SAVE LOCAL BUSINESSES: Portraits of Chicago Businesses in Lockdown

I only have to look next door to see the effects of the Corona virus. My studio is on Chicago Ave. in West Town and our usually vibrant street is dark and lonely. Friends I saw daily are homebound and our businesses are silent.

I started Save Local Businesses: West Town because our doors are closed, but you can still help us.

With the help of the West Town Chamber of Commerce, my goal for this project is to photograph (from a distance) local business owners, share their stories and provide the face behind their closed doors and dark windows. I’ll post these stories on my Instagram page (including my friend and next door neighbor Chris Hunt from Seek Vintage, his story is coming soon).

Want to support this project? I appreciate your donation! Like the businesses I photograph, I have a storefront studio under lockdown. Your donation will allow me to continue this project and pay my staff and expenses.

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Chicago Pet Photographer

“I’m small but mighty. I have feelings too. I’m important too.” — Peanut
⠀
Before Peanut met his foster, he says he felt alone and unneeded.
⠀
Then Michelle took a chance on him.
⠀
“I feel so much healthier. It doesn’t hurt every day. I have a new life now and I’m forever grateful. I won’t take this life for granted.”
⠀
🐾 Peanut is available for adoption through SAYv Animal Organization. If Peanut feels like your kind of little guy, reach out to SAYv to learn more about adopting him.
⠀
Peanut is part of THE SEE HEAR LOVE PROJECT™.
⠀
SEEN · HEARD · LOVED.
⠀
@sayvanimalorg
⠀
#SeeHearLoveProject #SAYvAnimalOrganization #AdoptPeanut #AdoptDontShop #RescueDog #ChicagoDogs #AnimalCommunication

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“I’m small but mighty. I have feelings too. I’m important too.” — Peanut
⠀
Before Peanut met his foster, he says he felt alone and unneeded.
⠀
Then Michelle took a chance on him.
⠀
“I feel so much healthier. It doesn’t hurt every day. I have a new life now and I’m forever grateful. I won’t take this life for granted.”
⠀
🐾 Peanut is available for adoption through SAYv Animal Organization. If Peanut feels like your kind of little guy, reach out to SAYv to learn more about adopting him.
⠀
Peanut is part of THE SEE HEAR LOVE PROJECT™.
⠀
SEEN · HEARD · LOVED.
⠀
@sayvanimalorg
⠀
#SeeHearLoveProject #SAYvAnimalOrganization #AdoptPeanut #AdoptDontShop #RescueDog #ChicagoDogs #AnimalCommunication

THE FIRST FULL-LENGTH FILM FROM THE SEE HEAR LOVE PROJECT™ IS HERE. ❤️
⠀
Meet Nori and Wasabi, a bonded mother and son looking for their forever home together.
⠀
I connected with them telepathically to hear their thoughts, feelings and what they wanted people to know.
⠀
During his communication, Wasabi told me he would give Gabriella, the woman caring for him, all of his toys to make her smile.
⠀
Then he wondered if she needed a ribbon or a string—because those are the things that cheer him up.
⠀
And Nori had her own story to tell.
⠀
This is what The See Hear Love Project™ was created to do: combine animal communication, portraiture and documentary film so animals can participate in telling their own stories.
⠀
We don`t simply tell a story about an animal.
⠀
We tell it with them.
⠀
Nori and Wasabi are available for adoption through SAYv Animal Organization. If their story speaks to you, please share it. Somewhere out there is the person who is supposed to find them.
⠀
One animal. One story. One film created to help them find a home.
⠀
SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.
⠀
#SeeHearLove #TheSeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #AnimalCommunicator #CatAdoption #RescueCats #AdoptDontShop #SAYvAnimalOrganization

View Instagram post by cusicphoto

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THE FIRST FULL-LENGTH FILM FROM THE SEE HEAR LOVE PROJECT™ IS HERE. ❤️
⠀
Meet Nori and Wasabi, a bonded mother and son looking for their forever home together.
⠀
I connected with them telepathically to hear their thoughts, feelings and what they wanted people to know.
⠀
During his communication, Wasabi told me he would give Gabriella, the woman caring for him, all of his toys to make her smile.
⠀
Then he wondered if she needed a ribbon or a string—because those are the things that cheer him up.
⠀
And Nori had her own story to tell.
⠀
This is what The See Hear Love Project™ was created to do: combine animal communication, portraiture and documentary film so animals can participate in telling their own stories.
⠀
We don't simply tell a story about an animal.
⠀
We tell it with them.
⠀
Nori and Wasabi are available for adoption through SAYv Animal Organization. If their story speaks to you, please share it. Somewhere out there is the person who is supposed to find them.
⠀
One animal. One story. One film created to help them find a home.
⠀
SEEN. HEARD. LOVED.
⠀
#SeeHearLove #TheSeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #AnimalCommunicator #CatAdoption #RescueCats #AdoptDontShop #SAYvAnimalOrganization

