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I Photograph Senior Dogs To Preserve Their Memories In Honor Of My Own Dogs That Passed Away (30 Pics)
I've been taking animal pictures for about 15 years now, even longer if you count the days I used film cameras. I used to have three chihuahuas, but in 2015, I suddenly lost two of them due to illness and old age, three days apart. I was a bit of a wreck for a while after losing my beloved senior dogs.
Since I was already a pet photographer and had tons of cool photos of my own dogs, I decided to give joy to others, free of charge. I began a journey of photographing senior family pets and called it "Paw it Forward." I photographed many cute animals on their last day on earth.
I think it really helps people to be able to look at these photos and remember their precious furry friends. Recently, I have moved in a slightly new direction with my photoshoot ideas, but I still do senior portraits. They are the ones that mean the most to me!
Just a while ago, I adopted a senior chihuahua and still have my other old friend. This new guy has maybe three teeth and a heart murmur. He just saw a cardiologist and started a lifelong medication, but he is spunky and so so so sweet! He had already been in front of the camera and is truly a champ!
Below are just a few of the cute photos, most already have crossed over the rainbow bridge, but they live on in their photos!
More info: Instagram
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Sipa - Crossed
I went to college to be a teacher, changed course, got a degree in graphic design, and along the way had to take several photography courses. I got a job as a commercial photographer fresh out of college and discovered wildlife photography was something that really interested me. I had Hercules and Chuie at the time when they were both very young and started taking photos of them with my film camera. I moved to digital and continued taking photos of them and thought I was an amazing pet photographer and made silly little business cards with my awesome graphic design degree! My photos and cards were not the greatest works of art but I was having fun and that's really all that mattered at the time. I discovered stock photography and worked in the industry as a reviewer for 10 years along with being an ongoing contributor. I was laid off from my review job and decided to open Unleashed Fur. The pandemic greatly affected my business but it's slowly picking back up as people settle in to this new normal. I have volunteered my photo services to the Idaho Humane Society for over a decade and do weekly photo sessions with the dogs there, to help get them out of the shelter and into homes faster.
Lilli - Crossed
Sassy - Crossed
I just want to cuddle her and give her belly rubs all day, so beautiful.
I lost two of my senior dogs, Hercules and Chuie, 3 days apart in 2015 and was devastated. I had been photographing them for years and was thankful I had so many photos of each one as they aged. I decided a good way to deal with my grief was to offer to photograph senior pets for others.
Bonnie - Crossed
Foo (Aka) Buddha - Crossed
The difficulty of pet photography depends on your current skillset and what you are trying to achieve with your final results. There are some basic tricks and techniques that I've learned along the way that help me get the photos I want for my clients. One of the hardest parts that people may not think about is working with older dogs who are deaf. You have to use a lot of hand waving while holding a camera.
Chopper - 14 Years Old
Dainichi - 11 Years Old
I have a few pets myself! Dainichi, a 6lb 14-year-old chihuahua who is super sweet and grouchy at the same time. I've had him since 2007 when I saw an ad, with no photo, for a free chihuahua puppy (the daughter went off to college). I took my dog Hercules with me to meet him and they hit it off immediately. I also have Emmett Doolittle, a 4lb 14-year-old chihuahua who I adopted from the Idaho Humane Society in 2018. He is very sweet and incredibly funny with his weird antics. His tongue hangs out because he has lost almost all of his teeth and it just adds to his cuteness.
Lex - Crossed
Mathilde - 15 Years Old
What inspires me the most is wanting to share a visual story of a moment. I'm also a wildlife photographer and I think that photos, as they say, are worth 1,000 words (or more). I like to capture the personality of a pet for my clients, so they can look at their photos and feel they embody the essence of their furry family member.
Guy - Crossed
Dazy - 14 Years Old
I would describe my style as somewhat thought out. I like to know the lighting and what will be in the background. I am open to suggestions and spontaneous photos but most of my work is with the pet looking at the camera, in a nice setting. If a client wants something like them running toward the camera or playing in the water I am willing and able to do that too. I like vibrant colors and wide-angle lenses to showcase the pet up close and personal. I love doing treat-catching photos because they're so animated and I can freeze that silly second in one frame.
Hercules - Crossed
Molly - 14 Years Old
If you want to be a photographer, here is some advice: first and foremost, learn how to use your camera. Read your manual, take a class, watch videos, just get off automatic mode and understand how ISO, shutter speed, and aperture all work together. Learn about white balance and color casts, learn how to post processes with the basic rules of photography, and then learn how to break those rules. Most of all, have fun! Find your happy place, find your niche, and don't compare yourself to everyone else.
Otto - 14 Years Old
He is looking at her how my dog looks at me, with obvious love, i just want to go home and hug my dog now but i'm at work on night shift, only 4 hours to go.
Lucky - Crossed
After I was featured on Bored Panda other media outlets saw the story and reached out to me and with all the combined exposure I gained quite a few followers on social media. Please visit your local shelters if you're looking to add a furry companion to your home.
Sadie - Crossed
Zepplin - Unsure
Emmett - Approximately 10-12 Years Old
Rumor - 10 Years Old
Sage - Crossed
Seamus - Crossed
Hah, love labs, my families favourite dog too, we always had labs when i was growing up, such amazing, greedy dogs.
Maddi - Crossed
Lucy - Crossed
Molly - Crossed
Dante - 14 Years Old
Spider - 12 Years Old
Chuie - Crossed
Rogue - 9 Years Old
Xander - Crossed
Roxie - 10 Years Old
This broke my heart and made me happy at the same time. I have a senior cat and can't bear to even think of being without him but can see the absolute joy and love in these photos of pets who are truly loved.
I know! Things like this make me happy cry and sad cry.
Load More Replies...This made me smile.. but also a bit sad whenever I read "Crossed". I know that's life... but... wish our pets could always be with us.
It's definitely bittersweet! Yeah their lives are not long enough.
Load More Replies...It really helped me! They are/were loved so much!
Load More Replies...This broke my heart and made me happy at the same time. I have a senior cat and can't bear to even think of being without him but can see the absolute joy and love in these photos of pets who are truly loved.
I know! Things like this make me happy cry and sad cry.
Load More Replies...This made me smile.. but also a bit sad whenever I read "Crossed". I know that's life... but... wish our pets could always be with us.
It's definitely bittersweet! Yeah their lives are not long enough.
Load More Replies...It really helped me! They are/were loved so much!
Load More Replies...