If you’ve ever Googled “pet photographer near me” and then spent the next 45 minutes falling down a rabbit hole of websites, portfolios, and pricing pages, you know that choosing a photographer is a process. There’s a lot to sort through, and a lot of it starts to blur together. So what actually tips the Read More
Posts by Bark & Gold Photography
17 Lessons Hunter Taught Me (On What Would’ve Been His 17th Birthday)
Today, May 1, would’ve been my Hunter’s 17th birthday. Seventeen. For a Siberian retriever—that beautiful, disheveled mashup of Labrador and Husky—this number feels almost mythical. My husband and I got him at 11 weeks old, a fluffy, big-headed tornado with thoughts he hadn’t quite figured out how to express yet. We said goodbye to him Read More
Classy Name, Yoda Ears, Zero Tolerance for Strangers: Meet Alice
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 Read More
They Said It Couldn’t Be Done (Spoiler: It Totally Could)
A Petco Santa photo. Three English bulldogs. None of them looking at the same time. David and Allen walked away with…a memory, let’s say, to put it nicely. So David reached out to me, a little nervous, a little hopeful, and very upfront: “They are sweet, but difficult to photograph as a trio.” I appreciated Read More
How to Actually Compare Pet Photographers (Beyond the Pretty Pictures)
You’ve got a few tabs open right now. Maybe three photographers, maybe five. They all have beautiful galleries. They all say they love dogs. They all promise a stress-free experience and images you’ll “treasure forever.” And you’re sitting there thinking: OK, but how do I actually choose? It’s a fair question—and a harder one than Read More
Your Dog Doesn’t Care About Instagram, You Do
Let me paint you a picture: You’re at the park. Your dog is doing that thing…you know the one. Maybe it’s the way she tilts her head when she hears a weird noise, or the full-body wag that starts at her nose and ends somewhere around her back legs. It’s perfect. You grab your phone, Read More
Before You Book: Signs the Timing Might Not Be Right
Most pet photographers will tell you there’s never a wrong time to book a session, and while that sentiment comes from a good place, it’s not entirely true. Timing matters — for the experience, for the outcome, and for the investment. Sometimes the most helpful thing anyone can tell you is to wait. This is Read More
5 Summer Activities for Pittsburgh Dogs Sure to Get Tails Wagging
This post was originally published in 2022 and updated for accuracy and expanded in 2026. Summer in Pittsburgh hits different when you’ve got a dog. Suddenly, every weekend is a potential adventure, and “just a walk around the block” starts to feel like a waste of a perfectly good Saturday. If you’re looking to shake Read More
What Happens When a Photography Session Becomes the Last One You Ever Could Have
The story in this post is real. Names and identifying details have been removed to respect the client’s privacy, but the experience and the sentiment are entirely his own. He booked the session without fully understanding why it mattered. It just felt like the right thing to do, so he did it. No grand reason. Read More
How to Know If You’re Ready to Invest in Professional Pet Portraits
Most people don’t wake up one morning with sudden clarity and think, Today is the day I book professional pet portraits. It’s usually a slower burn. You see a stunning image on Instagram. You think about it for a second. You close the app and go back to your life. Then you think about it Read More