**YOUR DOG DOESN’T HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO MODEL. 🐾**

We’re the only Chicago portrait studio with a professional animal trainer at every session.

Your dog gets to be a dog. We take care of the rest.

#ChicagoPetPhotographer #ChicagoDogPhotographer #ChicagoDogs #PetPhotography #CusicPhotography

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**YOUR DOG DOESN’T HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO MODEL. 🐾**

We’re the only Chicago portrait studio with a professional animal trainer at every session.

Your dog gets to be a dog. We take care of the rest.

#ChicagoPetPhotographer #ChicagoDogPhotographer #ChicagoDogs #PetPhotography #CusicPhotography

“Does she need a ribbon or a string? Because that cheers me up.” ❤️
⠀
During his animal communication session, Wasabi told me he would give Gabriella all of his toys to make her smile. Then he wondered if she needed a ribbon or a string—because those are the things that cheer him up.
⠀
Wasabi came to the studio with his mom, Nori, for The See Hear Love Project™, where animals participate in telling their own stories through animal communication, portraiture and film.
⠀
Nori and Wasabi are available for adoption through SAYv Animal Organization. If their story speaks to you, maybe their forever home is with you. ❤️
⠀
Sometimes love sounds like something enormous.
⠀
And sometimes it sounds like:
⠀
“I would give you all of my toys.”
⠀
Seen. Heard. Loved.

@sayvanimalorg
⠀
#SeeHearLove #TheSeeHearLoveProject #SAYvAnimalOrganization #AdoptDontShop #AnimalCommunication #AnimalCommunicator #CatAdoption #ChicagoCats #ChicagoPetPhotographer

View Instagram post by cusicphoto

26 2

Open post by cusicphoto with ID 17884311789477203

“Does she need a ribbon or a string? Because that cheers me up.” ❤️
⠀
During his animal communication session, Wasabi told me he would give Gabriella all of his toys to make her smile. Then he wondered if she needed a ribbon or a string—because those are the things that cheer him up.
⠀
Wasabi came to the studio with his mom, Nori, for The See Hear Love Project™, where animals participate in telling their own stories through animal communication, portraiture and film.
⠀
Nori and Wasabi are available for adoption through SAYv Animal Organization. If their story speaks to you, maybe their forever home is with you. ❤️
⠀
Sometimes love sounds like something enormous.
⠀
And sometimes it sounds like:
⠀
“I would give you all of my toys.”
⠀
Seen. Heard. Loved.

@sayvanimalorg
⠀
#SeeHearLove #TheSeeHearLoveProject #SAYvAnimalOrganization #AdoptDontShop #AnimalCommunication #AnimalCommunicator #CatAdoption #ChicagoCats #ChicagoPetPhotographer

This is pretty exciting.

**Bored Panda just featured The See Hear Love Project.**

The See Hear Love Project is the world’s only documentary storytelling project told from the animal’s perspective.

Through animal communication, shelter and rescue animals share their own stories, and we create fine-art portraits and documentary films to help them be seen, heard, and adopted.

I’m incredibly grateful to the rescues who trusted us with their animals and their stories:

@onetailatatime
@sayvanimalorg
@reddoorshelter
@hinsdalehumanesociety
@chicagolandpigrescue

**Read the Bored Panda feature:**
https://www.boredpanda.com/see-hear-love-animal-project.../

**Watch The See Hear Love Project:**
https://youtube.com/shorts/18yGgXeEX-0?si=xp8lSbNR8OkKkSX8

https://www.boredpanda.com/see-hear-love-animal-project.../ See less

View Instagram post by cusicphoto

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Open post by cusicphoto with ID 17909227557464437

This is pretty exciting.

