Tres | End of Life Heritage Session

Tres | End of Life Heritage Session

Sometimes the first frame takes your breath away.

Tres family contacted me to photograph him in his backyard. A senior pup with mobility issues, he was no longer able to go far from his family home.

So I arrived and began to look for a location in the backyard. We waited patiently while Tres made a very long, slow trek (for him) out of the house and into the backyard.

When he finally got there with Dad’s help, I asked my assistant to hold the light while I did a light test. And I shot the one frame you see below.

So technically, this wasn’t a photograph I planned. But it was the most beautiful tribute to the relationship and Tres’ wonderful life.

man kissing his senior dog at the end of life heritage session with Posh Pets Photography

Things to know about End of Life (Heritage Sessions)

While I will always encourage people to have their pet photographed while he/she is still young and full of life, there is nothing quite like celebrating a wonderful life with a loving family. The resulting portraits often become most treasured and a source of comfort once the final goodbye has been said.

However, ensure that your photographer approaches a session like this with the right mindset. As with every pup or kitty, we need to work with them in a way that puts their comfort and happiness at the forefront. With a senior or unwell pet, the limitations may be many as movement and mobility can be issues. Choosing the right time of day when your pet feels most well and alert is crucial, as is the schedule surrounding any medications. Know that these also tend to be shorter sessions as older pets tire more quickly.

And that is why the pre-session consult is important – we want to prioritize any portraits you would like to get within whatever timeframe we have. 

But…with good planning, flexibility and a pure love for your pet, we will get a beautiful portrait, full of meaning.

senior dog portrait in Toronto during end of life session

Want to see what Tres’ mum had to say about their session? –> REVIEWS

Have a senior dog or cat that you would like to have photographed? Need a pet photographer that specializes in end of life sessions? Contact me to discuss your options.

POSH PETS® HERITAGE SESSIONS

Celebrating the life, love and legacy of your pet. ™

  • High-priority sessions are reserved for pets that become ill or are simply elderly. We make every effort to schedule these on short notice and work within their restrictions.
  • An opportunity to take time out of your busy schedule to spend some quality time together, celebrate the life you have shared and create images you will treasure forever.
  • Please note: The Creative Fee covers time and talent to photograph a maximum of four (4) subjects, which can be any combination of people and up to two (2) pets who live within the same household. Additional subjects may be photographed for a small additional fee.
  • More information can be found here.
MacLeod | Toronto Dog Photographer

MacLeod | Toronto Dog Photographer

shih tzu smiling

“Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog.” – Sydney Jeanne Seward

I loved this dog.

It has taken me a while to write this post. A week to be exact. Seven days. Almost 168 hours since we’ve said good-bye. And I still can’t believe that MacLeod is gone. Because he didn’t live with us – he belonged to my family – it is still easy for me to imagine him snoring loudly in his sleep at my sister’s or parent’s place. At 15 years of age, he did do a lot of sleeping. And snoring.

But, it wasn’t always that way. MacLeod and his sister, Anthea, came to our family when they were both wiggly, little shih tzu puppies, both from the same litter. Like any puppy out there, they were both unbelievably cute. And although I loved Anthea and her love of exploration, it was MacLeod that was my favourite.

MacLeod, aka Mackie, Big Mac, Maxster, Mister Magoo, was a character. He was your everyman’s dog. He had no airs about him, took you at your word and had a ‘what-you-see-is-what-you-get’ way about him. He loved people, playing, balls and getting dirty. All the while being gorgeous.

Somehow, over the years, I had become  “Auntie Karen” to MacLeod. When he would hear those two words, he would get beside himself with excitement, whining and crying in anticipation. So much so, my family would not tell him I was coming to visit until I was less than 10 minutes away. When I would finally arrive, he would be there, ready to greet me at the door. And then, he would look up at me, turn his mouth up at the corners and give me an honest-to-goodness ‘grin’. After the initial fuss, he would turn his attention to my belongings and go through my bags in hopes of finding a treat, a new ball or something else wonderful that he was sure I had brought for him. And, when I finally settled in a chair to rest, there he would be – climbing on my lap and resting on my leg.

Time, of course, marches on. To see him get older, and less playful was hard. But when he got sick, I was heartbroken. My friend wasn’t the same. Getting up to greet me was difficult – laying back down was harder. There was no more joy in the thought of playing with a ball. And no more grin.

And so last week, my sister made the decision that the time had come to let MacLeod go. And we gathered, as we have for all our family’s pets, to say our good-byes. I had promised him I would be there when the time came, and I made good on that promise by holding his paw gently as he found peace.

While it is still hard to believe he is gone, I am so happy he came into our lives and that he allowed us to share him for a little while. Thank you Mackie. Please know we will miss you always.

I loved this dog. I still do.

shih tzu in bowtie

 

Adoptables – Toronto Animal Services | Dog Photography in Toronto

Adoptables – Toronto Animal Services | Dog Photography in Toronto

The Lost and Found Dog Park at Toronto Animal Services – North is complete! The colours are absolutely gorgeous which I will be using the park to show off all of the adorable adoptables I meet each week (they even somewhat match the Posh Pets Photography colours – it was meant to be).

If you are looking for a new friend, TAS – North might just be the place where you find each other. Each of these lovely guys and girls will also be featured on the Posh Pets’ Facebook page in the coming days, so head on over there for more information such as age, breed and ID number.

And now, without any further delay, here is the first group of dogs to enjoy the new park with me!