Hi, I'm Tonya
I am a professional pet portrait photographer based in Sacramento and serving the Northern California Area. I help proud pet parents capture the beauty, joy and spirit of their dogs and cats. I’m San Francisco born. A city girl with a soul called to nature. I was the little hippie-kid whose pet rat was her best friend and knew her innermost musings. The one that fed and named the stray cats and dogs. Horses were my first love.
I enjoy the diversity and vibrant energy of cities but you will most often find me in nature, exploring trails (Ideally with a dog!). Currently residing in Sacramento and serving the Greater Bay Area, Sacramento, Tahoe and beyond.
I fell in love with the magic of photography as a child in my parent’s darkroom, fascinated by the images and stories coming alive in trays. My love of animals and photography merged when my soul-mate kitty, Valencia, was diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and I wanted photos that captured how much he meant to me.
It became my mission to do the same for others.
click below to read why I'm passionate about pet photography:
GIVING BACK
As an animal lover, I am passionate about giving back. Since my dogs are all rescues and I would fail 100% at fostering, I’ve found the best way for me to help animals in need is to donate my photography services to various local, national and international organizations. This includes rescue groups, shelters and disaster relief funds (hello California wildfire season!). Whether I'm photographing pets in need of a home, donating a photo session gift certificate to a fundraiser or volunteering my services for an organization with a pet photo booth fundraiser, each year I participate in events to help raise thousands of dollars for animals in need. Friends of the Alameda Animals Shelter (FAAS), Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), East Bay SPCA, Berkeley Humane, Northern California Weimaraner Rescue (NCWR), Rocket Dog Rescue, Tri-Valley Animal Rescue, Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue (GGLRR), Guardian's Light Dog Rescue, Napa Humane, Humane Society of Sonoma County, Firefighter Relief Funds, Family Dog Rescue, Humane Dog Trainers Advocates.
"Tonya has all the tricks up her sleeve when it comes to getting your dog to pose and look adorably at the camera. It is not easy to capture my hyper lab and get tons of perfect photos in a short amount of time like she does... it's magic."
—Chelsea T.