Celebration Of Thor- An End Of Life Photo Session at Rattlesnake Lake
Photo by Marie Wulfram Photography
Celebration of Life sessions are never easy. But this one really hit home.
I first met Thor and his family when I was getting started in my business. They were among some of my very first clients! Their session took place back when we had that crazy snow storm, which Thor and his fellow husky sister, Winter, absolutely loved.
Related: Winter Wonderland: Thor + Winter's Snow Storm Experience
When Thor’s mom reached out to me again recently, I was so happy to hear from her! However, she wasn’t reaching out with the best news.
Recently Thor had been showing signs of aging, with more and more health concerns cropping up.
Mom was very concerned that they weren’t going to have much time left with him, and wanted to get photos done again while he was still happy and had the energy to explore a bit during their session.
Photo by Marie Wulfram Photography
This would be my first Celebration of Life session for a dog that I had already worked with before.
And yes, I cried a lot.
I cried when she first told me the news, my heart feeling for her and what she must be going through. The whole family.
I cried on the way to the session, remembering the last time we met and how happy and healthy they all were.
And I cried while editing the photos, thinking this would be the last time I got to do so for this wonderful dog.
Photo by Marie Wulfram Photography
We planned for a Sunday morning, the day after his birthday. For this session we met at Rattlesnake Lake in North Bend and it was quiet as could be. During the fall and winter months, the water levels on the lake are quite low, revealing all the old tree stumps littered throughout the normally full basin.
Thor was the main focus for this session, so dog-dad walked his sister, Winter, around to explore. She even found a fish along the water’s edge!
Mom and Dad took turns taking some photos with Thor, and then we got some of just him in all his glory.
Photo by Marie Wulfram Photography
Senior dogs will always hold a special place in my heart, and their sessions are often some of my favorites. Not when it’s at this time in their life of, course! But the easy-going, super cuddly personality of most seniors is just the sweetest, and create the most heartwarming photos.
When discussing how they wanted to display their artworks after the session, mom told me how much she loved the acrylic block they had gotten previously and that she definitely wanted another.
So when she saw the close up of sweet Thor’s beautiful heterochromia eyes, she knew that was the one (and I did, too, which is why I ordered an extra one for myself).
His eyes sparkle in the acrylic!
Photo by Marie Wulfram Photography
Close up eye or face photos are the most commonly chosen images for these acrylic blocks, and I’m sure you can see why!
I’m happy to say that at the time of this writing, Thor is still living happily with his family and doing well. Mom is so happy they were able to get photos again before it was too late.
And I am, too.
It’s never easy when it’s getting close to having to say good-bye.
If you’d like to capture their memory before that time, please reach out ASAP.
Same-day appointments can sometimes be arranged for emergency sessions.