Lately, the sessions I’ve photographed have carried a little more weight. Not in gear or logistics, but in emotion.
Several of the people who’ve reached out to me recently did so after getting some tough news from the vet. Diagnoses of cancer, signs of aging that feel impossible to ignore, or the quiet reality that their dog is starting to slow down in a way that feels final.
These sessions stick with me.
Not because they’re sad, although they are, but because they are also full of something even deeper. Love.
When we meet, there is often a quiet understanding that this might be the last session they have with their dog. I make sure we take our time for the dog to settle in and get comfortable with me before we start the session. There are no expectations, there is no pressure. Just space for cloudy eyes, wobbly legs, and tired bodies who somehow still find the strength for one more adventure, one more Golden Hour moment, one more belly rub, one more moment with their person. What stays with me most is the devotion. We fully commit to your dog’s tempo, which might be oh so super slow, and that is absolutely fine.
Dogs who are clearly tired, who might not chase a ball anymore, still sit beside their human and give them everything they have. The soft lean, the nose nuzzle, the look that says, "I'm still here. I love you." These sessions remind me why I do this.
Not for perfect photos, not for social media, but for the quiet in-between moments.
The way a hand cradles a greying muzzle, the way a dog rests their head in their person’s lap like they’ve done a thousand times before, the way time seems to slow down, just a little, as if the universe is giving them both a small gift.
If you’ve been thinking about booking a session and wondering if it’s too late, let me gently say this.
If your dog is still here, there is still time. Time to celebrate them, time to honor what they have given you, time to create something you’ll hold onto forever.
I’m here when you’re ready.
With patience, empathy, and so much love for the dog who has been your everything.