How Franklin Integrated Interiors Turned a Dog Calendar Into a Pittsburgh Community Tradition

Every fall in Pittsburgh, something unusual happens inside Franklin Integrated Interiors' showroom. For over five years running, Orchard Eight Media has been there to capture it.

The idea

The concept is straightforward: each fall, clients, partners, and members of the Pittsburgh business community submit their dogs to be photographed in Franklin's showroom, staged against the furniture and interior designs they offer. A community vote in October and November determines which 13 dogs make the calendar — one for the cover and one for each month.

The shoot involves 10 to 15 custom-designed backdrops built inside Franklin's office and showroom, each one featuring different pieces from their collection. It's part product showcase, part community event, and entirely unique to Franklin.

The calendar has become a genuine business development tool for Franklin — building trust with clients and partners in a way no cold call ever could. When your dog is in someone's calendar on their wall for a month, that's a relationship, not a transaction.

What we bring to it

Orchard Eight handles the photography and lighting for the entire shoot day. With 30 dogs cycling through custom backdrops, there's a real logistical challenge — keeping energy up, getting shots that are both flattering to the furniture and genuinely fun, and doing it efficiently enough that the day doesn't become overwhelming for the animals or their owners.

In addition to the still photography, Orchard Eight produces a behind-the-scenes reel of the shoot day — capturing the energy, the chaos, and the joy of 30 dogs in a furniture showroom in a way that still photos alone can't convey.

Behind the scenes