**Bored Panda just featured The See Hear Love Project.**

The See Hear Love Project is the world’s only documentary storytelling project told from the animal’s perspective.

Through animal communication, shelter and rescue animals share their own stories, and we create fine-art portraits and documentary films to help them be seen, heard, and adopted.

I’m incredibly grateful to the rescues who trusted us with their animals and their stories:

@onetailatatime
@sayvanimalorg
@reddoorshelter
@hinsdalehumanesociety
@chicagolandpigrescue

**Read the Bored Panda feature:**
https://www.boredpanda.com/see-hear-love-animal-project.../

**Watch The See Hear Love Project:**
https://youtube.com/shorts/18yGgXeEX-0?si=xp8lSbNR8OkKkSX8

https://www.boredpanda.com/see-hear-love-animal-project.../ See less

The See Hear Love Project™ is the world’s only documentary project told from the animal’s perspective—combining animal communication, portrait photography and film to help animals be seen, heard and loved.
⠀
George wandered into Owen’s backyard one winter.
⠀
And stayed. ❤️
⠀
During George’s animal communication session, I asked him about his life with Owen.
⠀
Then George told me something wonderfully specific:
⠀
“Cookies in bed make Owen happy.”
⠀
Owen’s reaction says everything. 😂
⠀
These are some of my favorite moments in animal communication. Sometimes what an animal shares is profound. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking.
⠀
And sometimes a cat who wandered into your backyard knows exactly what makes you happy.
⠀
Seen. Heard. Loved.
⠀
The See Hear Love Project™
⠀
#SeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #CatCommunication #RescueCat #AnimalStories #PetStories #AnimalCommunicator #ChicagoPets

View Instagram post by cusicphoto

24 1

Open post by cusicphoto with ID 18098019266369215

The See Hear Love Project™ is the world’s only documentary project told from the animal’s perspective—combining animal communication, portrait photography and film to help animals be seen, heard and loved.
⠀
George wandered into Owen’s backyard one winter.
⠀
And stayed. ❤️
⠀
During George’s animal communication session, I asked him about his life with Owen.
⠀
Then George told me something wonderfully specific:
⠀
“Cookies in bed make Owen happy.”
⠀
Owen’s reaction says everything. 😂
⠀
These are some of my favorite moments in animal communication. Sometimes what an animal shares is profound. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking.
⠀
And sometimes a cat who wandered into your backyard knows exactly what makes you happy.
⠀
Seen. Heard. Loved.
⠀
The See Hear Love Project™
⠀
#SeeHearLoveProject #AnimalCommunication #CatCommunication #RescueCat #AnimalStories #PetStories #AnimalCommunicator #ChicagoPets

The See Hear Love Project™ wouldn`t exist without the incredible rescue organizations that trusted me with the stories of the animals in their care.

Thank you for believing in an idea that was a little different, for opening your doors, and for introducing me to some truly unforgettable animals.

I`m so excited to share the latest sizzle reel for The See Hear Love Project™.

Every featured animal received a documentary film, fine-art portraiture, and an animal communication session designed to help people connect with the individual behind the adoption profile.

My hope has always been simple: to tell stories that help more animals find forever homes.

Thank you to every rescue, foster, volunteer, adopter, and supporter who has been part of this journey. This is only the beginning.

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Dama arrived at the studio in a wheelchair.
⠀
That was the first thing I noticed.
⠀
It was also the least interesting thing about her.
⠀
What I remember is her determination.
⠀
Her curiosity.
⠀
Her joy.
⠀
Please visit my page to see Dama`s full story.
⠀
"Maybe I`m not a misfit.
⠀
I just have more to love."
⠀
— Dama
⠀
Seen. Heard. Loved.
⠀
#TheSeeHearLoveProject #SeenHeardLoved #RescueDog

View Instagram post by cusicphoto

20 1

Open post by cusicphoto with ID 18016884452853223

Dama arrived at the studio in a wheelchair.
⠀
That was the first thing I noticed.
⠀
It was also the least interesting thing about her.
⠀
What I remember is her determination.
⠀
Her curiosity.
⠀
Her joy.
⠀
Please visit my page to see Dama's full story.
⠀
"Maybe I'm not a misfit.
⠀
I just have more to love."
⠀
— Dama
⠀
Seen. Heard. Loved.
⠀
#TheSeeHearLoveProject #SeenHeardLoved #RescueDog

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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.