Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Cobb.
Hi Lynn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Many people have asked me how this book came to be. Truth be told, it has been growing in my soul for as long as I can remember. Like many people, I love dogs. It’s not just a superficial kind of love. It runs deep within me, and it started when I was just a little girl. “You had me at woof!” That was me.
After I graduated from Brooks Institute for Photography in 1992, I developed a style for telling a story through portraiture and became a professional photographer. This book came into being in 2014 thanks to a photo I saw online of a pretty girl in a lovely pink dress standing on a stage. What I noticed more than the girl was the dog by her side: a guide dog, standing at attention, chest puffed out, with the same formal pride a father adopts when his daughter is getting married.
I didn’t know the girl or the dog. What I did realize, all of a sudden, was I had a story to tell to the world about amazing service dogs. I located Carly, the girl in the photo. She and her dog, Brinkley, became the first subjects. With a gift for photography and a heart for dogs, Good Dogs of Service was born.
In the expressions and postures of the portrait subjects in this book, you will see example after example of the marvelous bond that develops between the service dog and the human. I noticed that chemistry when I was with Carly and Brinkley. But my personal photo project took on an added dimension when Carly explained the process, she went through to get Brinkley.
Behind each outstanding service and working dog there are hundreds of hours of patient and specialized training. Some organizations train service dogs to assist individuals with disabilities or limitations. Others develop working canines, to protect and save individuals from harm. I have come to file both categories into one: good dogs of service—dogs that, with love and loyalty, put their powers at our service.
Over time, I’ve found non-profits that train guide dogs, backcountry rescue dogs, disaster search dogs, explosives detection dogs, dogs that will work with veterans who have PTSD, and more. And I’ve encountered law enforcement and military branches that train working K-9s for dangerous missions. These dogs are not only courageous—often they are the first responders on the scene—but incredibly well-equipped, with superpowers of sight, smell, and hearing, and a boundless sense of loyalty. I’ve been awed by what they are capable of in partnership with their handlers.
It has been seven years now since I started this book. That’s a long time in a dog’s life. As I write this, Brinkley is about to be retired, and Carly is in the process of finding another guide dog. Several of the dogs I featured in this book have passed away, causing immense loss to the humans whom they have served so well. I salute them all for their service. My hope is that you will enjoy learning about these incredible dogs and that, when you meet a “Good Dog of Service” in your community, you will have a new, heartfelt appreciation for them and the essential work they do.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Creating this book has definitely been a journey and every journey has its hurdles. I would say that the biggest struggle was finding the handlers & dogs to photograph. I am a professional photographer so the people I photograph usually find me because they are my “clients”. For this project, I had to find “them – the handlers”.
The way I found the handlers & dogs were two ways: For the service dogs, there are foundations who raise them so I contacted them and they reached out to their clients who then coordinated with me. For the working K-9s, I either researched the handlers & dogs when I was traveling to an area or I knew of the handlers by association already. An example of this is when I went to Park City with my family and researched Search & Rescue K-9s before I arrived. I contacted Hutch through social media and he graciously agreed to the photoshoot, so while my family went skiing, I was photographing Hutch & Calamity.
Although there have been many other hurdles in creating my book, “Good Dogs of Service”, it was always worth it all, because I love these dogs so much and know how important they are to society. My purpose is to tell the world about these amazing dogs!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been a portrait photographer for over 30 years now. I specialize in photographing people on-location for professional headshots for businesses, high school senior portraits, and of course dogs are always welcome at any time.
I am most known for my lighting style which is just beautiful even lighting and also for my personality and way of putting people at ease while photographing them.
I would say that knowing how to light people is what sets me apart from other photographers. It took me a long time to realize that not everyone can see light. My favorite photographer of all time is Annie Leibovitz so after years of studying her beautiful photography, I’ve learned a lot from her.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
To see more of my work for professional portraits., I invite you to go to www.lynncobbstudios.com
To buy the book Good Dogs of Service please go to www.gooddogsofservice.com
I would love support for my book because a portion of the book sales goes to the handler & dog foundations. This helps with dog supplies, medical care, and of course their favorite toys.
Contact Info:
- Email: lynn@lynncobbstudios.com
- Website: www.lynncobbstudios.com and www.gooddogsofservice.com
- Instagram: @lynncobbstudios and @gooddogsofservice
- Facebook: @LynnCobbStudios
Image Credits
Lynn Cobb
