Rainbow Sessions: What they look like

I have been specializing in dog rainbow photography for years now; I frequently say they are my favorite and hardest photos I take.  I think these sessions are some of the most powerful photography I will ever do, and are just as important and special as any other milestone photography is. There are studies showing how the grief of losing a pet is just as poignant, if not more, than losing a close family member. They ARE a family member, often the closest to us. Why wouldn’t you want to have beautiful photos to memorialize this bond?   

I have had all levels of illness, mobility, cancers, incontinence, and all that goes along with old dogs during my sessions. So, knowing the limitations of your particular situation can be very important as well as helpful for planning. As we are chatting and setting up our session, I will send over a questionnaire to get a bit more information. I know that very often, old dogs cannot travel in the car for very long. My late heart dog, Kenzie, could not be in the car at all, ever. I had to have a photographer come to me (shout out to Sky, thank you!). I’m happy to be able to do the same for you. Last year I went to Reston for Lola, who could not walk and we found a little nook in their neighborhood where we could all lay on a blanket and snuggle.  

Max here could ride in the car like a champ, though he could not walk for long and was incontinent. His parents were from near DC, so we met at one of my favorite new locations for my DC area clients. He laid down on the grass and did not move once. It was perfect actually; he decided to face the direction I needed for the sun. I had his family just wrap around him and it worked out perfectly.  

I know that end of life sessions are going to be very emotional, and I will tell my families that I may cry along with them. Don’t be surprised or embarrassed by tears, these are super heavy sessions sometimes. We can also have a ton of fun laughing. The one thing I do work really hard to do is to grab details of your dog. I’ll ask you if there is anything specific that your dog does or any special mark or feature that you want me to be sure to capture. My Kenzie had a mole on her tummy that I had to have a photo of. I’ve had clients that want me to grab the outline of the back of their dog’s head (for line drawings), or that there is a special lift of a foot during playtime they want me to photograph. I’ve had others emphasize that they have to have a photo of their daughter kissing the top of the dog’s head, as that is their special thing.  

Dog end of life photography is a very powerful thing. It can be very nerve-wracking to be in front of a camera for anyone, but I encourage you to do it anyway. My goal during any session is to make it NOT feel like a photo session where it is awkward and uncomfortable. Generally, it won’t even feel like I’m taking any photos; I will follow the dog’s lead and capture the emotion and bond between you, with very little awkwardness.  I often say to clients “I’m not here, just focus on you two.” Just breathe, we’ll get through this together, tears and all!