But behind the flying drool is a creative force with an equally impressive range. Carli isn’t just an award-winning photographer, she’s also a bestselling author, former bird-of-prey trainer, wilderness first responder, and executive-level brand strategist who’s helped launch everything from health brands to chocolate supplements. (Yes, really.) Whether she’s snapping a dog mid-shake or developing a brand book for a multimillion-dollar company, her goal is always the same: “to unlock vision and create something authentic that people actually connect with.”
“There’s something really honest about animals in motion,” Carli says. “Especially in that split-second where they’re not posing, not performing, just existing in this weird blur of fur and chaos.”
But beneath the viral dog portraits is a creative director and strategist who’s led entire in-house marketing departments, launched brands from the ground up, and collaborated with industry giants like Nike, Pfizer, Nestlé, and National Geographic. During her time as Executive Creative Director at Designs for Health, she oversaw a team of 11 and helped boost product sales by 20% year over year through sharp digital campaigns and a fully reimagined brand identity.
Still, no matter how high-level her marketing work gets, her artistic roots remain a driving force. “Whether I’m working with a team, building a brand voice, or photographing a dog mid-flop, the goal is to understand what’s really going on in that moment and how to communicate it,” she explains.
Her love for animals and nature goes beyond the lens. Carli’s a certified Wilderness First Responder, a former bird-of-prey trainer, and someone who has literally led wildlife photo safaris across Tanzania, Botswana, and the U.S. She jokes: “Yes, I can get your dislocated shoulder back in place and then make you a killer cup of coffee by rubbing sticks together.”
While photography remains her most visible work, Carli is also passionate about community and inclusion—especially when it comes to the outdoors. As a board member of Team Snacks Cycling and an educator for femme and non-binary backpackers, she shares her experiences to help others feel empowered outside. “I used to solo backpack around volcanoes and mountain ranges just for fun,” she says. “Now I love encouraging others to try the same.”
That balance of sharp humor and deep care also defined her breakout project, Shake, which features dogs and cats mid-shake in all their flailing glory. With over 250,000 books sold and millions of video views, the series resonated worldwide because it felt refreshingly unfiltered. “One time a giant Newfoundland shook so hard mid-photo that he flung a huge wad of slobber straight onto my lens and then immediately sat on my foot like nothing happened."
