The Paws Project
Em needs 48 volunteer dog models for a 2027 Charity Calendar in support of Chance 4 Change.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.
The why
The Paws Project isn’t just about beautiful portraits, it’s about celebrating the huge variety of dogs we share our lives with and recognising that every dog has a story.
Each year, I photograph 48 Wellington dogs as part of this fine art charity project. Their portraits become a printed calendar with 100% of the proceeds going to Chance 4 Change – a rescue doing genuinely incredible work for dogs across our region.
The project is designed to reflect the diversity of dogs in Wellington while gently reminding people that any dog can find themselves needing a second chance as a rescue, regardless of their breed, background, age, or size.
How it works
THE PROCESS
01
APPLY
Fill in the form at the bottom of this page with a little about your dog, a picture of them and the sessions you’re available for. All breeds, ages, and temperaments welcome.
02
SELECTION
I personally review every nomination and select a diverse collection of dogs. You'll hear back within a few days of applications closing if you’ve been selected or not.
03
THE SESSION
Selected dogs receive a complimentary mini session in a specified outdoor location in the Wellington region. No experience or specific training needed.
04
THE CALENDAR
You select the image of your dog to appear in the finished calendar. Copies go on sale in October, with all proceeds donated to Chance 4 Change.
THE GROUPS
All dogs are eligible to apply
Applications will open in four stages from May through August with one group per month. The groups are broken down by weight making the Project accessible to all dogs, no matter their breed or age.
Large Dogs
WEIGHT LIMIT
30KG+
APPLICATIONS OPEN
May
SESSIONS HELD
End of May
Small DOGS
WEIGHT LIMIT
0–14 KG
APPLICATIONS OPEN
June
SESSIONS HELD
July
medium DOGS
WEIGHT LIMIT
15–29 KG
APPLICATIONS OPEN
July
SESSIONS HELD
August
Rescue DOGS
A new category, for dogs rehomed by Chance 4 Change.
DOGS CHOSEN BY CHANCE 4 CHANGE
August
SESSIONS HELD
September
What participants receive
Every chosen participant receives the following at no cost:
A complimentary mini session (approximately 15 minutes)
An online image reveal session via Zoom roughly two weeks after the shoot
One high resolution digital file of your chosen calendar image
$200 wall art credit*
*The wall art credit is there as a genuine thank you if you'd like to purchase any artwork – it's not an obligation and there's no sales pressure involved. Some participants love the opportunity to get a beautiful image of their dog at a fraction of the usual cost. Others are happy with their digital file. Both are completely fine. The wall art credit excludes matted prints and keepsakes.
The Rescue
Chance 4 Change is a dog rescue based in the Greater Wellington region, doing genuinely incredible work. Behind the scenes is a dedicated team of volunteers who give their time, energy, and care to every dog that comes through.
I’ve had the privilege of working closely with them, photographing more than 50 puppies and dogs up for adoption. They are not only deeply committed to what they do, but also an absolute pleasure to work with.
The Paws Project donates 100% of calendar sale proceeds to Chance 4 Change.
Thank you to everyone who supports this project. From those who apply and take part, to those who share it, and of course those who purchase a calendar. Every bit of support plays a part in helping these dogs find their forever family.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. All dogs I photograph are on a lead throughout the session – the lead is removed in editing. I work with dogs of all temperaments, including nervous, reactive, and senior dogs. If your dog has specific needs, just mention it in your application and I'll plan the session accordingly.
Please note however, if your dog requires a harness, they cannot be selected as harnesses cannot be removed in editing. If your dog needs a harness to walk between photo-spots but can then have it taken off while the photos are taken, that’s absolutely fine.
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The session and digital file are completely complimentary. The $200 wall art credit is an optional thank you – there is no obligation to purchase anything at all! If you'd like some artwork, the credit makes it very accessible. If you'd prefer just the digital file, that's completely fine. Additional digital files will also be significantly discounted for participants compared to normal pricing to make these more accessible for those interested.
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Across the Wellington region – locations vary each month and may include Wellington City, Tawa, Upper Hutt, or Lower Hutt. Each round has two session days at two different locations. You'll be asked which dates and locations work for you in the application, and location details are confirmed once you're selected.
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Selection is specifically about presenting a diverse range of dogs from the region. Breed/mix, colour, age and size will all play a part in selection.
Not being selected is never a reflection on your dog – selection comes down to creating diversity across the 12 spots, and these are genuinely hard calls to make every round. I'm always so grateful for every application!
Selection for the rescue category will be made with Chance 4 Change and details for this will be available closer to the application month.
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Please apply based on the weight your dog is expected to reach as an adult, rather than their current weight. A Great Dane puppy who currently weighs 18 kg but will grow well past 30 kg as an adult should apply in the large dog category, not medium.
A good starting point is your breed's typical adult weight range – most breed guidelines list separate figures for males and females, so use whichever applies to your dog. If your dog is a mixed breed and you're not sure what to expect, your vet is usually the best person to ask, or feel free to get in touch at hello@emboylephotography.co.nz and I'll help point you in the right direction.
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I'll let every applicant know either way, within a few days of applications closing. If you don’t receive an email from me within 5 days of applications closing, feel free to contact me. When you apply, you will receive a confirmation email, so if you didn’t receive one of these, there may have been a typo in your email.
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Presales open in late September or early October 2026, once all images are confirmed. Calendars are around $25 each, with 100% of proceeds going to Chance 4 Change. Keep an eye on the Em Boyle Photography newsletter and social channels for the launch announcement.
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12 dogs per category (large, small, medium, and rescue) making 48 calendar participants in total.
If a household has multiple dogs, they may appear together in their calendar image, so the actual number of dogs photographed may be slightly higher than 48.
Meet this year’s calendar dogs
The 2026 calendar (photographed in 2025) was the inaugural Paws Project calendar. Over $1800 was raised for Ellie’s Canine Rescue and 62 dogs across 45 households were featured.
Puppies currently available for adoption
Click their images below to go to their Chance 4 Change adoption listing. 👇
