Back in December 2023, I said my final goodbyes to Mr Rupert, my beloved PTSD Assistant Dog, which was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.
Mr Rupert did more for me than most; he helped me see the light again, he helped me to handle my symptoms of PTSD, and he aided me in my darkest moments of depression.
It’s almost two months since we said goodbye, and it’s dawned on me that all my photos of him are primarily portraits.
I’m not saying that pet portraits are uninteresting, quite the opposite, to be honest. However, some pet portraits seem somewhat staged, lacking intimate moments spent together or as a family through fun and challenging times.
That said, pet portraiture is an ideal way to bring back memories of your time together and help you remember some of the happiest moments in your life.
Professional pet portraits will tell a story and become a beautiful and lasting reminder of your pet that you can cherish for years. However, as mentioned, they often lack memories spent together through good and bad times.
Before Mr Rupert’s passing, I considered an end-of-life pet portrait session, though I ended up dead against it, and why?
For one, I didn’t want to remember my boy suffering. Secondly, at the same time, most photographers are ethical, taking care not to stress a sick pet out. The thought of him being stressed or, in a way, staged to pose came across as somewhat unethical.
Finally, an end-of-life pet portrait session would not help me move forward from those many months in which he was very sick, nor would it help me grieve.
If anything, it would have led to more tears and depression, evoking memories of his pain and suffering, all of which I wanted to put behind me, focusing solely on the good and challenging times we spent together.
Therefore, this got me thinking about adding a ‘pet memory service’ to my site to help customers build up an album or framed photo collection of fun and challenging memories of their beloved pets and family to cherish for years to come, which tell more than just a story from which we can laugh and cry over helping us as pet owners overcome grief more touchingly.
I want to reiterate that memories can be garnered through pet portraiture, such as in a studio setting or having our photos taken on a dog walk; however, spur-of-the-moment memory photography is much more intimate.
For example, spur-of-the-moment photography requires very little planning or setup, and we, as pet owners, feel more independent and relaxed. It is these moments most of us love to treasure as pet owners rather than the final days leading up to the passing of a beloved furry family relative.
How does it work?
A pet memory photography service is similar to newborn photography and portraiture, except that it is not staged or held within a studio setting. However, if the owner wants a few studio shots, then by all means, include them too.
How you cover these memories is entirely up to you and your customers, though in my opinion and experience of being a dog owner, being a little less formal is best because we, as pet owners, want to admire the fun and intimate moments past and present with our beloved pet in the same way we would with a human.
For example, photographing a furbaby and the family on a day out, socialising with friends, family, neighbours, and the outside world, garden parties, BBQs, even weddings!
You can offer customers various formal and informal photographic services, such as:
- Photoshoots covering a furbaby’s age from neo-natal to birth to meeting the family.
- Pet training with a professional.
- Pet development such as socialisation and communication with the outside world.
- Pet adulthood, where you cover a pet’s daily life, playing, feeding, rest time, etc.
- Pet enrollment, training and any grades or certificates they win for a specific role they’ve been trained to provide a service for. Agility shows are also great to photograph, demonstrating a pet’s performance and bonding with its owner.
- Special occasions, i.e. a birthday party, wedding, or when a newborn child meets their furry or not-so-hairy relative.
- Senior photography is essential to cover. At this stage, old furbabies can still enjoy walks, car rides and fun activities.
Be sure to offer various services covering a day, weekend, or monthly shoots covering a pet’s progress through life. It’s also worth noting that pet video shoots are an ideal service you could include alongside your photography.
Presentation
A picture is worth a thousand words, and framing your memories is a great way to show them off.
You can choose to frame individual photos or get creative and frame a series of memory photos that tell a story, from neo-natal to birth, adolescence to adulthood and finally, senior years.
There are so many framing options to choose from, such as:
Some of my favourite presentations are customised albums engraved with a furbaby name, a paw print, a lock of hair, etc.
Pet keepsake frames are another favourite of mine, which can be customised to display one or more photos, a pet collar or leash, and a paw print set in plaster.
Alternatively, there are various framing options on the market for pet owners looking to display one or more images in bespoke frames that fit in with the interior or exterior home decor.
