Winter family photoshoot with an elderly dog
/a poignant moment as annie and penelope walk their elderly dog sadie off into the mist
It was chilly, misty and gloomy, so why have a winter family photoshoot?
The intrepid Juniper family knew something that most families don’t realise… there are pros and cons to photoshoots in every season.
So, the best time for a family photoshoot is normally… now.
Unlike weddings, there are no deadlines for family photoshoots. So it’s human nature to wait until a situation arises to make the photography seem more urgent.
In the case of the Juniper family they wanted photographs while Sadie their elderly brown Labrador was still around.
And there’s nothing more touching than photographs of children with their dogs.
The sequence of little Annie and Penelope walking away into the mist with Sadie are some of my all time favourite family photographs.
When I had a Zoom call with the Juniper family to plan the photoshoot they mentioned how loving and caring Annie, their eldest daughter, is. So to see Annie reassuringly pat Sadie as they walk away is a wonderful reminder of this great quality that Annie has.
Mum and dad - Rosie and Lee - were fantastic at treating the photoshoot as a family play date. They instinctively knew that the best family photographs are about creating natural connection so they focused their attention on playing and cuddling with their children rather than the camera.
This photoshoot was to be Sadie’s last ever romp in the woods. This week I was so sad to hear Sadie had passed away.
Reading back over my notes and emails I noticed that Rosie had said in an email just before the photoshoot that she felt Sadie was in too much pain from arthritis to take part in the photoshoot.
I reassured her that we could do the whole photoshoot within a very short distance from the car because I’d hate for them to regret not including her, at least in some of the photographs.
Luckily Sadie was in great spirits on the day and was as perky as they’d seen her for some time.
The photos of her walking away with the children couldn't be more poignant and heartbreaking... but seeing her bounding towards the camera in one last burst of puppy-power is a reminder of all the happy memories dogs give a family.
Rest in peace Sadie.
This message from Rosie sums up why I have such a passion for my work because I know how important and precious family photographs are. In fact they become more precious with time.
“Thank you so much for capturing …..she really did become a puppy full of energy on her last walk in the woods 🥲🥲 but thank you so much for the amazing memories xxx”
