Some dogs walk into a session like they own the place. Alice is one of those dogs, but only after she’s decided you’re worthy of her time. Frankly? Respect.
She’s a five-year-old fawn and white pitbull mix with Yoda ears, a lap dog complex, and a middle name that tells you everything you need to know about her origin story, but we’ll get to that.
A Gift That Actually Lands
Sydney’s sister and brother gifted her a session with Bark & Gold Photography, and I have to say, that’s a pretty solid gift.
Sydney came into the experience already knowing what she wanted: portraits that captured Alice’s personality and a memory they could hold onto long after the day had passed, not a list of poses or a specific backdrop; just Alice, comfortable and herself. That clarity made for a beautiful session.
Born on the Road, Named for a Lady
It was 2020. The world had essentially shut down, and Sydney—25, a first-time dog owner, living in York, PA—was on a months-long search for a puppy. In her words: “A lot of people were adopting at that time, so it was very difficult.”
That’s when she found Homeward Bound Animal Rescue, an organization that rescues pregnant dogs from across the country. Alice’s mom was rescued from Texas and driven north to Mechanicsburg, PA, and the puppies were born on the trip. Talk about one heck of an entrance!
When Sydney met puppy Alice, her name was Toot.
“I kept that as her middle name,” Sydney said. And for the record, Toot does have a certain charm when you’re talking about a tiny puppy, but Sydney ultimately wanted something with a bit more staying power.
“I always wanted an old lady’s name for my dog. Maybe Alice isn’t so much of an old lady name now, but it’s also perfect because we don’t typically run into other dogs named Alice.”
So, Alice Toot, it is. Dignified, with a nod to her roots.
She Comes to You, Not the Other Way Around
Here’s something Sydney was refreshingly upfront about: “Alice is not a fan of men, or strangers walking up to her or me.” She’s protective. She needs space. She comes to you, not the other way around.
Sydney shared her introduction method: walk her around the new person with no eye contact until Alice can sniff and decide for herself, then a treat, then trust.
This is exactly the kind of information that makes a session go well. I’ll be honest: I’m not there to pet dogs anyway. My job is to photograph them, and the best way to do that is to let them lead. Alice had exactly zero pressure from me, and she warmed up beautifully.
“Her personality is a lot like mine!” Sydney noted. And after spending an evening with the two of them, I believe it.
Brady’s Run in the Fall
We met at Brady’s Run Park on a gorgeous fall evening with the kind of light that makes everything look like it was made to be photographed. Alice took to the location immediately, moving at her own pace through the park with a modest confidence that made the camera love her.
She crossed the footbridge like she was on a runway. She posed alongside Sydney with an ease that most humans don’t manage. And then there was the fallen tree by the creek where Alice settled in and delivered one of the most stunning portraits of the evening. That portrait tied with another taken down by Brady’s Run Lake for Sydney’s favorite, and I can see why she had trouble choosing between them.
The session was calm, playful, and entirely Alice-paced. Sydney had said beforehand, “I think I just want her to be comfortable throughout the session, so we don’t need to force anything!” Nothing was forced. Everything was earned. That’s when the best portraits happen.
A Frame as Gorgeous as the Evening Itself
At her ordering appointment, Sydney selected from the bronze collection. Her centerpiece was a traditional framed print in a stunning dark burl wood frame with deep, swirling grain detail and rich espresso and bronze undertones, a frame that feels as warm and grounded as the session itself. She also chose six matted 5×7 gift prints, so Alice’s portrait can find its way into more than one spot in her home.
It’s worth noting that Sydney said one of the most important things to her was “creating a memory they can have together long after the day.” That’s the whole point of tangible artwork. The phone photos fade into a camera roll of thousands. A framed portrait on your wall? That’s Alice snuggled up with her person, every single day, for the rest of your life.
“She always knows when I’m feeling down and need extra snuggles,” Sydney said of her girl.
Something tells me Alice is going to be doing that for a very long time—Yoda ears perked up, ready to help.
After it was all said and done, Sydney shared this:
Jes was amazing to work with during my Bark & Gold Photography experience. My dog is typically skiddish and nervous around new people, but she warmed up to Jes right away. Jes was cognizant of the type of photos I was looking for during the session and captured stunning pictures of my dog. She also had helpful suggestions during my ordering appointment to order the best products to display my girl. Awesome!
That’s the goal every single time.
Your Dog Doesn’t Have to Be Easy; She Just Has to Be Yours
Maybe your dog is an Alice. Maybe she needs a slow introduction, a little extra space, and the reassurance that nobody’s going to rush her. Maybe he’s reactive, anxious, selective, or just deeply uninterested in cooperating with strangers.
That’s okay. More than okay, actually—it’s normal.
Every dog I photograph gets to show up as exactly who they are. There are no rigid expectations, no frustration when things don’t go according to a script, and absolutely no pressure to perform. My approach is relaxed, unhurried, and always dog-led. If they need time, we take time. If they need space, they get space. And more often than not, the dogs who seem like the trickiest ones end up delivering the most extraordinary portraits.
Don’t let worrying about how your session might go keep you from booking it. Reach out, tell me about your dog— the whole truth and all—and we’ll figure out the rest together. Choose your adventure below to get started.