Rising Stars: Meet Lori Fusaro of CULVER CITY

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Fusaro.

Hi Lori, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
About 15 years ago, I was looking at adoptable dogs online and was honestly shocked at how bad the photos were. They were dark, blurry, red-eye flash… and the dogs looked scared instead of adoptable. I remember thinking, people aren’t going to see past this. And I knew I could help.

So I started volunteering, taking photos for shelters and rescue groups. My goal was always simple: capture who the animal actually is. If a dog is shy and gentle, I want you to feel that. If they’re goofy and full of energy, I want that to come through too. Because that connection is what gets them adopted.

In the beginning, I’d spend hours at shelters and still not get to every animal. I’d come back the next week and some of them would be gone. At first I thought that meant they were adopted—but I eventually learned that wasn’t always the case. That part was really hard, but it also made me realize how important this work is and pushed me to keep going.

Around that time, I also found a community of like-minded photographers through HeARTs Speak, which was incredible. It was one of those moments where you realize you’re not the only one who feels this way—and that there are people out there willing to use their talents to help animals.

About 12 years ago, that work led me to become a staff photographer at Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles. I had come across their website, saw they were looking for a photographer, applied immediately, and got the job. It’s been the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done.

A huge turning point for me personally was adopting a 16-year-old dog named Sunny from a shelter. I thought I was giving her a few good weeks, but she ended up thriving for more than two years. That completely changed how I saw senior dogs and led to my book My Old Dog, which focuses on giving older animals the visibility they deserve.

At this point, everything I do—whether it’s my work at Best Friends or through my own business, Fusaro Photography—comes back to the same thing: telling honest stories that help animals get seen, understood, and ultimately adopted. And there’s really nothing better than meeting someone who says, “I adopted my dog because of your photo.” That’s the full-circle moment for me every time.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s actually been a pretty smooth road in terms of knowing what I wanted to do. I found my direction early, and everything kind of grew from there. The bigger challenge has always been the reality of the work itself.

Spending time in shelters, you’re faced with the fact that there are more animals than you can possibly get to. I would photograph for hours and still leave knowing I hadn’t gotten to everyone. Coming back and seeing some of them gone—and realizing that didn’t always mean they were adopted—was really hard. That part stays with you.

There’s also an emotional weight to doing this long-term. You care deeply, you want to help all of them, and you have to find a way to keep going without burning out.

At the same time, I was building my own business, Fusaro Photography, which came with its own challenges—figuring out how to grow something sustainable while still staying true to the kind of work I cared about. And then creating my book My Old Dog was a whole different experience. It was incredibly meaningful, especially because it was inspired by adopting my senior dog, Sunny, but it was also a huge undertaking—traveling, coordinating, and bringing that vision to life.

But honestly, none of those challenges made me question the path. If anything, they just reinforced that this is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer who specializes in capturing animals in a way that feels real—whether that’s in a shelter, on set, or with their people. A big part of what I’m known for is being able to show an animal’s personality in a single image. That’s especially important in the rescue world, because that connection is often what gets them adopted.

Through my own business, Fusaro Photography, I photograph people and their pets—those relationships, that bond, all the little moments that make them who they are together. I’ve also worked with brands like Pet Food Express, which was such a surreal experience. Walking into a store and seeing my photos on the walls never gets old. It’s one of those moments where you stop and think, this is actually my work out in the world.

At the same time, my work in animal welfare has always been a huge part of what I do. Being a staff photographer at Best Friends Animal Society and spending years photographing shelter animals has shaped everything about how I shoot. You learn quickly that it’s not about perfection—it’s about connection.

My book My Old Dog is something I’m especially proud of. It gave me the chance to highlight how incredible older dogs are and hopefully shift the way people think about adopting them.

I’ve had some amazing experiences along the way, but photographing the last surviving search and rescue dog from 9/11 is something I’ll never forget. It was one of those moments where you really feel the history and significance of what that dog represented.

What sets me apart, I think, is that I’m not just trying to take a “pretty” photo. I’m trying to tell the truth about who that animal is. Whether it’s a family pet or a dog in a shelter, my goal is always the same—create an image that makes someone feel something. Because when that happens, that’s when everything changes for that animal.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I grew up in a family where animals were just part of life—they weren’t pets, they were family. I get that from my grandfather and my dad. We always had animals around—dogs, cats, hamsters, even horses—so a lot of my childhood memories are tied to them.

One of the biggest moments for me was finally getting my first horse after years and years of begging my dad. I was completely obsessed, so that felt like I had won the lottery.

When I look back at photos of any of my animals, it’s not really the photo itself—it’s everything that comes with it. The memories, the personalities, the feeling of that time in my life. It’s probably a little corny, but it’s true.

Looking back, it makes total sense that when I picked up a camera, animals were what I was naturally drawn to. It was already such a big part of who I was.

It’s kind of funny—it all started with just loving animals, and that never really changed. The only difference now is I have a camera in my hand and a way to actually do something with it. Through my business, I get to capture the bond between people and their animals—the way they’re truly family—and those moments mean just as much to me.

At the end of the day, whether it’s a family photo or a shelter dog or cat, it’s all the same to me—it’s about connection. And if I can help even one animal be seen, understood, and find a home, that’s everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fusarophotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photolori
• Other: https://www.myolddogbook.com

Image Credits
Rita Earl Blackwell
Sarah Kichas
Laura Coffey