Meet Winnie Au — The Photographer And Dog Mom Whose Photo Series Is The Coolest Thing You'll See All Day

There's something sorrowful about seeing a dog wearing a cone... right? That's not the case for the 60 pups featured in Cone of Shame, a unique and artful series by photographer Winnie Au, hitting bookshelves in hardcopy form on September 10.

"This series aims to transform what is considered a shameful moment — a dog wearing a cone — into something beautiful and majestic," Au told BuzzFeed in an interview. All 139 photos in the collection showcase dogs wearing custom, handmade (and very fashionable) cone-like collars.

Cone of Shame started as an artistic outlet after Au and her husband lost their corgi, Tartine. Tartine (named one of BuzzFeed's Most Important Corgis in 2013 due to a cute photo that went viral) was diagnosed with cancer and, after her passing, Au decided to use her experience as an editorial and commercial photographer to pay tribute to a beloved pet.

"This series has been a joyful way to cope with something really difficult," says Au. "Many people have lost a pet they loved at some point. It has been a blessing to be able to channel that loss into something positive. So many creative things stem from people losing something important to them."

For Au, part of honoring Tartine is donating a portion of Cone of Shame's proceeds to Animal Haven's Recovery Road Fund, an organization raising money for pets with urgent medical needs.

Though this project isn't Au's first foray into pet photography, it's one near and dear to her heart. "Dogs have always been ongoing in my work," she says. "They've appeared in my advertising photoshoots and have always been a topic I love. I enjoy exploring how a dog's place in our lives has shifted as a society. Dogs have become important family members, rather than just household pets. They are our baby."

As for selecting the Cone of Shame canines, Au worked with dogs ranging from pug to doberman. "One of the things I loved most was working with different breeds, sizes, and types of fur. People vary, of course, but there's a far more vast range between a teeny, tiny dog and a giant one."

About a month before each photoshoot, Au and designer Marie-Yan Morvan would choose a dog so that Morvan could begin creating a custom cone specific to that pet. "It was a giant puzzle piecing together what looked best," says Au. "I wanted to represent the landscape of dogs — which is nearly impossible since there are so many different types."

"We had an ongoing document of different cone ideas. Then, we would envision a couple of types of dogs that might look interesting with it. We didn't always aim for a specific breed. It was more about capturing a look."

Au's collaboration with Morvan began in 2017 when they first exhibited their first iteration of the Cone of Shame series. Morvan, whose repertoire varies from designing costumes to sets and props, ensures that each handmade cone is lightweight, non-toxic, and safe for dogs.

Since each dog comes from a different background, Au says it was vital to anticipate their individual needs ahead of each photoshoot. "Some dogs had never been behind a camera before," she says. "Others were very seasoned in being on set. Understanding where each dog comes from allowed us to work with them in the right way."

When asked about her favorite Cone of Shame memory, Au has two answers: "Seeing Calvin the Komondor in person was amazing. Komondors are such a unique breed that require lots of grooming and care. We paired Calvin with a cone made of yarn and it was so bizarre that everyone on set was laughing all day. It was so much fun."

"My other favorite memory is working with my own dog, Clementine. Including her in the series was a bit of a wild card," admits Au. "She struggled with a lot of anxiety when we adopted her so I was worried about bringing her on set with so many people. I initially made the crew go into the other room, but Clementine did so well that we called everyone back in and she was so chill."

"It was a really cool moment of being surprised by my own dog and how far she's come. Being involved with Cone of Shame was a big achievement for Clementine and a wonderful memory for me. To have my own dog included in this book is really special. I couldn't do it without her."

Cone of Shame arrives to bookshelves (and into the homes of dog lovers) on September 10, 2024. Learn more here.