of the most meaningful adventures I have taken on so far. Being a very risk-averse person, I’m aware nothing is as addictive as a steady paycheck and therefore I have not dared to make the jump into solely being self-employed. It also helps that I really do love my 9-5 as a graphic designer at a small, local design agency that supports other small businesses.

But dog photography has been a very meaningful, creative outlet which is not just providing a certain kind of fulfillment for myself but also for the people I work with. Creating timeless mementoes for people has been incredible fulfilling and I so enjoy meeting people and their special dog. I did not grow up with dogs but always felt drawn to animals. When, in 2017, an old neighbor of mine mentioned he had an American Staffordshire puppy he was trying to find a home for, I knew I was coming home with a dog. This was completely new territory for me and it was the first time in my life I was also made aware of the fact that the bully breed was not loved by a lot of people. Raising this tiny little puppy, I made sure to do the best I could but there were still people who had nasty comments or would cross the street whenever we were walking the neighborhood. The stigma this little puppy came with was something I wanted to change. I started taking pictures of her, showing how gentle, fun and smart she was. Photography turned into a new passion and I also wanted to use it to show that these precious beings are not the terrible monsters the media makes them out to be. I love when people contact me who want to book sessions with their rescue pit mixes. I have taken pictures of pit mixes at local shelters to get them adopted and will hopefully be doing this kind of photography for a long time.

Elena, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Born and raised in Germany, I have now lived in the States for over 18 years. I took advantage of the few college courses I had to take while being an Au Pair to figure out what I wanted to do in the future. Graphic design and all things art were always fascinating to me and I quickly figured out that I wanted to build a career as a graphic designer. Going to art school in Philadelphia was fun and thanks to an amazing professor, I was able to land a job as a graphic artist at a company in New Jersey after graduating.

While still loving being a designer, photography became another creative outlet and over the last few years I have been able to niche myself as a dog photographer. People with their special dogs schedule sessions with me in order to create timeless mementos. I also often have people reach out to book rainbow bridge sessions when they have received bad news about their dog’s health. Those sessions can be heartbreaking but knowing first-hand how important these four-legged creatures can be to us, I do love that I can leave these people with something they can cherish forever. I believe what sets me apart is that I try to make everyone at a session as comfortable as possible, especially the dog. I want my sessions to be enjoyable for everyone involved. Asking about the dog in advance, I can suggest locations that will be appropriate. Is your dog reactive? Let’s plan a session early in the morning in a park when there is nobody else around. Dogs are the center of attention during the sessions. Is your dog not comfortable, I will have the owner just walk them around a little. Let the pup sniff and explore the surroundings for a bit. That is all part of the session. Every dog is different and I believe that owners as well as I have to adjust to that and not put unnecessary pressure on the animal that has no idea what is expected. Being patient, empathetic and bringing a calming energy I believe are some of my strengths I can provide during a session.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Being a creative is not a 9-5. Recently, I have been having issues sitting down at 9am to start designing websites, print pieces, social posts and whatever other pieces people are needing from me. Taking breaks, going on walks and just being offline in the middle of the day is needed when being a creative. ‘Just look for some inspiration’ is really not how it works. For me, creativity comes in bursts and these bursts often do not happen between someone else’s working hours. These bursts sometimes happen at 7pm or 9pm. One of the hardest things is that us creatives still have to deliver on time. I also believe that creatives are not getting the respect they deserve. We are people who just play with fonts and colors and a lot of clients feel like they can do it just as well. Going through 5 rounds of a logo design gets very frustrating when at the end the client goes back to the initial logo design that I explained over and over again why I thought it was appropriate and perfectly fitting for the business. Just people not trusting that I have designed for over 13 years can be disheartening and deflating. Respect the creative and trust their input is what I would tell someone who keeps questioning design after design.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

This is not necessarily about resources but what I have found immensely helpful is networking with other creatives. I love finding out how other creatives run their business, where they find inspiration, how they handle difficult clients, etc. Chatting and exchanging stories has really fueled me and my business. Implementing some of the changes as well as looking into new programs that help me run a business more smoothly have all stemmed from conversations with other creatives. I really wish I had started this earlier because I could have saved some time as well as moved my business along a little quicker.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maascreative.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maas_creative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maascreative/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenamaas

Image Credits

All images were taken by MAAS Creative (myself).