What You Should Know Before You Schedule A Memorial Photography Session for Your Dog
Thinking about what our lives will look like when it’s missing a very important furry heartbeat at our side feels like looking into an abyss, just impossible to fathom. Anticipatory grief, navigating difficult veterinary diagnoses, juggling specialist appointments for your pet, dealing with lost mobility, preparing for after the loss - the list of challenges can be daunting as you face the end of life for your dog. Memorial pet photography can help you process your feelings, celebrate the life of your pet, and create artwork you’ll treasure in the years to come.
All your emotions are ok to feel
Memorial dog photography sessions have a lot of different emotions. There is joy at spending time with your pet. There is laughter as you share the adventures you've shared. There is sadness knowing things will be changing. There can be anger because it’s unfair. All of those emotions are ok and it’s ok to feel all of them, some of them, none of them, or more than one emotion at the same time.
Our goal for an end of life pet photography session isn’t to make your memorial session an only sad occasion. Yes, there may be some sad moments and acknowledgement of the loss you’re preparing for, but your memorial pet session is also a celebration of the life your pet has lived, the journey you have been on together, and the relationship you have shared.
As we plan for your session I’ll ask you about your favorite memories, the things your pet most loves, and their most unique physical traits. I’ll use these to design a custom session that will help create a new favorite memory for you with your dog and let you hold on to those memories with an album of your most loved images.
The end of life pet photography sessions that mean the most are filled with time to snuggle close, favorite treats & toys, and most importantly - time you’ve set aside to reflect on the relationship you share.
How do you know it’s time to schedule an end of life session for your dog?
No one has ever told me that they regretted having photos taken, but I have had so many express regret for waiting until it was too late. I encourage you to have photos done now. Whether you have just gotten a difficult diagnosis or just realize that the time we have is never enough - if you’ve thought about memorial pet photography, it’s time to reach out to a photographer.
End of life sessions always have priority booking. When inquiring, please let me know this is a memorial session so that we can work together to schedule your session as soon as possible.
The images become more important with time
I had an end of life session for my horse a few months before she passed, but the image box of portraits I had ordered didn’t arrive until a week after her death. I picked up my portraits and put them on a shelf in my office. I couldn’t even open the box until weeks later. I needed some space between the loss and the memories represented by the photos. And it’s ok.
Now that box and those images mean the world to me. I am so glad I have them, but for several months after her passing I couldn’t even acknowledge them - the hole in my heart just felt too big. I now find myself smiling when I see them displayed on the bookcase and can let myself remember all the hours we spent together.