One metro Detroit photographer is capturing the bond between dog owners and their aging pets at no cost.
Julia Earhart recently started to offer pet parents free “end-of-life shoots” that allow dog owners to remember their senior or terminally ill pets in a unique, heartwarming way.
The Dearborn, Michigan, resident has a two-year-oldgolden retriever, Benny, and a one-year-old golden retriever-mix, Bonnie, according toThe Detroit News.
Earhart started the free photoshoots after Annelise Nearon asked the photographer to capture the final days of her eight-year-oldLabmix Cudi. Before the shoot, the canine received a terminal cancer diagnosis.
“After that session, it made me realize just how important your bond with your animal, who is sometimes your best friend, can be,” said Earhart perThe Detroit News.
“Photos aren’t something a lot of pet owners might think about doing, but I know how much I love my dogs, and I know how much that would mean to me.”
Earhart captures dog owners and their pets enjoying their favorite activities together.
After the photoshoot with Nearson and her dog, Earhart started posting her pet photos in a Facebook group calledDownriver and Friendsand offered free sessions at no cost in the posts, which is how the photographer’s passion project started.
While photographing dogs and their owners during sad periods can be difficult, Earhart toldThe Detroit Newsit also brings her a lot of joy.
For now, she is not worried about the free photoshoots being a distraction from her business, telling the news outlet, “People might say, ‘Oh, it’s just a dog, why are you so upset?’ But for a lot of people, their pet is their family member or their child.”
“There is a real connection and a lot of emotion that these animals can bring out in us. Witnessing that as a photographer? It fills me with a lot of joy,” she added.
source: people.com
