My name is Mady Joy and I'm an animal lover and photographer based in Raleigh, NC. Animal rescue has been a big part of my life ever since I was a small child. Having been raised with rescue dogs (and adopting many rescue dogs herself), my mother always emphasized the importance of supporting our local shelters and animal welfare organizations. She would say that helping animals in turn helps people and helping people helps strengthen communities. I took this to heart - from writing papers in elementary school about the lack of conservation efforts for the Daisy stingray, to volunteering at an independent cat rescue in middle school, to bringing home my first foster pet when I was 22. Supporting animal welfare efforts and rescue has never ceased to be an integral part of my life.
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It wasn’t until I started my career in non-profit animal rescue, however, that photography became a central tool in my day-to-day life. 
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It was through my role as an Adoption Specialist at the SPCA of Wake County that I first started to see the impact that a simple picture can have on an animal’s outcome. The right picture can pull at the heartstrings of potential adopters, tell an impactful story, or showcase an animal’s spirit. I was inspired to strengthen my photography skills and nourish my creative instincts in order to help shelter pets shine. 

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Over the past few years, I have fostered over 100 animals and taken pictures of thousands. Catching the “perfect” photo isn’t always the goal. Instead, the goal is to take a photo that makes a connection and helps adoptable animals be seen. And by helping animals, I hope I am helping people and in turn helping my community. If you are a non-profit animal welfare organization located in North Carolina and need photographs taken of your rescue animals, please contact me at mmadyjjoy@gmail.com.