Minnesota Rabbit Rescue
Helping adoptable rabbits stand out through thoughtful nonprofit photography
The starting point
This volunteer-led Minnesota rescue provides foster care, rehabilitation, education, and adoption support for domestic rabbits.
I volunteered as a photographer, creating adoption portraits and event coverage that helped show the rabbits as individuals and brought more warmth and clarity to the organization’s visual presence.
What they needed
The rescue already had plenty of real-life photos from foster families and volunteers, but most were taken quickly on phones. The quality varied depending on the lighting, background, camera, and experience of the person behind it.
They needed stronger images for adoption profiles, event promotion, educational posts, media coverage, and the organization’s website. The photos still needed to feel honest and community-led, just more intentional and useful.
Louis’ updated adoption portrait
Original foster photo
Meeting each rabbit where they were
Adoption portraits were an important part of the work because the first image on a profile can shape whether someone stops to learn more.
Rather than moving rabbits into unfamiliar setups, I photographed them where they already felt comfortable. I worked quietly, paid attention to their body language, and waited for the right moment instead of forcing a pose.
Getting down to their eye level helped show their faces, markings, and personalities more clearly. The goal was to create images that felt warm and expressive while always keeping the rabbit’s comfort first.
What we created
The project included:
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Adoption portraits
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Petfinder and profile imagery
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Adoption event coverage
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Rabbit romp and spa photography
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Bunny yoga fundraiser coverage
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Volunteer and community moments
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Website and social media visuals
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Images for event promotion and local press
I also created photos with different uses in mind. Some were close portraits designed to build connection. Others included open space for banners, event details, or educational messaging.
What changed
The stronger portraits helped generate more interest in adoptable rabbits, including rabbits who had been in foster care for longer periods.
One bunny yoga image was shared with a local newspaper and helped the event receive more prominent coverage than originally planned. The rescue continued using that image years later.
The work gave the organization a more flexible library of professional photography for adoption, education, fundraising, events, and community visibility
What this story shows
Nonprofit storytelling does not always require a large campaign or formal strategy process. Sometimes it begins with documenting the work more thoughtfully.
For this rescue, that meant showing each rabbit as an individual, capturing the care surrounding them, and creating images that helped more people understand, notice, and connect with the mission.
