A Camera, Hundreds of Bandanas and a New Way to Honor Missy

Every few weeks, Hongtao Jin and Helen Chen arrive at San Antonio Animal Care Services carrying cameras, lenses, toys, leashes and a collection of handmade bandanas.

Hongtao lowers himself to the animals’ level and waits for the right moment. Helen manages the leash, uses toys and makes different sounds to catch an easily distracted animal’s attention. Some dogs race across the grass. Others appear interested in everything except having their picture taken.

The couple keeps working until they capture an image that reveals something of the animal’s personality.

They are not professional pet photographers. They are a married couple who understand that, for an animal waiting in a shelter, one good photograph can be what first makes someone stop and look closer.

Hongtao became interested in photography in 2007 after helping a friend who worked as a wedding photographer. Years later, after he and Helen moved from Virginia to San Antonio, he began investing more seriously in camera equipment.

At home, the couple cared for an aging Chihuahua named Missy. Helen made matching bandanas for herself and their dog, beginning a small tradition that would later find its way into the shelter.

A friend suggested that Hongtao use his photography skills to help animals at local adoption events. The couple liked the idea, but caring for their senior dog remained the priority, so they decided to wait.

After Missy passed away in November 2024, Hongtao and Helen returned to the plan they had put aside. They completed the required background checks and orientation and became volunteers with San Antonio Animal Care Services.

For close to a year, the couple has photographed and recorded adoptable dogs and cats for the shelter’s online listings and adoption efforts. They also volunteer at adoption events around the city.

Their goal is not to create a flawless portrait. It is to give potential adopters a better opportunity to notice the individual animal behind the listing.

That first impression matters. San Antonio Animal Care Services says prospective adopters regularly mention that a particular photograph or video was what initially drew them toward an animal.

By showing more of each pet’s personality, Hongtao and Helen help those online listings feel less anonymous and give the animals a better chance to stand out.

Helen also makes bandanas for the shelter animals to wear during their photo sessions. Her designs include patterns inspired by different cultures and familiar San Antonio landmarks, including the Alamo, the River Walk and the Tower of the Americas.

She has already donated several hundred of them.

The bandanas bring color and personality to the photographs, giving each animal a more distinctive introduction to potential adopters.

“Every rescue dog is a masterpiece in someone’s heart,” Helen told the San Antonio Express-News.

The challenge is reaching that person.

A colorful bandana may catch their attention. A well-timed photograph or short video may persuade them to remain on the profile long enough to learn more.

For a shelter animal waiting to be chosen, that second look can matter.

What began as an idea they once had to postpone has become a regular part of their lives: photographing animals, helping at adoption events and giving shelter pets the time and attention they need to show who they are.

They may never know what happens after each photograph is posted. But every image gives someone a reason to stop before scrolling past.

Sometimes, a new life begins with one good picture.