Although I’m not ready for summer to end, it is never too early to look forward to Fall. These gorgeous engagement photos by Custom Portraits By Charlene will have you longing for a pumpkin spice latte. English Labrador Dale and his sidekick, Grace, the Golden Retriever puppy, joined Sarah and John for their engagement photos. Although it is tempting to just look at the photos, you really should read their story as well.
From Sarah: “Having our ‘kids’ in our engagement photos was a no-brainer, and who we chose as a photographer was also an easy decision –there is no one better. Charlene even took the time to come and meet Grace and Dale before our session!!!
Dale is our 6-year-old fun-loving English Labrador. He is loyal to a fault but also has a huge goofy and playful side. Dale was John’s dog before we met, but has quickly become my best buddy since the day one. He LOVES his new role as big brother to Grace.
Grace was always in the plans. John had a golden retriever growing up, and has always wanted another. In September of 2016, we had a lot of reasons to celebrate! John and I were getting engaged (he can’t keep a secret), and I had just found out that I was in remission from stage 3 liver cancer. I decided to surprise John with an English Cream Golden Retriever, while on vacation in the Outer Banks. We both fell in love immediately. Grace was the perfect addition and loved being part of our family.
Our world came crashing down when we returned from vacation. My cancer was back and had spread. Now stage 4, the fight was on. We booked our photo session as ‘engagement photos,’ but secretly I wanted to have the only family photos we might ever have together for John to treasure. Charlene nailed it. We left our session exhausted, and not expecting a single picture of everyone looking in the right direction. We spent half of our session chasing Dale around the park. But you would never know, she works miracles.
I spent my hardest days of treatment gazing at our gallery wall of my beautiful family, and honestly some days I swear it’s the only thing that got me through. As if we weren’t dealing with a lot already, when Grace was six months old, she suddenly lost her ability to swallow.
She spent two weeks in an ICU, when we decided to place a temporary feeding tube, and brought her home with no answers as to why things changed with her. As oddly as her issues came on, within a month, we had made a lot of progress and found a way to help her eat without the tube! She was the happiest, sick dog through it all; you would have never known. She showed me how to fight and win.
I am so happy for all of them and look forward to seeing their wedding photos!
About Custom Portraits by Charlene: Based in the Pittsburgh area, Charlene specializes in wedding and pet photography. Paw Prints Pet Portraits is a subdivision of Custom Portraits by Charlene and offers on location portrait services.
Such a sweet and inspiring story! Pets definitely bring so much joy to our lives!
These pictures are making me crave fall and foliage even more than I already way. I love the one of Grace leaning on her big brother Dale. What a wonderful way to celebrate cancer remission, an engagement, and a new member of the family!
These pictures melt my heart. I love family photo shoots with dogs!
Oh my goodness Beth, this story is amazing. They all have such a strong sense of love and will to fight for life. I couldn’t help but cry. I wish them many more family photo sessions to come! These photos are incredible.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
What a gorgeous shoot and a BEAUTIFUL story to go along with it! <3
What a wonderful story! It’s so inspiring to see these pictures of someone who is such a fighter and who has come through so much to become even stronger. I hope this beautiful family has many happy years together!
What an emotional roller coaster! I don’t know what more to say other than I wish them all continued health and happiness.
A very inspiring story, and the pictures are magnificent. You can feel the love Sarah and John have for each other, and the stunning photos will always be a reminder of what a happy family the four of them are. Hopefully they will get to enjoy being photographed for many years to come.
Fall is a beautiful time of the year for photographs, especially for light furred dogs. Beautiful photos!
I cried reading this. The photos are gorgeous and how heartwarming the story is. Thank you for sharing this! HUGE Kudos to the “family” and may God Bless them!!!!
This brought happy and sad tears to my eyes, what an amazing couple G-d Bless them and their fur-kids, thank you so much for sharing these beautiful pictures as after reading this you realize how short life is and how we must cherish every moment
Our dogs are always part of anything we do. That would absolutely include engagement or getting married.
I am in tears! What a beautiful story of love and triumph! Those photos are stunning and clearly convey the love in that new family. Prayers for Sarah and baby Grace’s healing!
I am so not ready for summer to be over, however I do love the autumn and so do my Huskies! These are beautiful portraits! The splendor and color of the fall makes for such naturally beautiful backdrops!
The pictures and the story are so beautiful!! How we help our dogs and they help us.
Speechless – which is hard to do to me! Teary too to say the least. Blessings to this family – the hoomans and furbabies! Of course, the photo are outstanding and I love the colors! What beautiful pups – just want to give all four of them a hug!
Oh my gosh, this story …I hope both Grace and Sarah stay healthy. Sending them lots good wishes and healing vibes. The pictures are all the more beautiful once you know the story behind them.
Thank you for sharing such a touching story. I’m sending them all heartfelt hugs and caring wishes.
Wow, what a story – if only it was a story and not real life. I hope both Sarah and Grace are doing well and will have many happy years together. Such beautiful photos!
These pictures are simply wonderful. What a story too, it moved me greatly. There is so much love here
These photos are absolutely beautiful and this is such an inspiring story! So happy to hear everyone is doing great now!
What a beautiful and inspiring story. I’m all teary eyed. My heart feels so full. Bless them and congrats on her 2nd remission. This family is not only beautiful but they are fighters as well. Wishing them many blessings on the upcoming wedding.
What a wonderful and touching story. I wish them many years of love and happiness! These pictures are gorg!
What beautiful pictures! I’m so glad that she’s in remission and I pray the cancer doesn’t return! These photographs are stunning and the story behind it is incredibly touching!
I love this story! These photos are amazing, and they will have a visual memory for ever to look back at!
You know I love anything with an English Lab! The photo of them holding the puppy like a baby is may favorite!
I love this! I am a huge dog lover and also a cancer survivor. I will definitely be having my dogs in my engagement photos as well. I’m glad the whole family is doing well! I bet their wedding photos will be phenomenal!
Joy
http://www.basicallyjoy.com/