FOR THE LOVE OF A DOG... and a message about the importance of photos! {TAMPA AREA PHOTOGRAPHER}

Back in December I got an inquiry from my website  from a prospective client telling me she wants to do a session.  A family session she tells me and she wants to bring her dog Mack.  She goes on to tell me she hasn't had photos done since her son was two.. he is now 12.   I don't think too much about it.  I get inquiries all the time about people who haven't done photos for a while or people who want to bring their cherished family pets.  I LOVE those session.  I love knowing that people want to bring their 'other' children to their sessions.  I encourage it.  

We both had pretty booked schedules so we ended up doing the session at the end of March.   Two days before the shoot she emails me confirming about bringing the dog.  And then tells me that they just recently found out he had terminal cancer.  they have done all they can to this point and now all they have is maybe a couple of months.   WOW!  that really sucks.. so sad for them.. been there done that. 

So now.. although ALL my sessions are important to me this one takes on more urgency.   But guess what it rains the day we are suppose to do the shoot.. UGH!!! but luckily I had the next day open and we pushed it back one day.  We are meeting at the University of Tampa.. a beautiful campus - but guess what? we get there and they are doing the annual greenfest that day.. the place is packed.  they are breaking down their booths at this time so it's even more chaotic.  people everywhere..

but suddenly out of the crowd I look over and see these three people with a HUGE white dog.  holy cow.. he is ginormous..  but what I really notice is that he has the sweetest look on his face.  he is so happy to be there in all this chaos with his family.  I realize instantly.. that all will be well. 

I meet everyone.. including beautiful Mack.. the dog wonder. I notice he has shaved patches on each front  leg.  I know he has been sick but I ask about them.. His mommy tells me -  they are from his recent surgery to have his spleen removed.  "to buy us a little more time with him"  she says.  I LOVE THESE PEOPLE INSTANTLY!!   She goes on to tell me that the most they give him is two months.  And that as soon as they realize he is starting to suffer they will have him put to sleep to spare him the pain of this horrible cancer.   It's so hard isn't it.. to outlive these dogs we love who love us unconditionally.  I have made this choice too many times and I am instantly saddened for them..  but secretly relieved it is not me this time.

Now let me tell you about Mack.. he is a rockstar.  Everywhere we went people would come up to him and want to pet him and talk to him and talk to his parents and dare I say 'big brother'  ;)  We would get a few shots in and someone else would walk up wanting to see him.  It was so cute to see the attention he was getting and he was eating it up. 

but what really made Mack a rockstar that day is his interaction with his beloved family.  He knew exactly how to be with each one. 

With Dad he took on this proud stance of 'WE ARE THE MEN OF THE HOUSE AND WE WILL PROTECT YOU TO THE END'!!  They had this love, understanding and respect for each other that you could see. 

With his 'brother' - he had fun.. it was this bond of you are my best bud and I will never leave your side.  They had grown up together you see and I could tell they had many adventures discovering the world and being -  I am sure.. PARTNERS IN CRIME!! 

And then there is Mommy.. he was so tender with her.. the looks he gave her were of this deep unconditional love. He comforted her.  With a look or a snuggle or just being close to her.  His adoration for her was impenetrable.   It was precious to watch.

So here I am this outsider.. being let into the world of this family who loved a dog and albeit a brief time.. one that will forever touch me. 

And when I emailed Mack's family to tell them that the photos would be ready to view the next day.. only two weeks later .. a month and half after the diagnosis -   I got an email back telling me thanks and that they had to put Mack to sleep that night !  WHAT - NOOOO   - I immediately started crying..  this brief time had affected me.. Mack was amazing..

I knew that loss.. and I worried that seeing the photos so soon would hurt more than it would help..  I was scared.. I didn't want to make them suffer any more..  I was afraid to put them up for viewing. but reluctantly I did..  I feared that I hadn't done them justice.. capturing these last days with their beloved Mack..  I suddenly and completely felt the weight of the responsibility I had.  but I trudged forward letting them know how to view them.   

and generously... this is the email I received immediately..

They r AMAZING! And we were all in tears..want them all. You captured everything we were looking for Connie! Thank you so much!! We couldn't have received these at a better time!

I am so lucky and blessed.   I truly love doing this business.  I truly love being a history keeper.  A moment recorder..   a memory maker..  A PHOTOGRAPHER.

There are many aspects to this story that mean something.. mainly it's about the unconditional love that a dog (who was huge and furry and all white who had a heck of a sweet tooth from what I have been told) had for his family.  And the unconditional love they had for him in keeping him as long as they could but not more then he could handle.   

It's about how amazing animals are.. and especially dogs.. how they love us so much.. and we don't always deserve it.. 

but it's also a story about the importance of getting your family photos done..  about not waiting.. about not being afraid to be in photos because you may not think you look great..  you have to do it.. you need to do it.. you need to have those moments.. those memories.. because you never know what might change.   

Life is precious.. life is short.. don't wait..

thanks Mack for reminding all of us!