When Rebecca at Goldpaw reached out about collaborating on their 20th Anniversary giveaway, it was an immediate YES!

The idea was to have a nationwide contest to find our next Goldpaw model, and we would travel together to their location (wherever that may be!) and photograph their dog in Goldpaw gear.

We’ve been working together since 2012, and it was such an honor to be included in celebrating their huge milestone. My images are a big part of the Goldpaw brand, and Goldpaw has been a big part of my business as well. We make a great team :)

We had hundreds of amazing applicants, and while we wish we could work with each and every one of them, we were eventually able to whittle it down to one special dog who captured our hearts with a great story, a unique look, and who just felt like the right Good Boy for this adventure.

Kepler was rescued from a hoarding situation in California along with 30 other Australian Cattle Dog mixes, where he lived in a crate for the first year of his life. His new mom, Krysta, found him in an overcrowded shelter and knew he was meant to be hers. She says, “All I know is that if I were in his position, I imagine I’d NEVER be the resilient, trustworthy, loyal, humorous, and quick-to-love being that he so faithfully is. I have the utmost respect for who he is, and for how far he’s come.”

We met Kepler and Krysta at Fort Steilacoom in Tacoma, Washington. This is their park where they hike nearly every day. It was important for us that we capture who Kepler really is, to let the environment complement his story rather than place him in some epic-but-unrelated vistas. To have this experience in a place that was comfortable, had special meaning for them, and he could totally be himself.

Kepler and Krysta were both amazing models, and so fun work with! They truly have a deep connection, and I really think you can feel that in the images. He’s a smart cookie with a great handle of basic commands, and we just couldn’t get over that winning smile. And of course the Goldpaw gear looks great on him too!

We rented a house with a lot of natural light so we could get a few indoor images with Kepler as well. Just like during the outdoor session, he was a star!

While we were there, we met up with a Goldpaw employee who moved to the area and got some images with her dogs too. 

It was a whirlwind week, but so fun and so rewarding! Huge thanks to Krysta and Kepler, and to Cira and her dogs – and of course to Rebecca! It was SO great to work with all of you, and I’m really proud of the images we’ve created together.

Read Goldpaw’s blog about our adventure here: Meet Kepler: The Star of our 20th Anniversary Photoshoot