The 9 Most Popular Bark & Gold Photos of 2020

Have you discovered your Instagram Top Nine for 2020? As I’ve done the past few years, I recently ran my feed through the app to find my most-liked photos as chosen by you, and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised at the ones it pulled. In this week’s Photography Blog Circle post, I’m sharing a bit more about the images that topped my feed this year.

Top left: Samson at Mingo Creek Park

Samson, the two-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier, fetched the most likes this past year for his 2021 Biggies Bullies pet calendar contest session at Mingo Creek Park. The IG community went gaga for him, calling this tripod rockstar expressive, perfect, and handsome. With that irresistible pittie smile and twinkling gemstone eyes, it’s no surprise you fell in love with this sweetheart!

Top middle: Coda at Petagogy Greensburg’s Pet Photos with Santa

Despite a whirlwind of a year filled with uncertainties and restrictions, we were able to at least host Petagogy‘s annual Pet Photos with Santa event at its Greensburg store. More than 70 furry faces joined us for a fun-filled day featuring a custom-built reindeer barn backdrop, including this 14-week-old puppy, Coda, who will celebrate his first Christmas this year!

Top right: Luna at Brady’s Run Park

If you think you’ve seen lovely Luna before and you’re a customer of upper Hudson Valley-based bandana business Three Wags, you’re probably right! This tiny girl was one of several pups who joined me for two model calls this year to create new imagery for Three Wags’ website refresh. She also garnered the most awwws by my followers, obviously.

Middle left: Ambrose’s Rainbow Session

Rainbow Sessions are always my favorite and clearly, Ambrose’s was yours as well. Coming in fourth in popularity for the year, his session at Phipps Convervatory and Schenley Plaza was full of sweet smiles and genuine connection as he trotted along the cobblestone path near Phipps Conservatory. It’s hard to believe this joyful boy is fifteen-years-old!

Instagram top nine images of 2020

Middle center: Zed at Schenley Plaza

Of course, you can’t have a Top Nine collage without at least one iconic Pittsburgh portrait making the cut! Zed, a lovable, happy-go-lucky golden retriever, holds that title this year with 114 likes. This image is featured in the 2021 Biggies Bullies pet calendar for the month of February, a fitting choice for all the love it received.

Middle right: Handsome Hunter

You know him as Bark & Gold’s Head of Shed and for his numerous appearances on my feed with his Woof Wednesdays and hilarious, expression-filled stories. Hunter gobbled up 115 likes for this Thanksgiving Day post showing off one of our favorite Three Wags bandanas and starting up a discussion on his preferred Thanksgiving dinner treats. (Turns out Hunter isn’t the only one who’s not too picky about what the humans drop underneath the dinner table.)

Bottom left: Pepper’s Fine Art Pawtrait Session

Pandemic foster fail Pepper was the newest addition to a family whose other two dogs I’ve photographed twice in the past. Alert and adorable, Pepper stole the show during her Fine Art Pawtrait Session at Robin Hill Park. Her family loved this playful portrait so much and ended up including it among the ten images in an album block that they added to their digital file collection.

Bottom middle: Draco at Phipps Conservatory

Is there anything more heartwarming than a big pit bull smile? You’ll definitely be hard-pressed to convince me! Just look at Draco, the cover model of the 2021 Biggies Bullies pet calendar, plopped in a pocket of flowers at Phipps Conservatory looking just absolutely perfect!

Bottom right: Marley the Model

Rounding out this year’s Top Nine is the marvelous Marley, another furry face of the Three Wags website. Photographed on a cool fall evening at Brady’s Run Park, Marley pranced and posed across the charming footbridges of the park wearing her Scarlet print bandana. We had such a fantastic time that Markley and her springer spaniel Aussiedoodle sister, Millie, will be joining me in spring 2021 for a full session.


This post is a part of a photography blog circle featuring photographers specializing in a variety of niches. To see what the next photographer is sharing for our weekly theme, “Instagram Top Nine,” check out Gretchen Ciccone with GCiccone Photography, capturing special moments. Continue to click the link at the end of each post in the blog circle until you eventually find your way back here.

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