Hey, I'm Kristen
Photographer / Cool Person
(also obsessed with your pet)
I'm an artist, storyteller and pet portrait photographer based near Joplin in Southwest MO. After a decade+ of service to Corporate America, I left to pursue work that better aligned with my soul: dogs + photography.
I don't need to tell you how much your pet means to you, or try to convince you how much mine mean to me. As pet owners, many of us share a similar story:
Our pets are the ones who saved us from things like grief, despair and loneliness. They are the ones who gave us the strength to continue, to try something new, to thrive.
Our pets give us the ability to love and be loved in return.
Now, the unfortunate thing about pets is that they aren't around forever. And in some strange way that is both an incredible blessing and an unbearably heavy curse. I think that's where I come in.
A portrait in my studio is more than a quick snapshot on your phone. It is something you will look at every day, hold dear to your heart and whisper, "that's my best friend." It serves as a daily reminder of the partner that saved you. The partner that gave you courage. The partner that showed you how deeply you can be loved - even decades after they are gone.
I don't need to tell you how much you love your pet because I already know. And I would love to help you hold those feelings for a lifetime.
The Dogs That Saved Me
A hard-headed rescue that taught me patience, determination and unconditional love. She was a constant struggle that we loved deeply without regret. June crossed the rainbow bridge in 2024. We waited too long to take studio portraits of her and it is something I wish we would have done differently. This image is of her enjoying a trip to the Grand Canyon in 2023.
My loyal and timid boy, also a rescue. Jack was my partner through most of my 20's. With a little more training, he would have made a great therapy dog. He laid at my feet without question through the ups-and-downs of the pandemic, the loss of my grandmother and my mother's lung cancer diagnosis. He faced kidney failure with brave tenacity and crossed the rainbow bridge in 2025.
My "know better, do better" boy. ZayZay is my heart dog and continues to teach me lessons on a daily basis, including how to be a better advocate and well-rounded dog mom. In addition to being my first therapy dog partner, he is my first agility dog and the inspiration behind PUP - A Super Neat Dog Boutique. He joined our family in 2021 and has been herding hearts ever since.
Lola June is named after her (completely unrelated) rescue sister. Infinitely easier to train and live with, Lola joined our family in 2025 and has been an unspeakably bright light as we navigated deep grief and loss. She is working to receive the torch from ZayZay as he winds down his therapy service. She lives for dock diving and her favorite snack is rocks.
Ready? There's no time like the present.