My Philosophy
Safety and Somatics First: You may be asking “what is pet somatics?”. It is a gentle, evidence-informed approach focusing on the animal's nervous system to help them feel safe. After years of working in emergency veterinary medicine, safety and somatics has become second nature
Nervous System–informed: Whether I’m caring for a pet or photographing them, my approach is the same: build trust first, reduce pressure, and let connection lead. When pets feel safe, their real personalities have room to show up
Background & Experience: I’ve spent 25+ years caring for animals across rescue work, wildlife rehab, veterinary support, pet care, and photography. I have a soft spot for the shy, fearful, anxious and reactive pets. It's why I intentionally choose to photograph with an iPhone camera — so the process stays calm, flexible, and centered on the animal's comfort
Why iPhone Photography
Large-lens DSLR cameras have their place but I intentionally have built my pet photography style around iPhone pictures as I find it brings out the best, most honest and relaxed side of our pets. Here are a few reasons why this works:
Because the pet comes first always: iPhone photography allows me to move slowly, read the dog and adapt the session to what they need in the moment. Whether that’s space, movement, pauses or play!
Less gear means less pressure: Big cameras, flashes, and long lenses can feel overwhelming to many pets — especially for shy, anxious or fearful ones. iPhone cameras are gentle and quiet for sensitive and behaviorally complex pets.
It supports storytelling over spectacle: I’m not chasing perfectly posed moments or pet portraits that all look the same. I’m looking for who your dog is — I’m capturing a relationship between a dog and their world.