Maria Sorensen | Short but Sweet Life

Indianapolis, Indiana USA

Short but Sweet Life

INDIANAPOLIS PET PHOTOGRAPHY

Indianapolis is dog-lover central, with loads of local businesses dedicated to our four-legged pals (from pet bakeries to dog-friendly breweries). Indy is a friendly, funky city with a love for great food and tasty craft beers.

In 2023, Maria Sorensen joined professional photographers around the globe to make a difference for pets in need with 'Tails of the World'. This unique collaborative project celebrates dogs with an annual coffee table book and our latest volume has raised over $65,000 for animal rescue!

Maria raised US$1500 for Friends of Franklin County Indiana Animal Shelter with ten photoshoots around Indianapolis. She shot right in the heart of the city, at Monument Circle and White River State Park, then travelled further out to shoot at various towns (Brookville, Metamora), parks (Beckenholdt Park, Fort Harrison State Park and White River State Park) and local farmlands. Being the eighth largest farming state, livestock dogs work hard throughout Indiana. Driving through the state, one is sure to see countless fields of corn, beans and hay.

The town of Brookville has a lake with more than 24 miles of hiking trails and 400 campsites. It's located right next to Whitewater River, a popular location for adventurous pups and their humans to go canoeing and kayaking.
Beckenholdt Park includes two wetlands, a reforestation area, native prairie and grasslands, a fishing pond and (most importantly for Maria's furry superstars) Rover’s Run Dog Park.

Piper

Piper is a female, Australian Cattle Dog mix. She was adopted from the animal shelter in Liberty, Indiana. She loves to play fetch and keep away with any toy, snuggle up for naps, as well as occasionally guard her family from any turkey buzzards--her arch nemeses--she encounters on her walks. In a nutshell, Piper is a tornado of energy and love.

Duke

Duke is a male, 2 year old Great Dane. He was rescued a year and a half ago from a home in Texas where he had been confined to a kennel most of his life. He is learning to trust everything he sees and loves his toys and family. He loves trying to make friends with his cat brother & sister even though they are very uninterested.

Buddy

Buddy is a male, 11 year old Lemon Beagle. Buddy came from a local shelter. He was just a little baby when his owners took him home, and they bonded right away. Buddy loves to go for rides and walks at the local park . His favorite food, though it’s limited, is pizza.

Pinto and Wrangler

Pinto is a male, 10 year old Sheltie-Pom. He is bossy, dominant, highly intelligent, manipulative and loves everything about life. Wrangler is a male, 6 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback/Terrier. He is mild, gentle, easy-going, relaxed and loves nothing more than cuddling. They both love walks, rides in the Jeep, and romps on their 14 acre property.

June

June is a female, 4 year old Labrabull/Supermutt. She was adopted from Love of Labs. She is an extremely loveable, protective, and goofy girl who's incredibly smart and just as stubborn. Her favorite activities include destroying plushies and bubble wrap, stomping the ground and leaping when she's excited for meals and walkies, and putting her face on her humans' faces when she wants something instead of asking. She's definitely a pack dog, happiest when both humans are home, and has even adopted some of their personalities: loyal and clumsy as her dad; empathetic and food motivated as her mom.

Cooper

Cooper is a male, 1 year old Pitbull/Lab Mix. He was adopted from the Friends of Franklin County Indiana Animal Shelter. He loves his stuffed animal toys, toys in general, treats, people and other dogs! He loves to take naps with his owner, go on walks, and to the dog park!! He is the sleepiest, yet most energetic ball of sunshine!

Ralph and Rosie

Ralph is a male, 12 year old chocolate mini dachshund. He was rescued in April 2021 from the Bloomington Humane Society. He was surrendered for poor health and lost all but 3 teeth. He is smart and timid, but protective of his people. Rosie is a female, 12 year old chocolate mini dachshund. Rosie is blind and was found wandering Muncie, IN. She was named after her rescuer, a mail carrier named Rosemary! She came home in July 2022. Rosie isn’t too smart but loves to love - she bathes Ralph daily and stands on our feet to know where her humans are. They usually can be found together under a pile of fuzzy blankets in mom’s office or in the kitchen begging for their special homemade soft food.

Roscoe

Roscoe is a male, 2 year old Golden Doodle. He loves to play in water, go for walks, play fetch, and ... sleep! His favorite things to do with his humans include going on walks, going to Starbucks for pup cups, and taking car rides. Roscoe is a spunky boy who knows no stranger. He is energetic and playful. He is a lover of all dogs and people - old and new!

Xena

Xena is a female, 2 year old Karakachan/Great Pyrenees Mix. She loves to be in the water, protect her chickens, and steal the occasional egg out of the chicken coop. She enjoys tug of war (as long as you let her win) and playing with all of her other dog friends. Xena is full of attitude and loves her people dearly.

Ahsoka

Ahsoka is a female, 4 year old Golden Retriever/Beagle Mix. She is extremely intelligent and loves to show off all the tricks she knows! Adopted from Friends of Franklin County Indiana Animal Shelter, she had a rough start to life, but that doesn’t stop her from loving every person and pup she comes in contact with. Her favorite things are treats and cuddles with her humans!

All images are shared here with the artist’s permission

Maria Sorensen is an official photographer for our fundraising book, Tails of the World: Volume Two. You can follow Maria’s pet photography adventures on Instagram, and be sure to check out the Short but Sweet Life Website to learn more.

Purchase your copy of the Tails of the World Book, and enjoy more dog photography and stories from around the globe. 100% of the proceeds of this book go to Second Chance Animal Rescue Inc.

ABOUT FRIENDS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY INDIANA ANIMAL SHELTER

Friends of Franklin County Indiana Animal Shelter is a small town organization located in Metamora, IN and is run entirely by volunteers. They help to reunite lost pets and adopt out furry friends looking for their forever home. The volunteers work tirelessly to make sure that every stray finds a home and gets the medical attention they need, with all donations going directly to helping the animals. It’s their goal to find permanent, loving, and safe homes for the pets in their care.

VISIT WEBSITE
@friendsoffcanimalshelter

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Two years ago I graduated with a degree in Architecture from Ball State University. That same year my husband and I got married and adopted our dog, Ahsoka. She quickly became our whole world. I have always loved photography and asked if I could "borrow" my mom's Canon Rebel to take some better photos of Ahsoka. With no formal training or direction of where to go, somehow, two years later, I am still using my mom's camera and am the founder of Short but Sweet Life Photography. I work as an architectural graduate all day, and then come home to take photos and edit all night. I have a feeling I am at the beginning of something very wonderful and look forward to what the future holds.

WEBSITE

Featured

Author: Caitlin J. McColl

Caitlin J. McColl is the multi-award winning artist behind Ragamuffin Pet Photography, author of five dog-filled books and founder of the Tails of the World Collective. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two boys and a scruffy family of rescued animals. She’s a bit of an introvert, a lot of a dork, and so very passionate about making a difference for pets in need.

RAGAMUFFIN WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK