My Editing Workflow Exposed (But Seriously, Here’s How I Do It)

Editing photos can be a love-hate relationship for photographers. Some folks live in Photoshop, dodging and burning until their retinas singe. Others, well, let’s just say their editing skills are about as advanced as applying a preset and calling it a day. Me? OK, confession time (and yes, this may surprise you): I don’t hoard Read More

Where Poop Bags and Kazoos Collide: The High-Tech and Slightly Unconventional Toolkit of a Professional Dog Photographer

Camera bag? More like a wearable clown car headed straight into a slightly unhinged parallel dimension! It’s a mystery bag of endless amusement, a surprise party waiting to happen, a cross between a magician’s hat and a bottomless supply of squeakers. Every time I unzip this bad boy, it’s a wild guess as to what Read More

A Guide to Capturing Gorgeous (and Safe) Dog Photos in Spring Flowers

Spring is here! The world is awash in color, the birds are serenading us with their (questionable) warbling at unbearably early hours, allergies declare war, your dog’s shedding produces enough fur to knit a sweater for a small yak, and if he’s anything like Hunter, he’s probably also developed an inexplicable urge to become a Read More

No More Home Sweet Home: Why I Dropped Backyard and In-Home Sessions

You may have heard the cliché “fence-sitting gets you splinters.” Well, there I was, straddling that darn fence desperately trying to keep those pesky splinters from invading my you-know-what, fully knowing in my gut that it was time to make a bold decision. I needed to say goodbye to backyard and in-home sessions. Implementing that Read More

What It Means to Tell Your Story Your Way

Professional pet photography goes far deeper than the surface beauty of the matte paper on which an image is presented. Within each portrait lies a whispered promise: the chance to weave a visual tapestry of joy and love unlike any other. That’s why at Bark & Gold Photography, capturing spectacular portraits is only the first Read More

Eyes to the Sky: Harmonizing Light and Life in Dog Portraits

As a pet photographer, I’m often asked, “What’s the secret to capturing the expression and spirit of a dog in a portrait?” The answer, while encompassing far more than just one element, often begins with a focus on their eyes, those “windows to the soul,” and capturing the sparkle and vibrancy that holds the key Read More

Rain, Rain, Go Away: What If It Rains on My Session Day?

Maybe Willie Nelson said it best when he sang, “Well, it’s cloudy in the morning, gonna be raining in the afternoon… If you don’t like this rainy weather you better pack your bags and move.” I recently learned that Pittsburgh averages a total of 203 cloudy days each year and that western Pennsylvania is significantly Read More

The Psychology of Pet Bloopers: Why They Happen, What They Reveal, and Why I’m Down With ‘Em

Ah, the internet: the treasure trove of impeccably curated pet portraits. Think dogs standing perfectly balanced on a fallen log, bathed in the warm glow of golden hour light, their fur wonderfully windblown in the allure of effortless adventure; cats felines contemplating the existential meaning of catnip as they perch regally on chaise lounges with Read More

From Paw Prints to Portraits: A Peek at the Week of a Luxury Pet Photographer in Pittsburgh

Toss those briefcases out the window and forget the fluorescent-lit drudgery of boardrooms because my nine-to-five is anything but beige! (If you know, you know.) As a luxury pet photographer in Pittsburgh, my workweek is far from ordinary. Routine? Sure, but only in the sense that I call the shots. No day is ever the Read More

The Transformative Impact of Seeing Your Pet as Art (and Not Just Another Instagram Post)

If your idea of a pet photography experience culminates in swiping through endless folders on your phone, if you’re a member of the like-hungry mass, or among those who think their pet’s legacy is best measured in megapixels, I’m going to give you an out to just move along now, no hard feelings. Now, before Read More