a little bit about
When I was 8 years old, I was given the gift of a soul dog. Her name was Leiah, and she was the happiest, most patient dog I have ever met. She was constantly at my side, ready for the next adventure.
When I was 23, just a month before her 16th birthday, we had to tandem euthanize Leiah with my other childhood dog, Lucy. It was expected, but still an incredibly heavy loss. After she was gone, I realized how few meaningful photos I had of her. Just old phone pictures, screenshots, and videos that never fully captured who she was. Looking back, I wish I had photos that showed just how special she was. She deserved that.
A month after losing Leiah, I bought my first camera and began learning canine photography because I wanted other families to have the photographs I wish I had of my own dog.
Adventure-inspired photography for dogs and their people, centered around connection, movement, and the moments that matter most. Sessions are approached with a documentary mindset, allowing space for natural interaction, personality, and genuine emotion without heavy posing or forced moments.
Ridge & Valley was built to preserve more than appearances, creating imagery that feels honest, lived in, and deeply personal to the life you share together.
From hiking to swimming, we love adventures of all kinds. We love to visit the beach, mountains, and desert.
We participate in various dog sports, including: dock diving, fastCAT, barn hunt, and canicross.
While Leiah inspired this journey, Apollo helped shape it into what it is today. He is my first dog as an adult, and from the day I brought him home, I knew I wanted to document his life because I understood just how quickly those years pass. That's when I started his Instagram, @TheCalifornianPup.
Sharing Apollo's journey introduced me to an incredible community of dog owners and photographers, and it sparked a passion for photography that quickly grew into something much bigger.
You can find us on instagram at @TheCalifornianPup. We post our adventures and trendy reels.
Training is one of our favorite ways to bond together. We love learning new things and growing as a team.