Macky’s Celebration of Life
Our furry friends bring immeasurable joy and unconditional love into our lives. They stand by us through thick and thin, offering comfort and companionship that is simply irreplaceable. As our pets age, we find ourselves grappling with the inevitable truth that their time with us is limited. That’s why we cherish every moment we have left with them and celebrate their lives to the fullest. And that is exactly what we did when I got the call from Cassie about her 17-year-old Pekignese, Macky.
Cassie has had Macky since he was 6 months old! He has been there for her through it all, and in Cassie’s own words, has done “so much for her.” Our pets do that, don’t they? By simply existing and providing their companionship, they do more for our souls than we could even fathom. Just from the inquiry phone call alone, I could tell how much Macky means to Cassie, and how important it was to capture their relationship in our session.
With that in mind, we decided to meet up at Carrollwood Village Park (one of Macky’s favorites) where we spent about an hour in a nice shaded area (for Macky’s eye comfort!) capturing Macky’s personality and relationship with both mom, Cassie, and little brother, Bucky. Cassie proudly referred to herself as a boy mom to both Macky and Bucky, and her unconditional love for both of them showed. She even thought so far as to wear blue and bring a blue blanket for Macky to lie on comfortably for the shoot.
As we were packing up at the end of the shoot, it dawned on us that we ought to shoot Macky in his stroller. This hit my heart in a special way, as my husband and I had a “waggin’ wagon” (as we called it) for our dog Kimmy when she was 16. Taking those photos of Macky in the stroller really brought home for me why I am honored to do these senior/end-of-life celebrations. Kimmy was a huge part of my life, just like Macky is a huge part of Cassie’s. Our furry family members deserve to be cherished, spoiled, and remembered forever with first-class images.
Losing a pet is undoubtedly one of life's most challenging experiences, but celebrating their life and creating lasting memories can bring solace during these difficult times. Macky’s senior celebration shoot serves as a heartwarming example of how love, family, and the enduring bond between a pet and its human can be beautifully captured and cherished forever.
Katie Murray Photography, LLC is an affiliate photographer of The Tilly Project, a service which “aims to connect pet owners with end-of-life pet photographers across the world, and to provide accessible, educational, and supportive resources for photography, anticipatory grief, and pet loss/bereavement.” If you are interested in learning more about KMP’s end-of-life pet photography services, click here.