I’ve been trying to post a lot of upbeat content during this (don’t say it…don’t say it…) unprecedented time. 

Focusing on intimate weddings, surprise engagements and last-minute elopements fills me up with so much happiness, when our world just doesn’t seem so happy anymore. But sometimes we still need to look at the hard stuff too. 

I had the privilege of photographing Abby and her dog, Onyx, a big ol’ cuddly puppers. Sadly, Onyx recently received a terminal diagnosis. Abby was secretly gifted this mini photo session to honor the life of Onyx and for Abby to have a beautiful keepsake after he is gone. 

Onyx is an older pup, but his years certainly haven’t dampened his love of people. He came right up to me at the beginning of the shoot to give me a big “hello!” We played, we snuggled, we sniffed; and though Onyx needed some help here and there to get around, his little puppy spirit was well and alive. 

We spent time in Abby’s neighborhood park in South Philly, as well as on her front porch. Of course we had a mountain of treats to keep this boy interested. As a reactive dog owner myself, I know the power of some food reinforcers! We kept it short and sweet, engaging but not overwhelming for our dog-of-the-hour.

Photoshoots like this one remind me of the magic of photography. The sentimentality of photos doesn’t often kick in until after the subjects have passed. A nice family photo on the wall is lovely, but after your beloved family member passes, that photo becomes a prized possession. We have to remember to invest in quality photography during the good times, so that when the hard times come, we have a beautiful reminder of how full our lives really are.