When You Receive, You Must Give: Finding Life Balanced Through Dogs

Virginie Petorin
23 hours ago
2 min read

There are moments in life when everything suddenly makes sense. Not because life becomes easy, but because your heart finally knows where it belongs. For me, that moment came when I realized that working as a dog photographer was not just a job : it was my journey .

Dogs have always been part of my story. All dogs matter. Every size, every breed, every personality, every soul with four paws and a wagging tail. Dogs teach us presence, loyalty, joy, and unconditional love; lessons we humans often forget in the noise of everyday life. Through my lens, I don’t just capture images. I capture connections, trust, and emotion.

For a timeless portrait

But this path didn’t come from nowhere.

Dogs saved my life.

When a Dog Saves you.

Before photography became my anchor, I went through a burnout — the kind that drains you quietly, until one day you don’t recognize yourself anymore. I was exhausted, disconnected, and lost. The world felt heavy, and my balance was gone.

And then there was Coco.

Coco was the dog who saved my life from burnout through his unwavering love . He stayed when I had no energy left, waited when I couldn’t move forward, and loved me without asking for explanations. I truly believe that dogs, with their sixth sense, know exactly when we need them most. Coco knew. He never tried to fix me , he simply stayed. And that was enough to learn the dog photography.

Through him, I learned how to slow down again. To breathe. To be present. Step by step, paw by paw, dogs helped me recover from burnout and reconnect with myself. And teach me how to listen again

I feel so blessed that I found my path in photography of dogs

I am Virginie, E5 Dog Photographer, and this work is deeply personal. It is healing. It is gratitude in action.

From Cities to Communities, From Passion to Purpose

My path unfolded paw by paw — from pub corners in London, brasserie in Paris to agility fields in California — where dogs softened anxious hearts and carried me back to myself. This passion has given me freedom, healing, and purpose, and with that gift comes responsibility: when you receive, you must give.

Here is the link where you can see all event I shared with Charities

Dogs give endless presence, resilience and quiet salvation — so giving back is my balance, captured into every image and every step forward.

Dogs save lives and my Coco saved mine. And when you find your way back after burnout, you walk it with love, humility and a heart that always gives back

Here is a few from 2025 dog event, from London to California

Charities involved :