It’s time for one of my favorite things I do all year, writing the 2022 BARKography Year in Review.

I choose one photo from every photo shoot I had during the year that is my favorite. This year I decided to create two “Favorite” lists: my Favorite photo from each session and my Top Photos of the year.

Here are my 2022 Year in Review photos from each session compiled in a reel I posted on my Instagram page:

I decided to create a 2nd list of favorites because in a few sessions I had, choosing just one photo was hard. (Rhodes I’m looking at you buddy!)

I was also curious. If I looked back at all of the photos I took this year, how many would I love? Like really love?

The results were surprising. There were more than I thought there would be.

When I started this 2nd list of favorites, I thought I’d create a Top 10 or maybe a Top 20. Well, it’s a Top 27.

This year I did several photo shoots as personal projects and several of them made the Top 27 List. The photos below from my personal projects are:

1. Golden retriever Ace at the top of this page. This is a panning photo and I was able to capture him with all 4 paws off the ground. I specifically chose Ace as my model for this photo shoot because I know he frequently runs like this. This was also one of my favorite photo sessions of the year because he had So Much Fun! This photo is currently my screensaver so I see it every day.

2. 1st photo down on the right side column of King, the yellow labrador. I wanted to take a photo of a dog using the photography concept of “framing.” His adorable face, this vintage truck, the location, and the lighting were perfect.

3. 5th photo down on the left hand side of Colt, the Australian Cattle Dog. I wanted to take a reflection photo. I had zero idea if this was going to work. Perhaps one of my most proud moments of 2022 because it actually worked! #iamnotkidding

If I’m taking photos of dogs and their people, I prefer candid photos as evidenced above. And apparently I like kissing photos. Also evidenced above. ha

In looking at these photos, here are what they have in common:

1. IMO, they’re all taken in pretty light. It’s either very early in the morning, 1-2 hours before sunset, or it’s a cloudy day. Or some are studio photos where the light is totally under my control. Lighting has everything to do with how I feel about my work.

2. They’re fun. I want to photograph dogs being dogs. Dogs being themselves. I’ve never met a perfect dog. He doesn’t have to be at the photo shoot either. (Also insert horse for dog here.)

Here’s something I learned while writing this post: I literally tell myself this all the time: I’m a better photographer when I’m shooting at a location I know. One that I’ve shot at before. Well… 18 of these 27 favorite photos were taken at locations I was shooting at for the first time. I’ll take that as progress.

As artists, I think reassessing our own work is so important for reasons like this. Perhaps because I have more years of experience under my belt, I need to give myself more grace and more credit and stop with the negative speak in my own head.

Thank you to everyone who supported me in 2022. Each like and comment on my Instagram posts mean so much to me. I am forever grateful to every client who books a photo session. And for those who spend time reading my blog, I appreciate you.

Much love to all of you.

This is a blog circle and next up is Syracuse Photographer Nancy of Nancy Kieffer Photography looks back at some favorites from 2022. Be sure to click the link at the bottom of each post and you’ll end up back here on my page when you’ve made your way through the circle.

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone peace and prosperity in 2023.