Wish You Were Here! Gray Malin’s Incredible Photographs of Dogs on Vacation

In Gray Malin: Dogs, Malin captures dogs living the good life in an array of bucket-list destinations that have long spurred public imagination. From the Beverly Hills Hotel to Palm Springs, Aspen, and Nantucket, to Paris, London, and New York City, Malin photographs canines in iconic destinations, whether a suite at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée with a view of the Eiffel Tower, or next to a perfectly restored vintage Ford Bronco on a wind-swept expanse of beach, matching blue longboard leaning against its side. 

Welcome to the Plaza Hotel

The resulting photos are a playful, whimsical take on old-world glamour that will have you wanting to book your next vacation—dog in tow, of course. 

His goal is to transport the viewer. “All of my photography centers around escapism… When you see my work, you should feel transported to a joyful place, whether it be real or fantasy.” 

Sankaty Head Lighthouse I, Nantucket

The book was inspired by and is dedicated to Malin’s dog, Stella, who passed away as the book was being completed. “She was 15 years old and lived a beautiful life,” says Malin. “She would travel with us, and I would photograph her on vacation for fun.”

It wasn’t until he incorporated a Bernese Mountain Dog into an Aspen photoshoot, however, that he came to fully appreciate the magic appeal of dogs. Upon release, the image of the Bernese next to vintage skis became so incredibly popular that it inspired Malin to embark on a collection of dog-focused images. 

Surf’s Up, Nantucket

Of course, working with dogs requires special considerations, especially with photos as highly curated as these. “Each shot was meticulously crafted,” says Malin. “We style each set, often with vintage props to give a timeless feel—I don’t ever really want people to know what year I took the image! For each shoot we work with a lead dog trainer who helps us cast the dogs and works with each owner or trainer to position each dog exactly as you see in the shot—the only item we have to shoot and fully remove before the dogs come on set, is the food!” 

Pool Day, The Beverly Hills Hotel

But it was the locations themselves that proved more difficult than the canine models. “The most challenging part—surprisingly—is getting access to such incredible locations and working within a timeframe that is appropriate,” he says. “For example, when we shoot at The Beverly Hills Hotel or a public space like The Top of The Rock, we have to shoot early so as not to disturb guests or visitors. When we shot on Aspen Mountain, we had to get all the dogs up the gondola before the mountain opened for skiers. Logistics aside, you also need a lot of patience working with dogs as well!” he laughs. 

Sunbathers, Top of The Rock

One of his favourite shots was taken in Paris in an inner courtyard of the Palais Royal. “The photograph depicts several Dalmatians walking around an art installation of striped black and white columns by French artist Daniel Buren,” says Malin. “I love the juxtaposition of the black and white spots of the Dalmatians with the striped columns and the French architecture of the Palais Royal.”

The Arrival, Aspen Private Airport

It’s not the pain-staking styling nor expert composition, however, that Malin thinks is the crucial component responsible for the appeal of his work. “When I hang artwork in my own home, I always consider how it looks, as well as how it makes me feel,” he says. “I think these images simply bring a smile.” 

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe today!