I had a great time chatting with the wonderful ‘Books, Barks and Banter’ Facebook Group the other day. As a little holiday gift from the directors to the members, I got to present a short one hour mini dog photography class - focusing on some key components to improve everyone’s own photographs of their own dogs (whether with their iPhones or ‘real’ cameras). I love taking foundational photography concepts like lighting, focus, and composition and making them totally digestible and approachable for the masses. There were lots of great questions and comments from the Facebook Live presentation ..read more

Standing Out + Succeeding: A Creative Biz Interview w/ @therecoverie It's always fun to sit down with an old friend and chat business. My good friend Danielle of @therecoverie (who started her successful textile company not long after I opened my San Francisco studio) had me on her IGTV today for a char about creative business. I feel lucky to have been able to grow my business alongside other friends and creatives, and it's rewarding to take a look back and see how far we both have come. Take a listen as we chat about how to pivot and survive as a creative business owner duri ..read more

This interview with the very popular podcast ‘This Week in Photo’ was a really satisfying way to wrap up a well-lived career. Click the button below to watch me talk to 'This Week in Photo' about the power of a niche, how I developed my style, what 'fine art' really means and how I've honored and respected my clients through the creative process since the beginning. This is easily one of the most enjoyable interviews I've ever done - we really hit some important topics that I think will be helpful to not only my online Mentoring + Business Coaching students but anyone curious about creative b ..read more

I had a great chit chat with Lynn Hasty (@green_galactic) - my old publicist in Los Angeles - about how artists can self promote their work while staying true to their message. We also reminisced about the time we worked together in 2010. Lynn found my work online at the beginning of my career and invited me to photograph a fancy dog event in Hollywood. A few weeks later my Doggie Gaga Project went viral and I called Lynn in distress bc I needed a publicist. We worked together for one incredibly intense, exciting and overwhelming month, scheduling interviews on TV, radio and websites literall ..read more

It's an honor to work (online) with so many talented, dedicated Mentoring/Business Coaching students. My mentoring and business coaching for artists is not just for photographers (and not just dog photographers) - I work with artists of all mediums, all ages and locations, and all experience levels. Unlike so many other creative coaches out there, my online mentoring sessions are all about you not me. It’s an amazingly effective and rewarding long term relationship (at least one year of work, typically) which helps get students up and running - from discussing marketing, website building, wri ..read more

Quarantine is tough. Being productive right now is tough. Give your mind a break and get creative! I’m offering a handful of one-on-one online classes, for hobbyists to professionals. Whether you want to grow your dog photography business or simply learn how to use that camera that’s collecting dust in your closet - I’d love to teach you something fun and useful in a very low-key and approachable environment. All classes happen over Zoom (everyone’s favorite online quarantine platform), and classes will be tailored specifically to your experience level and interests. Take a look below, or go ..read more

'From the Archives' Prints From the Archives 14: This image features two things I love a lot - Polaroids and pitbulls. This was made with the 4x5 large format view camera in my old San Francisco studio, with a very good pitbull named Gator. Gator was a circus dog and could do some amazing tricks. This is the old Polaroid 'Sepia' film which was so beautiful. Sometimes the emulsion didn't work with this film, but when it did it was perfection. Warm and subtle. What I love about this portrait is the perfect balance of proportion - the ball sitting so gently, the head tilted up just so, the fall o ..read more

From the Archives 12: This is the very first dog portrait I ever took. In a professional capacity. I was interning at a fine art family photography studio in San Francisco in 2007, working my butt off everyday, assisting and developing film and learning, all with the intent to turn my dedication to photography into a business somehow. The only problem was - I didn't like kids. I tried one session with a family friend and their young kids and it just was mayhem. Family photography wasn't for me. I felt frustrated, like I had hit a wall. Thankfully a wonderful mentor told me I should try photog ..read more

From the Archives 11: In 2005 I drove across the country for the first time, from Western Massachusetts to San Francisco. It was my first time driving on Route 66 and I completely fell in love with everything about being on the road: the scenery, the feeling of adventure, the sensation of escaping one life and running toward a new one. I packed what seemed essential to my 24 year old self, and filled the back seat with far too many Polaroid cameras and a cooler full of film. Also a cooler full of Whoopie Pies that a friend's mom made me before I hit the road. I'd never had a Whoopie Pie befor ..read more

From the Archives Day 10: Black and white Polaroid film was so beautiful - contrasty, but with rich tones. I remember being in college and being able to just saunter in to our lovely local camera shop on the corner and buy as much fresh Polaroid film as I desired. Those days are long gone. This is an image I made in college at our local favorite Western Mass swimming hole, the Chesterfield Gorge. We'd hike off the trail, scramble down some rocks and walk along the rocky river to this perfect spot. As always, I'd spend more time with my camera photographing friends than actually swimming. Ther ..read more