Block title

Work Samples

the Queen in Paper Hats

Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing an Baroque style ruff collar made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from upcycled post-consumer waste.

The Tramp in Paper Hats

Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.

the Hero in Paper Hats

a smiling dog wearing a paper crown
From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.

the Chef in Paper Hats

Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.

Share:

About J.B.

Baltimore City

J.B. Shepard's picture
J.B. Shepard is a self-taught photographer, costume designer and animal advocate, best known for his ongoing photographic series 'Paper Hats, Portraits of the Once Discarded'. Paper Hats features anthropomorphized portraits of dogs wearing elaborate costumes composed of carefully sorted scraps of upcycled paper and other found materials. He is the founder of the Puptrait Studio, located in the Baltimore City neighborhood of Hampden. 
View J.B.'s Resume

Paper Hats, whimsical portraits of the once discarded

The goal of Paper Hats is to show that all anyone or anything needs to shine is a second chance. Whether it’s a foster dog who was dealt a rough hand or a newspaper circular printed only to be never read, that with a little love, patience and creativity could be something amazing. 

My approach for the series was pretty straightforward. I raided recycling bins for materials (newspaper, paper plates, even a few plastic cups) and designed elaborate costumes for rescue and foster dogs. The dogs were photographed over the course of  6 years at my dog friendly photo studio located in Baltimore, Maryland.

Proceeds from Paper Hats benefit Bella’s Bully Buddies, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit 100% volunteer operated dog rescue and foster organization.

Learn more about Paper Hats by visiting puptrait.com/paperhat-portraits

  • the Content in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.

  • The Tramp in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.

  • the Queen in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing an Baroque style ruff collar made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from upcycled post-consumer waste.

  • the Debonair in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.

  • the Oriole in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.

  • the Hero in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Paper Hats was designed by Baltimore based lifestyle photographer, J.B. Shepard, and features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products. The creative photo series encourages viewers to see rescue and foster animals from a new perspective.

  • the Fool in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Paper Hats was designed by Baltimore based lifestyle photographer, J.B. Shepard, and features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products. The creative photo series encourages viewers to see rescue and foster animals from a new perspective.

  • the Sphinx in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Paper Hats was designed by Baltimore based lifestyle photographer, J.B. Shepard, and features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products. The creative photo series encourages viewers to see rescue and foster animals from a new perspective.

  • the Admiral in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Paper Hats was designed by Baltimore based lifestyle photographer, J.B. Shepard, and features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products. The creative photo series encourages viewers to see rescue and foster animals from a new perspective.

  • the Chef in Paper Hats

    Whimsical portrait of a dog wearing a hat made from papermache. Photographed by Washington D.C. dog photographer, J.B. Shepard.
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.

Bullies of Baltimore

Bullies of Baltimore presented rescued, foster and adoptable pit bulls alongside iconic Baltimore landmarks and sights. 

  • Bromo Tower

    a dog wearing a bowler cap in front of the Bromo tower
    A dapper foster dog in a derby cap sitting in front of the Bromo Seltzer Tower in Baltimore.

  • the Senator Theater

    a dog wearing 3D glasses in front of the Senator Theater
    A dog wearing 3D glasses in front of the iconic Senator Theater of Baltimore on York Road. The blur / 3D effect was captured in camera using a strobe with a long exposure.

  • National Aquarium

    A dog wearing a snorkel at the National Aquarium
    A dog with a SCUBA mask and snorkel coming up for air in front of the National Aquarium at the Baltimore Inner Harbor

  • Druid Hill Reservoir Wall

    A blue pit standing on the wall along the Druid Hill Reservoir
    A blue pit standing on the wall along the Druid Hill Reservoir.

  • Jones Falls Expressway

    a grinning dog next to a road sign for i83
    A happy pit bull recently re-homed grinning next to the Jone Falls i83 entrance sign on Falls Road in Hampden near the Skate Park.

  • Golden Hand

    a dog sitting in front of a giant hand.
    A rescued pit mix in front of Adam Kurtzman's 11-foot Giant Golden Hand attached to the American Visionary Art Museum.

  • Mount Vernon

    A rescued dog in front of Baltimore's Washington Monument
    A pit mix in front of the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon, Baltimore, Maryland

Mutts of Mobtown

An on location pet portrait series featuring rescued dogs in front of Baltimore landmarks and sights. Proceeds from this show benefited BARCS.

  • Patterson Park Pagoda

    A pug mix sitting in front of the Patterson Park Pagoda of Baltimore
    A pug mix sitting in front of the Patterson Park Pagoda of Baltimore

  • Hon

    a poodle with a beehive hair doo
    A toy poodle wearing a pink Hon style beehive wig in front of the giant Flamingo attached to the Hon Bar in Hampden.

  • Space Chihuahas

    space chihuahuas in front of a rocket
    Two toy sized chihuahuas wearing kitschy space alien antennas in front of the iconic Rocket from Rocket to Venus

  • Beltway Motel

    a pug in a shopping cart
    A pug sitting in a Walmart shopping cart in front of the Beltway Motel in Arbutus

  • Domino Sugar

    a dog infront of the Domino Sugar sign in the Baltimore Inner Harbor
    a mutt in front of the Domino Sugar sign in the Baltimore Inner Harbor

  • Druid Hill Park wall

    a dog standing on a wall back lit by the setting sun
    A pit bull sitting on the stone wall along i83 next top the Druid Hill Park reservoir.

Digitally Painted Pet Portraits

Pet portraits composites and digital paintings.

  • Bloop

    Composite portrait of a pet Chihuahua.
    Composite portrait of a pet Chihuahua.

  • Sons of Europa

    A family portrait commission. The hands and feet of the dog are actually those of the children featured in this photo composite. The session was commissioned by the father of the children and was intended as a gift for his wife, their mother. Hence then inclusion of Europa, which was named for the mythical character who was the consort of Zeus and mother of the King Minos of Crete.

  • Space Dog in Space

    a dog in a space suit
    A dog floating among the planets in a space suit.

Connect with J.B.

website:
Baltimore Dog Photographer

J.B.'s Curated Collection

This artist has not yet created a curated collection.

View curated collection