Whether you are walking the fast-paced streets of New York City or taking a leisurely beach stroll in the Hamptons, there’s a slight chance you might run into Elias Friedman, known online as “The Dogist.” His adoration of dogs, combined with his passion for photography, has led him to gain over 7 million followers on Instagram. The audience at his recent Guild Hall show reflects how much people truly love their dogs and how Elias does so much more than simply take picture-perfect dog portraits. He can capture the beautiful bond between man and his best friend. His book, This Dog Will Change Your Life, is already a New York Times bestseller. Guild Hall’s lobby was filled with fans excited to get their copy signed.
His guests included local dog lovers and friends of ARF (Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons). Attendees had front-row seats to a “Dogist”-style encounter: a casual conversation about how the dog entered the owner’s life, followed by a quick photo shoot revealing Elias’ methods for capturing the dog’s attention (hint: It’s dog noises and treats).
I had the pleasure of talking to Elias about how “The Dogist” came to be, rescue organizations, and the Hamptons.
Let’s go back to the beginning. What inspired you to dive into photography?
We had a dark room because my dad was an amateur photographer, and I’d always liked cameras and gadgets. We had a couple of Labrador retrievers who were sort of my first muses and would happily sit for pictures. I was taking dog pictures from a young age and then fast forward to 2012 in New York City I was let go from my job and saw what other street photographers were doing like Humans of New York and The Sartorialist and thought why isn’t someone doing that for dogs and I thought I wanted to be the person, I dusted off my camera and the rest is kind of history. It took off pretty quickly because it turns out people like dogs just as much as I do.
What is the most memorable dog spotting moment?
Well, there have been so many over the years. It was pretty cool to be invited to the White House and spend 15 minutes with President Biden and his dog, Commander. I was once in the Highlands of Scotland for a golden retriever festival. Being surrounded by 361 golden retrievers at the place where they originated was a crazy moment.
Aside from the glamorous moments, the rescue work! It’s so important that I visit shelters and show people the overpopulation problem in the United States and to help alleviate it and get dogs into homes and out of shelters.
Speaking of rescue work! Are there any organizations that you would like to work with?
So many over the years. We were just in Nantucket and worked with a local organization, Nisha. I’ll be working with Sandy Paws Rescue, which is my dog Elsie’s alma mater (or alma mutter, if you will). In the Hamptons, I’ve worked with ARF (Animal Rescue Fund) a couple of times over the years. In the city, there are a number of organizations: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Society, North Shore Animal League, Animal Haven, Bideawee, and Hearts and Bones, which is a rescue based out of Texas. I visited Texas and did a series with them.
Congratulations on your book, This Dog Will Change Your Life. What do you hope readers will gain from reading it?
My goal is for people to appreciate or deepen their appreciation for their dogs more. We are obsessed with our dogs. We love our dogs. We take pictures of them all day. I think the book helps us understand that dogs are fascinating creatures and they deserve as much credit as possible for bringing us all the joy that they do. I’ve been photographing dogs for 11 years and speaking with thousands of people and 50,000 dogs and trying to articulate what that special connection is. The book is sort of a distillation of what I’ve found to be the thing that makes us great together.
What are some of your favorite Hamptons hot spots?
I’ve been out there a number of times. We bop around Amagansett, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, and Montauk. I’ve taken some fun pictures of dogs at the farm stands and general stores. That’s pretty much the quintessential Hamptons vibe, right? Dogs on the beach and dogs at Wölffer —I’m not sure if they are allowed to be there.
Is there a particular beach you like to take your dog to?
A beautiful beach in Sagaponack.
