The art of a coffee table book isn’t just in its perfect placement in the living room, adding to the decor’s ambiance, but is also in its contents. There is something special about a coffee table book that includes not only beautiful photography, but philanthropy as well. And, a local tie-in doesn’t hurt either.
Enter Tails of Loudoun County (Ellen Zangla Photography, $95), a coffee table book released in November by Leesburg resident Ellen Zangla, featuring 211 Loudoun County pets, landmarks and their stories. “I’ve been a professional pet photographer in Loudoun County for 10 years,” Zangla says, who is the owner of Ellen Zangla Photography. She also has six fur babies: two dogs and four cats. One of her dogs, Lola, is the book’s cover star.
Part of the book’s proceeds benefit local animal welfare groups, Friends of Loudoun County Animal Services and the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition. “I’ve always used my photography skills for fundraising and I wanted to do something that had an even greater impact,” Zangla says. “I photograph pets mostly, so it was a natural extension to do something like this, and then I thought turning it into a book would be a good way to show off Loudoun County. I just think the area’s absolutely beautiful through different seasons.”
As of press time, Tails of Loudoun County has raised over $28,000 for the organizations, both of which work to end animal homelessness in the area.
“It’s so important to be able to give back and use the skills I have in a way that helps raise money,” Zangla says. “It’s such a win-win, because I’m passionate about it and the people whose pets were photographed, they’re in a book. How cool is that? And then the groups that benefit from the money, they need it and it helps.”
This post originally appears in our March 2020 issue. For more stories on pets, subscribe to our monthly Pets newsletter.
