Save Local Businesses: Two Years Later

Portrait of Chris Hunt from Seek Vintage in 2020 and 2020. Click and drag the slider to see the photos!

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!

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

    SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.
    Every foster animal has something to say.
    Maggie’s animal communication session inspired the beginning of The See Hear Love Project™—and many more voices will follow.
    #chicagoshelterdogs
    #adoptlocal
    #rescuelocal
    #chicagodogs
    #chicagodogswithoutjobs

    View Instagram post by cusicphoto
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    SEEN. HEARD. LOVED. Every foster animal has something to say. Maggie’s animal communication session inspired the beginning of The See Hear Love Project™—and many more voices will follow. #chicagoshelterdogs #adoptlocal #rescuelocal #chicagodogs #chicagodogswithoutjobs

    Dama may be in a wheelchair, but her spirit is unstoppable.

    Through The See Hear Love Project™, her voice and her story are shared—so she can be truly seen, heard, and adopted.

    Thank you @sayvanimals for giving her the chance she deserves. Thank you @salvageone for welcoming us to photograph Dama in your beautiful space. She was a little nervous Nelly that day, so we finished her session in the studio. We’re so grateful for your support in helping animals like Dama be seen, heard, and adopted. ❤️🐾
    ##chicagoshelterdogs
    #adoptlocal
    #rescuelocal
    #chicagodogs
    #chicagodogswithoutjobs

    SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    View Instagram post by cusicphoto
    32 3
    Open post by cusicphoto with ID 18077487175866207
    Dama may be in a wheelchair, but her spirit is unstoppable. Through The See Hear Love Project™, her voice and her story are shared—so she can be truly seen, heard, and adopted. Thank you @sayvanimals for giving her the chance she deserves. Thank you @salvageone for welcoming us to photograph Dama in your beautiful space. She was a little nervous Nelly that day, so we finished her session in the studio. We’re so grateful for your support in helping animals like Dama be seen, heard, and adopted. ❤️🐾 ##chicagoshelterdogs #adoptlocal #rescuelocal #chicagodogs #chicagodogswithoutjobs SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    This is Nala the cat. 🐾
    Her reading wasn’t about adoption — it was about understanding.
    Animal communication reveals what our pets are truly feeling.
    Would you want to know what your cat is thinking?

    View Instagram post by cusicphoto
    23 0
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    This is Nala the cat. 🐾 Her reading wasn’t about adoption — it was about understanding. Animal communication reveals what our pets are truly feeling. Would you want to know what your cat is thinking?

    Something extraordinary is beginning.
    ⠀
    The See Hear Love Project™ gives foster animals more than a portrait—it gives them a voice. Through animal communication and photography, their stories will finally be shared with the world.
    ⠀
    Follow along as we change lives, one portrait at a time.
    ⠀

    #chicagoshelterdogs
    #adoptlocal
    #rescuelocal
    #chicagodogs
    #chicagodogswithoutjobs

    SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    View Instagram post by cusicphoto
    40 8
    Open post by cusicphoto with ID 18388635595123837
    Something extraordinary is beginning. ⠀ The See Hear Love Project™ gives foster animals more than a portrait—it gives them a voice. Through animal communication and photography, their stories will finally be shared with the world. ⠀ Follow along as we change lives, one portrait at a time. ⠀ #chicagoshelterdogs #adoptlocal #rescuelocal #chicagodogs #chicagodogswithoutjobs SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    Meet Trixie — the very first foster animal to launch The See Hear Love Project™.

    Rescued from Chicago Animal Care & Control and safe today thanks to @darkhorsedogs, Trixie opened her heart during her animal communication session and shared her wish: a forever family to love her gentle spirit.

    Her story begins The See Hear Love Project — a movement that combines fine-art portraiture with animal communication to help foster animals be truly seen, heard, and adopted.

    This October, in honor of National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Trixie’s story highlights the countless foster animals still waiting to be adopted.

    Follow along as more animals share their voices — and please share Trixie’s story to help her find her forever home.

