Save Local Businesses: Two Years Later

Two years ago, we saw the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. I didn’t have to look far to see the impact of this virus. In West Town, our usually vibrant street turned dark and lonely. Friends I saw daily were homebound, and our businesses were silent.

I created Save Local Business: West Town and Wicker Park during lockdown and I photographed 54 businesses in a few weeks! With the help of the West Town Chamber of Commerce and the Wicker Park Chamber of Commerce, I photographed local business owners, shared their stories, and provided the face behind their closed doors and dark windows.

Two years after the start of this project, I’m thrilled to collaborate with these businesses again to see where they are now!

So happy to photograph Chris Hunt from Seek Vintage, as he was the first business owner I photographed two years ago! The first photo is from 2022, the last photo is from 2020.

Did you participate in “Save Local Businesses” in 2020 and want to collaborate again? Fill out the form below! I’m excited to catch up, see how you are doing, and showcase how your business looks now!

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    Chicago Pet Photographer

    Meet Zeno.

After being surrendered by his owner, Zeno has spent more than a year waiting at Red Door Animal Shelter for someone to choose him.

And somehow, after all this time, he’s still soft. Still trusting. Still hopeful.

Cats like Zeno don’t need perfection. They just need someone willing to see them.

Seen. Heard. Loved.

📍 Red Door Animal Shelter

🐾 Available for adoption
    Meet Zeno.

After being surrendered by his owner, Zeno has spent more than a year waiting at Red Door Animal Shelter for someone to choose him.

And somehow, after all this time, he’s still soft. Still trusting. Still hopeful.

Cats like Zeno don’t need perfection. They just need someone willing to see them.

Seen. Heard. Loved.

📍 Red Door Animal Shelter

🐾 Available for adoption
    Welcome to The See Hear Love Project™.
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Created by Chicago photographer and animal communicator Candice C. Cusic, this one-of-a-kind project combines animal communication and fine-art portraiture to help foster animals be seen, heard, and adopted.
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Each story begins with connection.
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Seen. Heard. Loved.
    Honored to speak with WGN’s Spotlight Chicago about The See Hear Love Project™ — a one-of-a-kind series combining animal communication and fine-art portraiture to help foster animals be seen, heard, and adopted.
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Seen. Heard. Loved.
    “I have a bed and a blanket now.”
She didn’t always.
This is Tootsie.
Available for adoption at @hinsdalehumanesociety 
The See Hear Love Project™
    Level up.
The See Hear Love Project on WGN’s Spotlight Chicago. Check back soon for the full interview!
    Meet Tootsie 💛
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Surrendered by her owner, Tootsie arrived at Hinsdale Humane Society with little to no information about her past. That’s where we stepped in.
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Nicole, Administrative Manager at Hinsdale Humane Society, brought Tootsie to us and is part of this moment you’re seeing—helping us begin to understand who Tootsie really is.
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The See Hear Love Project is the only project that combines animal communication and professional photography—helping uncover each dog’s story and showing who they truly are.
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Now it’s Tootsie’s turn to be seen for exactly who she is 💫
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Seen. Heard. Loved.
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#SeeHearLove #SeeHearLoveProject #RescueStory #AdoptDontShop
    Avalanche didn’t start life this way.
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Rescued from a hoarding situation through @reddoorshelter, his world was once crowded, uncertain, and far from safe.
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But something beautiful happened—
his foster saw him… and never let him go.
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Avalanche is now home.
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Seen. Heard. Loved.

    Our location

    Located in downtown Chicago.

    1821 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60622

    By appointment only

    info@cusicphoto.com

     

    Available for travel internationally, for pets & family photography, and education for photographers. Send us a note for details or reach us by phone at 312-248-2939.

     

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