i got the shot photography
  • Home
  • About
  • Investment
    • Holiday Cards
  • Blog
  • Awards
  • Community
  • CONTACT INFORMATION
Elaine Mueller Tweedy
           (570) 575-1705

Pet Love and Loss

10/8/2021

3 Comments

 
I was speaking with someone the other day, who mentioned she could never get another dog, because losing her last dog was so hard, she just could not go through that again.

This didn't just come out of the blue. We were talking about pets, and I told her we had seven dogs at the moment, but that over the course of our lives, we've had many more (not to forget about the cats and horses we have shared our life with as well).

"How could we do it?" she asked.

My answer:  "How could we not."

MEET OUR DOG BETH

​Meet Beth.
Picture
Bethy as a 3 month old puppy.
This, what may be a cell phone, photo was sent to us while we were making our decision to adopt her at the age of three months from Another Chance for English Setter rescue.  She was not our first dog, and, by far, would not be our last, but Beth lived the longest of any of our dogs.

Beth came into our lives in 2005.  She was the cutest puppy of all time. (We pet parents always say that.)  A little pocket-settery girl (she had something else thrown in the gene mix), she would never weigh more than 38 pounds.

Beth was a happy-go-lucky pup that got along with everything.  She loved sleeping on pillows and soft, comfy dog beds.  When she came, her dog friends were Ike (a chocolate lab), Ollie (a golden retriever), and Daisy (a border collie/setter mix).  Daisy raised Beth, and Ike adored her.  Beth was Ike's favorite playmate, but Ollie was Ike's best friend.
Picture
Beth loved her pillow on the couch.
Beth often came to work with me as a puppy.  My office was tucked away on a University campus, and she would sleep under my desk.  I would take her out for puppy piddle walks.

I didn't have the camera systems I have now, and cell phones weren't great picture-takers (they have since improved tenfold).  But, that didn't stop me from documenting Bethy's life.  Bethy lived through FIVE different cameras (two point and shoots, one Fuji and the two Nikons I now own).  

​A girl could get tired of that.
Picture
"I'm not looking!"
I am pretty sure Bethy knew over 200 words in the English language.  She ALWAYS seemed to know what we were talking about and how to react to it.

SOMETIMES TECHNOLOGY LETS US DOWN

Yes, I documented her life both digitally, and in film.  When cell phones got better at taking photos, I used my cell when my camera wasn't at hand.  Recently, when my cell phone DIED UNEXPECTEDLY, I panicked a little to think of all the photos I may have lost.  They were not spectacular photos by any means, but they were memories.  Thankfully, when my new phone arrived, the cloud backup restored almost every single photo.  I think things might have been much worse, if in my semi-panic mode I did not remember that there were a few hundred photos of Bethy in my auxiliary backup/storage units that I keep as part of my photography world now.

A little voice in my head said, "Don't worry...you still have photos, and there are the photos on the wall."

LOVING MEMORY SESSIONS - NOT A PART OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN

When I decided to specialize in pets in my photography life, I did not plan on offering Loving Memory Sessions as part of my work.  I know how emotional the time can be, when a pet has been given a "there isn't anything more we can do" prognosis.  We have lived through 6 of them, and 3 hospice/palliative care situations.  I know and understand every single feeling that comes with that.  

One day I received a call from a friend of a friend whose dog was diagnosed with cancer.  This elderly couple owned a lovely beagle that maybe had a few more months on this earth, and wanted a portrait of him for their wall.  I met with them, and set up an appointment quickly.  I didn't have a studio at the time, and the gentleman could not climb stairs, so they entrusted their pup to me to take to the spot in my home, that I had set up as a studio, to take their doggy portrait.  I learned all about their pup that day, and how much they shared in his life and celebrated it.  While emotional, there was more joy than sadness in the work.

That's the day I vowed to add Loving Memory Sessions to my services.

Some sessions are harder than others.  Some are more emotional.  But always, in the end, the portraits I can give back bring a great deal of happiness to each pet owner who chooses to have them done.  I am thankful for the ability to offer this service.
Picture
Beth in the fall leaves.
I also wanted to tell a bit of Beth's story, to give credence to the fact that I can tell that story with photos.

LIFE-ISMS ARE TRUE-ISMS

Life IS short.  This isn't just a phrase we hear people say.  It's TRUE.  Our pets' lives are even shorter, unfortunately.  I have met a number of pet moms and dads who place a value on a lasting memory of their special furry friend in the form of a professional portrait.  I am humbled to be entrusted with that task.

When we love our pets as much as we do; when they are not just pets, but family; when we celebrate their lives and the joy they bring to us every day, we need a beautiful piece of artwork to honor them.

Bethy lived to be almost 17 years old.  She lived through most of the ups, downs, good, bad, happy and sad times of our life.  She died of old age.  We made the final decision for her when, one day, she walked out into our yard full of sun after three days of not eating, and just decided that a final lay in the grass was where she wanted to be.  Her doggy friends sat around her as if they knew it was her time.

​And in her loving memory, a final healthy girl portrait, depicting exactly who Bethy was, will join others on our wall.
Picture
If you are interested in a Loving Memory Session, appointments are made to accommodate the needs of pet parents as quickly as possible.

CLICK INTO THE CIRCLE

I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet.  To see what others have blogged about this week on the topic of "in memory," start  here with Nancy, of Nancy Kieffer Photography in Central New York, as she shares the importance of capturing your bond with your pet through photographs, to create beautiful memories to keep after they leave your side.  Then find the link at the end of each blog to click to the next photographer. 

Have a great weekend with your pets!

3 Comments
Kim Hollis link
10/8/2021 05:55:18 am

I too have lots of photos of my first dog Sloan taken with whatever camera I had at the time which were probably a lot of disposable cameras. Your post makes me want to scan more of them so they're saved digitally too.

Reply
Angela Schneider link
10/8/2021 08:51:54 am

Thank you for sharing Beth's story. She was loved. When Shep was alive, I may have said a few times that I would never have another dog because none could compare to him. Now having Bella for seven years, I know I won't be without a dog in my life. They have too much to teach me.

Reply
Tracy Allard link
1/31/2022 07:42:33 am

Beth was gorgeous and I love a "pocket" anything. It sounds like she was the sun to your furry family's galaxy, she was at the center for the longest time and so many of you revolved around her. It's amazing that you had her in your life for almost 17 years. I loved reading her story.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    i got the shot

    What People Are Saying:

    "Elaine made working with my somewhat hyper dog look easy.  I can't believe the beautiful photos that came from his session!"
                                ~Tanya & Max


    "We love our family photos! It's hard to find a photographer that captures people AND their pets so well. Thank  you!"
                               ~Beverly

    "Elaine did my Senior photos.  They are stunning and I was so proud to hand out my wallets.  I honestly did not see better photos than mine in all the photos I collected.. She made the whole session fun and enjoyable."
                               ~Mia

    "Such a great studio!  I felt so relaxed with our dogs.  Elaine really is a very kind and talented artist.  We LOVE the artwork that came from our sessions."
    ​                           -Ron & Lee

    RSS Feed

(c) Copyright  I Got the Shot Photography
 All Rights Reserved

Proudly powered by Weebly