Photographer aims to soften pit bull image with flowery crowns

Henry Hanks
By Henry Hanks, CNN
1 minute read
Updated 5:40 PM EDT, Tue March 17, 2015
Meet Big Papa, one of the canine stars of photographer Sophie Gamand's series "Flower Power: Pit Bulls of the Revolution." Gamand partnered with animal shelters for the series an in effort to "challenge the way we look at pit bulls."
Meet Big Papa, one of the canine stars of photographer Sophie Gamand's series "Flower Power: Pit Bulls of the Revolution." Gamand partnered with animal shelters for the series an in effort to "challenge the way we look at pit bulls."
Sophie Gamand Photography
Gamand says she was not a fan of pit bulls after being attacked by a large dog as a child. Volunteering in a shelter and becoming an animal activist changed her attitude toward pit bulls, like Regina here
Gamand says she was not a fan of pit bulls after being attacked by a large dog as a child. Volunteering in a shelter and becoming an animal activist changed her attitude toward pit bulls, like Regina here
Sophie Gamand Photography
Photos of Rey and other shelter dogs are intended to entice prospective owners to adopt. "Pit bulls are often powerful dogs who are very loyal. Like any other breed, they need proper care, training and socialization," Gamand says on her <a href="http://www.sophiegamand.com/work#/flowerpower/" target="_blank" target="_blank">website</a>. "Pit bulls have become the disposable dogs of America."
Photos of Rey and other shelter dogs are intended to entice prospective owners to adopt. "Pit bulls are often powerful dogs who are very loyal. Like any other breed, they need proper care, training and socialization," Gamand says on her website. "Pit bulls have become the disposable dogs of America."
Sophie Gamand Photography
Gamand creates the crowns for the dogs and brings them to shelters for the shoots. "The dogs have been doing incredibly well wearing the crowns. Of course there is a lot of bribery involved!"
Gamand creates the crowns for the dogs and brings them to shelters for the shoots. "The dogs have been doing incredibly well wearing the crowns. Of course there is a lot of bribery involved!"
Sophie Gamand Photography
Images of Aphrodite and her friends from New York's Sean Casey Animal Rescue have been spreading across social media after the shelter shared them on Facebook on March 12.
Images of Aphrodite and her friends from New York's Sean Casey Animal Rescue have been spreading across social media after the shelter shared them on Facebook on March 12.
Sophie Gamand Photography
Through pictures of Cali and her cohorts, Gamand hopes to change the way we look at pit bulls and "renew the dialogue around these misunderstood dogs."
Through pictures of Cali and her cohorts, Gamand hopes to change the way we look at pit bulls and "renew the dialogue around these misunderstood dogs."
Sophie Gamand Photography
Many of the models have been adopted thanks to their portraits, Gamand said. The photos posted on Sean Casey's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeanCaseyAnimalRescue/posts/10152797783541483" target="_blank" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> of Shirley and others have been viewed 4.5 million times and shared more than 71,000 times.
Many of the models have been adopted thanks to their portraits, Gamand said. The photos posted on Sean Casey's Facebook page of Shirley and others have been viewed 4.5 million times and shared more than 71,000 times.
Sophie Gamand Photography
How many takes do you think it took to get Styles to pose for this portrait?
How many takes do you think it took to get Styles to pose for this portrait?
Sophie Gamand Photography
How can you resist Slim in a flower crown?
How can you resist Slim in a flower crown?
Sophie Gamand Photography
Dogs wearing flower crowns

Story highlights

Photographer Sophie Gamand takes portraits of pit bulls wearing flower crowns

The photos are being used to encourage pet adoption

CNN  — 

Pit bulls may not be the first dogs everyone thinks of when it comes to cute, cuddly canines.

But one photographer aims to change that with a new series of portraits.

Some very cute images of pit bulls wearing flower crowns started popping up on Facebook this weekend after the Sean Casey Animal Rescue in New York posted them.

They are the brainchild of New York-based photographer Sophie Gamand, who is partnering with shelters in New York to create pit bull portraits that make you say “awwww.”

With “Flower Power: Pit Bulls of the Revolution,” Gamand says, she hopes to “challenge the way we look at pit bulls” by giving them a softer image.

Gamand and Sean Casey Animal Rescue staff members credit the images with increasing pit bull adoptions since the postings.

Who knows, could this canine couture be part of the latest trend in weddings?