It All Started With One Dog

I Never Expected One Dog to Change My Life

I never expected a Belgian Malinois puppy to change the course of my life.

Renzo introduced me to dog training, brought me back to photography, and ultimately inspired Desert Dog Photography.

Every portrait I create today is shaped by the lessons he's taught me about trust, patience, and the incredible bond between people and their dogs.

Before Renzo

Art has always been part of my life. Long before I picked up a camera, I spent countless hours drawing and painting, always chasing ways to create something meaningful. That passion eventually led me to study photography after realizing engineering wasn't the path for me.

My plan was to become a travel photographer documenting rural festivals around the world. Then COVID happened. Like many people, I found myself working in a corporate career that never felt like home.

Looking back, I think I simply hadn't found my subject yet.

Then Everything Changed

  • The Dream

    I finally had the dog my younger self had always imagined. Intelligent, driven, and endlessly curious, Renzo quickly became my greatest source of inspiration.

  • The Challenge

    Behind the beautiful photographs was a dog struggling with behaviors I didn't yet know how to help. His journey pushed me to learn everything I could about canine psychology and eventually led me to Leader of the Pack.

  • The Journey

    Today, Renzo is not only my best friend but the reason Desert Dog Photography exists. Every lesson he taught me lives on in both my work as a trainer and every portrait I create.

Renzo wasn't an easy dog.

He struggled with severe resource guarding, and despite working with multiple trainers, nothing seemed to help.

After two serious bites involving my husband, we reached a crossroads.

Giving him up wasn't an option.

We knew what would likely happen if he entered the shelter system.

Instead, we kept searching until we found Antonio at Leader of the Pack.

Watching Renzo transform changed more than his behavior—it changed my life.

I eventually asked to shadow Antonio before joining Leader of the Pack professionally, where I now help other owners navigate many of the same struggles we once faced ourselves.

Dog Training Changed My Photography

Understanding dog behavior has completely changed the way I photograph.

I know when a dog needs a break.

I know when they're overwhelmed.

I know when they're excited.

Most importantly, I know that the best portraits happen when a dog feels comfortable enough to simply be themselves.

Every session is built around the dog — not the shot.

Why Desert Dog?

I grew up in Colorado, so when I first moved to Las Vegas, I hated the desert.

Over time, I realized I simply hadn't looked closely enough.

Beyond the rocks and cactus are hidden forests, dramatic mountains, quiet canyons, and remarkable light that changes by the hour.

The desert rewards people willing to slow down and pay attention.

Dogs do the same.

That's why I chose the name Desert Dog.

To me, it represents resilience, adventure, and finding beauty in places other people overlook.

Why I Do This

One day, Renzo won't be here.

As much as I don’t like to think about it, it’s part of life.

But when that day comes, I'll know I gave him everything I had to give.

I'll also have photographs that tell his whole journey and the work and love that got us all the way to the end.

That's why I started Desert Dog Photography.

Because every dog changes someone's life.

Their story deserves to be remembered.