Shaff, Valerie. If Only You Knew How Much I Smell You: True Portraits of Dogs. Photographs by Valerie Shaff.

Bulfinch/Little Brown, 1999. Text by Roy Blount, Jr. 1st edition, 5th printing. [Shaff has been called the Richard Avedon of dog photography but she is more complimentary to her subjects.] Like new hardcover with protected dust jacket. Issued at $19.95.  Summary:

If Only You Knew How Much I Smell You: True Portraits of Dogs (published by Warner Books in 1998) is a charming, collaborative book that pairs the evocative black-and-white animal photography of Valerie Shaff with witty, insightful text by writer Roy Blount Jr. Rather than presenting idealized, studio-perfected depictions of pets, the book explores the raw, instinctual, and deeply affectionate nature of dogs from their own presumed perspective.

Key Elements of the Book

• Dignified and Character-Driven Portraiture: Shaff is widely celebrated for her ability to photograph animals with the same psychological depth and formal dignity usually reserved for human subjects. Using natural light, rich sepia tones, and silver gelatin printing, her close-up portraits capture a vast spectrum of canine emotion—from stoic nobility and intense focus to goofy vulnerability.

• The Senses and "Dog Logic": The book's title highlights a central theme: the sensory disparity between humans and dogs. It playfully explores how a dog's world is fundamentally constructed through scent and sound rather than sight, and how actions that seem bizarre to humans—such as frantic sniffing or rolling in grass—make perfect sense in the canine world.

• Anthropomorphic but Authentic Commentary: Roy Blount Jr.’s accompanying text avoids overly saccharine or cartoonish tropes. Instead, he crafts interior monologues, short poems, and observations that reflect a dog's fierce loyalty, anxiety about being left alone, obsession with food, and uncomplicated, non-judgmental love for their owners.

• A Celebration of All Breeds: The monograph does not favor elite show dogs; instead, it features a diverse lineup of mutts, hounds, terriers, and working breeds, emphasizing the universal "dogness" and unique personality of each individual animal.

Summary

If Only You Knew How Much I Smell You is a heartwarming yet sophisticated art book that transcends typical pet photography. Through Valerie Shaff's masterfully intimate lenses and Roy Blount Jr.'s sharp humor, it offers a deeply empathetic look into the minds of dogs, celebrating the enduring and joyful bond between humans and their most loyal companions.