Kipling (left) and his little brother, Morrison (right)
Remembering a Beloved Dog Through Photography
When Ani sent her mom, Joy, my Instagram account, she already knew what she hoped a photo session would accomplish.
Kipling, a 13-year-old Golden Doodle, had been diagnosed with stomach cancer just a week earlier. His family wanted photographs of him and his younger brother, Morrison, while they still had the chance.
Shortly after their session, Kipling passed away.
When Ani filled out the questionnaire before their visit, she wasn't focused on his diagnosis. She was focused on who Kipling was.
She wanted him to look regal, handsome, and thoughtful. Not goofy or caught mid-smile.
The Kipling she knew and loved.
And I understood exactly what she meant.
Photographing the Dog His Family Knows
Kipling has a naturally pensive, almost stoic expression. He's the kind of dog who looks like he's quietly contemplating something important. But the second his mouth opens, he transforms into a very smiley, occasionally ridiculous guy.
Both sides of him are part of his personality. For this session, though, we wanted to capture the more dignified expression his family immediately pictured when they thought of him.
I don't pose dogs. Instead, I work with their natural behavior, finding ways to engage them with treats or their humans and watching for the expressions that make them who they are.
With Kipling, that meant paying attention to the tiniest windows of opportunity. I'd offer a treat, wait for him to finish chewing and swallowing, and watch for the split second before his mouth opened again.
Those brief moments were all I needed.
Despite everything happening with his health, Kipling was engaged in the session. He was interested in treats, curious about his surroundings, and happy to participate. When my usual treats didn't impress him, we moved on to backup options. Joy had also brought a couple of their favorites, which turned out to be just the thing.
We even managed some bubbles toward the end. Kipling was excited by them, although he wasn't entirely sure where they were going or how he was supposed to catch them.
It was a small, funny moment that felt entirely like him.
Two Brothers, Two Very Different Personalities
Morrison, who is eight, brought a different energy to the studio.
Where Kipling was thoughtful and composed, Morrison was the sillier younger brother. If you've ever lived with two dogs, you probably recognize the dynamic: one has developed a certain patience with life, while the other seems determined to test it.
We photographed them individually for much of the session, giving each dog space to show off his personality. But some of my favorite images came when we brought them together.
There's something special about photographing dogs who have spent years sharing a home. They don't need to perform their relationship for the camera. Sometimes, sitting beside each other is enough.
Those photographs of Kipling and Morrison together have a particular meaning now. They preserve a little piece of the life these brothers shared, something Joy, Ani, and their family can return to long after the session itself.
The Unexpected Beauty of Golden Dogs on a Tan Backdrop
One of the surprises from this session was the backdrop combination.
We started with Blue Mist, a soft blue that contrasts beautifully with golden coats. For their second color, Ani was drawn to Tan.
I'll admit, photographing golden dogs on a tan background isn't necessarily the first combination I'd reach for. But sometimes a client's instinct leads somewhere unexpected.
The results were beautiful.
Rather than disappearing into the background, the dogs' coats took on a warm, almost monochromatic quality that highlighted their individual features. Kipling's richer, red-gold coloring stood apart in its own way, while Morrison's lighter face and more yellow-gold coat created a different effect.
It was a good reminder that there isn't one correct background for a particular coat color. The goal is to find a combination that complements the individual dog, brings out what makes them distinctive, and creates a portrait that feels right for the family.
As a Minneapolis dog photographer, I love when clients bring their own ideas into the studio. Sometimes the most interesting results come from trying something we hadn't originally planned.
Why I Believe in Photographing Dogs Now
Joy and Ani were excited to have booked the session. They were glad they'd made the time to do something fun with their dogs and create photographs of them together.
Not long after, Kipling passed away.
I wish his family had been given more time with him. There's no way around how difficult it is to lose a dog, particularly when a diagnosis arrives unexpectedly and changes what you thought the coming months might look like.
But I'm grateful they had these photographs made when they did.
When a dog becomes seriously ill, the final chapter can take up so much space in our memories. There's the worry, the appointments, the difficult decisions, and the heartbreak of knowing what may be coming. Those experiences are real, but they aren't the whole story of a dog's life.
There's also the dog who followed you from room to room. The familiar expression you could recognize anywhere. The ridiculous habits that became part of your daily routine. The years of companionship that made their presence feel like the most ordinary thing in the world.
Until it isn't.
These portraits capture Kipling as his family knew him: thoughtful, handsome, happy, and very much himself. They also preserve the bond he shared with Morrison, a relationship built over years of living alongside one another.
That is what I want dog portrait photography to do. Not simply document what a dog looks like, but preserve something of who they are and how we see them.
If you've been thinking about booking a dog photography session in Minneapolis, you don't need to wait for a birthday, a milestone, or a reason to make the time. You don't have to know what's coming.
Your dog is already worth remembering, exactly as they are today.
And sometimes, the photographs you make now become more meaningful than you could have imagined when you made them.
If you’d like to learn more about a session and how I would tailor it to match your dog’s needs and personality, please inquire →
