Meet Noodles, Scout, and Loli, the three lucky dogs rescued by self-taught photographer Elke Vogelsang, who also goes by the name Wieselblitz. (In my opinion, Noodles may be the best dog name of all time. If you know a better one, feel free to put it in the comments!)

I’ve posted about talented animal photographers before, but I think these may be the most expressive and hilarious dog photos I’ve ever seen. If you’re wondering how she does it, she offered up some pet portrait tips in an interview with SLR Lounge. Reading the interview, it’s clear that at least part of her success with animals is due to her connection to her subjects, her ability to get down to their level and put them at ease.

“During an outdoor photo session, I lie on the ground, in the grass, or on the beach. I stand in a river or lake with my camera just above the water. . . It’s interesting to get to know so many individual characters among my animal models. . . Every photo session is unpredictable, just like children. I love the surprises and challenges.” -Elke Vogelsang on SLR Lounge

Her fantastic pet (and people) photos can be viewed on 500PX and also on her website. In addition to her paid photography work, she also takes photos free of charge for animal protection organizations. She’s located in Hildesheim, Germany, which is where she takes her pictures, but if you know of an organization that could benefit from her services (and could get to Germany for pictures), pass it along!