    #chicagoshelterdogs
    #adoptlocal
    #rescuelocal
    #chicagodogs
    #chicagodogswithoutjobs

    SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    View Instagram post by cusicphoto
    150 38
    Open post by cusicphoto with ID 18195409717317008
    Meet Trixie — the very first foster animal to launch The See Hear Love Project™. Rescued from Chicago Animal Care & Control and safe today thanks to @darkhorsedogs, Trixie opened her heart during her animal communication session and shared her wish: a forever family to love her gentle spirit. Her story begins The See Hear Love Project — a movement that combines fine-art portraiture with animal communication to help foster animals be truly seen, heard, and adopted. This October, in honor of National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Trixie’s story highlights the countless foster animals still waiting to be adopted. Follow along as more animals share their voices — and please share Trixie’s story to help her find her forever home. #chicagoshelterdogs #adoptlocal #rescuelocal #chicagodogs #chicagodogswithoutjobs SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    🐾 After Maggie’s first animal communication session, her words surprised us all.
    But what she shared next was just as powerful…
    This famous Chicago dog (@maggieandherdads )reminded us why animals deserve to be seen, heard, and loved.
    Her voice helped inspire The See Hear Love Project™ — a campaign giving foster animals a chance to tell their own stories through communication and fine-art portraiture.
    Follow along to hear the voices of animals still waiting for a home.
    #SeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #chicagoshelterdogs
    #adoptlocal
    #rescuelocal
    #chicagodogs
    #chicagodogswithoutjobs

    SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    View Instagram post by cusicphoto
    20 0
    Open post by cusicphoto with ID 17938420566080499
    🐾 After Maggie’s first animal communication session, her words surprised us all. But what she shared next was just as powerful… This famous Chicago dog (@maggieandherdads )reminded us why animals deserve to be seen, heard, and loved. Her voice helped inspire The See Hear Love Project™ — a campaign giving foster animals a chance to tell their own stories through communication and fine-art portraiture. Follow along to hear the voices of animals still waiting for a home. #SeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #chicagoshelterdogs #adoptlocal #rescuelocal #chicagodogs #chicagodogswithoutjobs SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    🐾 What happens when a famous dog finally speaks?
    When Chicago’s beloved Maggie (@maggieandherdads) had her first animal communication session, she surprised us all with a message about her family:
    “They’re my boys too. They don’t belong to everyone.”
    She was talking about her dads — claiming them as her own.
    That moment became the spark for The See Hear Love Project™ — the first campaign to combine animal communication with fine-art portraiture to help foster animals be truly seen, heard, and loved.
    Follow along to hear the voices of animals waiting for a home.
    #SeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #FosterSavesLives #chicagoshelterdogs
    #adoptlocal
    #rescuelocal
    #chicagodogs
    #chicagodogswithoutjobs

    SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    View Instagram post by cusicphoto
    29 8
    Open post by cusicphoto with ID 17979034175756656
    🐾 What happens when a famous dog finally speaks? When Chicago’s beloved Maggie (@maggieandherdads) had her first animal communication session, she surprised us all with a message about her family: “They’re my boys too. They don’t belong to everyone.” She was talking about her dads — claiming them as her own. That moment became the spark for The See Hear Love Project™ — the first campaign to combine animal communication with fine-art portraiture to help foster animals be truly seen, heard, and loved. Follow along to hear the voices of animals waiting for a home. #SeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #FosterSavesLives #chicagoshelterdogs #adoptlocal #rescuelocal #chicagodogs #chicagodogswithoutjobs SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.

    The countdown is almost over.
    Tomorrow, the very first story drops — and it’s one you’ll never forget.
    Follow along as we take the next step toward The See Hear Love Project™.
    #SeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #FosterSavesLives #ChicagoDogs #AdoptDontShop

    View Instagram post by cusicphoto
    18 8
    Open post by cusicphoto with ID 18054953288564201
    The countdown is almost over. Tomorrow, the very first story drops — and it’s one you’ll never forget. Follow along as we take the next step toward The See Hear Love Project™. #SeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #FosterSavesLives #ChicagoDogs #AdoptDontShop

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    1821 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60622

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    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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