This year, some of my wildlife portraits are featured in a gallery exhibition in San Anselmo. Seeing these images hanging on the wall brought me back to one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, volunteering at the Jaguar Rescue Center in Costa Rica back in 2013.
These photographs are more than portraits of animals to me. They are portraits of resilience, trust, healing, and love. Every animal I photographed there had a story, and many of those stories changed me forever.
How I Ended Up at Jaguar Rescue Center
In 2013, I was traveling through Central America during a world journey. While visiting Panama, I met a woman from the Isle of Man named Poo. Yes, that is really her name and she is a wonderful person with a big heart. She had been living in Costa Rica for many years and told me she volunteered at Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo, caring for injured and rescued wildlife.
She invited me to visit, so I did.
What started as a visit turned into a month of volunteering at the rescue center. I helped care for the animals, photographed them, and assisted with fundraising efforts. It became one of the highlights of my life.
I still remember waking up every morning to the sounds of birds and howler monkeys in the rainforest. It felt magical and grounding all at once. Being trusted to care for these animals was such an honor.
The Animals I Will Never Forget
Every animal at the rescue center had their own story. Some were heartbreaking. Some were inspiring. Most were both.
Shacky the One-Eyed Spider Monkey
One of the animals who stayed in my heart forever was Shacky, a spider monkey who had gone through unimaginable trauma. His mother had been killed, and during the ordeal, he lost one of his eyes.
Despite everything he had been through, Shacky was still full of love. He still trusted humans. There was something incredibly moving about that to me.
Photographing him reminded me how resilient living beings can be, even after experiencing loss and pain.
Lola the Laughing Amazon Parrot
Then there was Lola, an Amazon parrot who had spent most of her life living inside a shoebox before she was rescued.
Because of that, she never properly learned how to fly. But what she lacked in flight, she made up for in personality. She was hilarious, expressive, feisty, and full of life.
I loved photographing her because you could feel her spirit immediately.
These Animals Shaped My Career Today
I have spent over 20 years photographing families, babies, pets, and people around the world. At the heart of all my work is connection, compassion, and gratitude.
My time at Jaguar Rescue Center shaped me deeply, both as a photographer and as a person.
What moved me most was not just what these animals had survived, but how they still responded to the world afterward. Many of them had experienced injury, neglect, displacement, or loss, yet they still found ways to connect, play, trust, and show affection.
Shacky, despite losing his mother and one of his eyes, still wanted closeness and connection. Lola, after spending years confined in a shoebox, was full of personality, curiosity, and joy. I saw that same resilience over and over again with many of the animals there.
That experience changed the way I see photography. I became less interested in perfection and more interested in emotion, connection, and the small moments that reveal who someone truly is.
Whether I am photographing a newborn baby curled up in their parents’ arms, a child laughing with their family, or a beloved pet looking lovingly at their owner, I am always looking for those honest moments of tenderness and connection.
I want people to feel something when they look at my photographs. Joy. Tenderness. Empathy. Hope.
Today, my work focuses mostly on newborn, family, and pet photography here in Marin and the Bay Area. Even though these wildlife portraits were created years ago, they still feel deeply connected to the work I do today because they come from the same place in my heart.
Visit the Show
My wildlife portraits from Costa Rica are currently featured in a gallery exhibition in San Anselmo alongside the work of many talented local fine art photographers.
The show started on May 9th and is located at 621 San Anselmo Ave.
I currently have five pieces on display and available for purchase, and they will remain on display through the end of summer. If you are local, I would love for you to stop by, see the work in person, and support the incredible artists featured in the show!
Gallery opening hours:
- May 9 – June 18, 2026: Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:00 – 5:00pm
- June 20 – August (exact date TBD): Fridays and Saturdays 6:00 – 8:30pm
- Note: from June 20 – Sept 12, there is Live on the Avenue Summer Concert Series every Fridays and Saturdays. That would be the best time to come enjoy art and music.
