Bored Panda wanted to find out more about Vieler’s work, so we got in touch with him. Reflecting on how photography first came into his life, Christian shared: “It was around 2010 when I got my first, more or less, better camera. I was very interested in doing flash photography, playing with light, creating setups, and emotions. That inspired me to pursue photography more seriously. The real turning point came when I did my first shot of dogs catching treats in 2013. At the end of 2015, this series went viral, and suddenly, I had a lot of things to do. Newspapers, TV stations, book editors – everyone wanted to feature it. A lot of people also wanted photos of their dogs.
At that time, I was working in a creative agency, which was a really tough job. I often worked 60 to 70 hours a week, and combining that with photography became impossible. So I quit my job and decided to try photography professionally, not knowing what was ahead. I thought maybe I would do it for one or two years and then return to agency work. But now, next year will actually mark my 10th anniversary as a professional dog photographer."
When asked why he chose dogs as his primary subject, the photographer explained: “I chose dogs because at that time I was single and living alone with my Labrador, Lottie. I was completely new to photography and had so much to explore. My Labrador was the perfect model – she was patient, did everything, and could sit still for hours, whether lying on the ground or jumping over wood. I had everything I needed to experiment with my camera.
I wanted to improve my skills without bothering human models or friends, because sometimes you end up with poor results in the beginning. So I started with my dog, and that’s how I developed my style. Over time, I tried to capture more and more emotion from each session. I got closer and closer to the dog, focusing on headshots, and this became the style I use today – what many people like to call 'soul dog' photography."
Regarding whether photographing senior dogs demands a different approach than capturing younger ones, Vieles shared with us: "Over the years, my techniques improved, but photographing senior dogs is indeed different. With very old dogs, their behavior changes—they may move more, shake a little, or struggle to focus, much like elderly humans. Some might have dementia or simply can’t stay still for long. That makes it harder to get intense, steady shots, especially when you need the dog to look straight into the camera.
It requires a lot of patience and time. Unlike younger models, senior dogs often decide when they are done. After ten minutes, some just walk away, and you have to respect that. It’s challenging, but at the same time, it makes each captured moment even more precious."
Looking ahead to upcoming projects, the photographer shared his plans with anticipation and enthusiasm: "The senior dog project is ongoing, and I remain dedicated to it. I’m not the kind of photographer who stays in a studio; I travel around the world for shoots. People can even book private sessions with me in different destinations, whether in the US, UK, Hong Kong, or elsewhere. As long as the arrangements are made, it’s possible.
At the moment, I also have a really big project coming up involving senior dogs, but I can’t reveal details until the contract is signed. What I can say is that I’m committed to continuing this journey with older dogs, always aiming to show their unique beauty and stories. I hope my answers can be useful, and I look forward to seeing the article."
