Anyone can take a picture of a dog. Matt Mendelsohn's portraits are a breed apart. Forget pets posed in front of backdrops. Arlington-based Mendelsohn (703-241-2020; mattmendelsohn.com) shoots outside in natural light–and photographs human and best friend together.
"It's all about the relationship between you and your dog," he says. He captures in black-and-white that sweet moment when you gaze at your golden retriever or a child nuzzles his chocolate Lab. His fee isn't kibble: $600 plus the cost of prints. He does other animals, but he has a soft spot for dogs. "Every dog is a smile," he says.
Washingtonian staff contributing to this section were Chuck Conconi, Sherri Dalphonse, Susan Davidson, Mary Clare Fleury, Cynthia Hacinli, Thomas Head, Stephanie Jones, Ann Limpert, Drew Lindsay, Chad Lorenz, Leslie Milk, William O'Sullivan, Cindy Rich, and Jeremy Stahl. Also contributing were writers Cathy Alter, Ann Cochran, and Jenny Sullivan.