Please view this article here for more information about prints and photo frames.
In addition to photos, video memories touch the soul and leave a lasting memory of warmth and happiness.
When we document memories on a video, we’re more likely to remember them in full rather than a single photo.
In contrast, videography has various advantages over photography, such as:
- Videography captures special moments with our furry friend that we may not see during the moment.
- Videos can also be shared by friends and family and uploaded to social media.
- Videos help us to relive the moments we had with our furry relatives, which photos alone can’t consistently achieve.
- Audio is irreplacebale! Nothing is better than listening to the background audio of a video memory that illustrates our furry relatives playing with their human relatives, etc.
- Our furry friends are irreplaceable! One thing we pet owners don’t like to think about is that our senior furry friends are nearing the end of their lives and that they may only be around a bit longer to enjoy life with us. Hence why, videography covering their age years surrounded by friends and family is irreplaceable. These moments are priceless and, truthfully, one of the most motivating factors when having professional video recording your furry relative.
- Video memories can help some pet owners grieve in a more positive frame of mind. Whether those special memories make us smile, laugh, etc, it’s a lot better than having nothing in which we’re left with a void in our minds.
Conclusion
For centuries, many cultures and ethnic groups have considered animals to be friends. However, until the 1800s, humans began accepting animals, such as dogs and cats, as family, and stronger bonds with our furbabies developed.
Domesticated animals typically offer unconditional love and acceptance regardless of flaws, disabilities, mistakes, etc. They provide companionship, loyalty, and devotion that can be deeply meaningful. Their unwavering presence and affection can bring a sense of security and stability to our lives.
Animals have an innate ability to connect with us on a non-verbal level, understanding our emotions and responding to our cues. They can sense our sadness, offer comfort, and share in our joy, creating a unique bond of empathy and understanding.
We often form strong friendships with people who share our interests and activities. Similarly, sharing experiences and activities with animals can deepen our connection with them. Whether it’s going for walks, playing fetch, or simply enjoying each other’s company, these shared experiences strengthen our bond.
Interacting with animals has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness. Their calming presence and gentle interactions can lower our blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, promoting relaxation and well-being.
Caring for an animal can provide a sense of purpose and responsibility, especially for those who may feel isolated or lacking direction. The daily feeding, walking, and playing with animals can bring structure and meaning to their lives.
Owning a pet can often lead to new friendships and social connections as people interact with other pet owners at dog parks, vet clinics, or community events. These interactions can expand our social circle and provide opportunities for shared interests and experiences.
Animals can offer emotional support and companionship, especially for those experiencing loss, loneliness, or social isolation. Their presence and affection can provide comfort, security, and belonging.
Animals provide unbiased and non-judgmental relationships, accepting us for who we are without the social pressures or expectations that can be present in human relationships. This can be a liberating and empowering experience, allowing us to be true selves.
Caring for an animal can provide a sense of purpose and responsibility, especially for those who may feel isolated or lacking direction. The daily feeding, walking, and playing with animals can bring structure and meaning to their lives.
Therefore, building, creating and storing memories of our furry friends in the same way we would friends and family is important because our furbaby’s time on Earth is shorter than ours.
In the days leading up to my dog’s passing, I searched high and low for photos and videos to build a strong memory of him and me interacting, including the good and bad times we spent together.
When I lost my boy, the physical and emotional pain was the most intense feeling I’ve ever experienced, which I still feel to this very day and will likely continue to mourn his loss for months or even years to come.
Fortunately, I had stored years of photos and videos of him interacting with me as a loyal Assistant Dog, swimming, dog training, and kayaking, remembering those special times we spent together, such as Christmas.
While memorable photography and videography won’t bring our pets back once their time on Earth nears, it does help to soothe the deep and often intense pain of grief.
“In Loving Memory of Mr Rupert, Gone But Never Forgotten”
Rest Easy – June 5th 2008 – December 12th 2023
J. J. Williamson – The Norfolk Photographer
Jon Williamson is an ethical Norfolk-based award-winning photographic journalist with over fifteen years of experience in the photography industry, specialising in portraiture, boudoir, flora, landscapes, prints, frames, etc. For more information, please email the Norfolk Photographer below.