Don’t Wait for “Someday”

Last October, someone reached out to me about doing a photo session for her senior dog. We had a really nice phone consultation. We talked about her pup, the things she loved about her, and the kinds of images she hoped to have someday. We even tentatively picked a date for the following Friday.

But the session never got booked, and eventually I stopped following up.

A few months later, in early January, I got a text message from a man saying I had previously spoken with his girlfriend and they wanted to move forward with the session. Their dog had started having seizures and they weren’t sure how much longer they had with her.

As a Sarasota pet photographer who photographs a lot of senior dogs, I’ve learned that situations can change much faster than people expect.

I offered them an opening I had the following day. He asked if we could instead do the session the following Thursday, about six days later. Even though I already had plans that evening, I told him yes. Some sessions just feel more important than rearranging a schedule.

After we got off the phone, I was sitting on my couch with my own dogs curled up beside me, watching a movie, completely settled in with no plans for the night. And I kept having this feeling that I shouldn’t wait until the following week.

If truth be told, I wasn’t really in the mood for a session. I normally like having a couple of days to prepare. I like to think through ideas and get inspired beforehand. But something kept telling me to offer that night instead.

So I texted him back and asked if by chance they could come that evening.

He immediately said yes.

Three hours later, they were in my studio.

They brought not only the dog we had planned the session for, but also their second dog and their cat. The session ended up being relaxed, emotional, funny at times, and honestly just really full of love. Before they even left, they told me they already knew they wanted every image without even seeing them.

The next morning, I received a text that their dog had another seizure early that morning and they had to let her go.

I remember just sitting there stunned. Heartbroken for them, of course, but also incredibly grateful we hadn’t waited another six days. Had we waited, they wouldn’t have the amazing memories we created together, and they wouldn’t have the photographs that will keep their girl with them forever.

Why Senior Pet Photography Matters

Two weeks later, I delivered their album, with a stunning family portrait on the cover under crystal glass, meant to be enjoyed as artwork and not hidden away on a phone.

It was one of the most emotional deliveries I’ve ever experienced. They cried, smiled, told stories about her, and held that album like it was part of her. One thing they said has stayed with me ever since:

“To think how close we came to not having this.”

That sentence is exactly why I’m sharing this story.

I think a lot of people assume they have more time. We all do it. We say we’ll book the session when life slows down, when work calms down, when schedules line up better, when the dog loses a little weight, when we lose weight, or when we have extra money.

But our pets don’t live on our timelines.

And one of the hardest parts of loving them is knowing their lives move faster than ours do.

Too often I hear, “I wish I had just done it.”

I recently had another session booked for three dogs. The family booked because one of them had received a prognosis of three to six months, so they thought they still had a little time before scheduling. But he passed away before the session date arrived.

We still did the session with the other two dogs and included cell phone photos of him in the final album.

That’s part of why I feel so strongly about not waiting once the thought crosses your mind. Sometimes we truly do have months or years left. And sometimes things change much faster than anyone expected.

The photographs we keep of them become so much more important after they’re gone. They stop being “something we should do someday” and become part of what helps us hold onto them.

That doesn’t mean every session has to happen during a crisis. Honestly, I hope it doesn’t. The best pet photography sessions are often just ordinary moments with the pets you love most.

But if you’ve been thinking about doing it, especially with a senior dog or senior cat, I hope this story gently reminds you not to wait too long.

Because sometimes six more days turns out to be more time than they have.

For pets who are aging or dealing with health issues, I always keep sessions extra relaxed, flexible, and centered around only what they’re comfortable with. You can read more about my pet photography experience here. 

If you’re looking for a senior pet photographer in Sarasota or Bradenton, and you’ve been thinking about finally scheduling a session, you can contact me here. I’d love to help you create images that feel honest, emotional, and true to your pet’s personality while they’re still here beside you.