One of the reasons I started this blog was to encourage people to get professional photos of their pets. And while saying goodbye to your dog is one of the hardest things a person can do, I think end-of-life sessions are some of the most beautiful. The photos can help remind you of happier moments and the love you shared. This end-of-life session from Bri Burkhart Photography captures the bond between Baloo the dog and his favorite person, Kelly. No matter how old your pup is, I hope you’ll get some professional photos of him.
“I loved you your whole life, and I’ll miss you for the rest of mine.”
From Bri: “I received a text asking if I could do a last-minute Celebration of Life session for a friend’s coworker and her sweet old boy Baloo. I’ve thought a lot about offering this session for a while, and after having to put down my own family dog earlier that month, I had to do it. This is officially one of the most meaningful shoots I’ve ever done and a beautiful reminder of why I fell in love with photography in the first place. My heart goes out to Kelly & everyone that has to go through the loss of their beloved fur babies. Saying goodbye is never easy. But I hope these photos bring back sweet memories of their time together. Baloo celebrated his 13th birthday on the day of our shoot and was given lots of love, cuddles, and chicken nuggets during his last days.
From Kelly: “Everyone loved Baloo- even people who were not fans of dogs. He was always welcomed to join any and everywhere. He was just a kind and gentle soul with fluff and four paws. It was an honor to be his dog mom.
I am forever grateful to have this moment captured with my Baloo Bear. He was still his happy and noble self. I’ll have his memory and these photos forever.”
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About Bri Burkhart Photography: Based in Lakeland, Florida, Bri specializes in wedding and portrait photography.
Amber Myers says
Aw, so sweet. It’s always hard to say goodbye to a furry family member. We had to do this with our cat a while back.
Mitch says
I would never think of getting professional photos of a pet, but I see how important they could be!
Terri Steffes says
This is so touching! I would love to do photos of my two dogs. They are sweeties.
Melissa says
These images are perfection. You do such an amazing job and now I want a photo shoot with my puppers.
Briana Baker says
Aww! So sorry for your loss! Beautiful pictures and memorial!
Elizabeth Neas says
I am so glad you did this photoshoot with Baloo Bear. Dogs become a part of our life and we rely on them in our day-to-day surroundings. Thirteen years is such a full life for a companion so I am so happy you have had all of these years together. I really loved all of your special photos.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
These are such beautiful photos. Now that we have a puppy, I can totally see the benefit of having professional photos taken.
Richelle Milar says
Wow! These are all really amazing and photos, I am so sorry for your loss
Everything Enchanting says
It’s never easy to say goodbye to our fur friends! Baloo is adorable and these photos are lovely ❤️. Glad Kelly did this photoshoot with her Baloo bear.
Melanie Edjourian says
It is really hard to say goodbye to a pet. They quickly become part of the family. I’m really sorry for your loss x
Ave says
Great photos! What a heartwarming photo session. Pets are like family members, so having a photo session with them is a great idea.
Catalina says
Love the name Baloo. It’s so sweet like the dog in the photo that had this name. It’s so important to create memorie with our pets.
Marysa says
What a lovely idea. I’m sure it was hard to know a goodbye was coming soon, but these pictures are incredible and a beautiful way to remember a pet.
Robin says
These photos are so beautiful! I can see the love in each and every one. We don’t all get the opportunity to celebrate a pet’s life in this way before they leave us. Baloo was a very lucky pup. If my cats were more open to the idea, I would definitely do something like this for them.
Marjorie at Dash Kitten says
Stunning photos and a true celebration of a fine dog and the woman who loves him. A beautiful set of portraits and I hope they are framed and on the wall, they are beautiful.