What would you give to have one more day with a pet you’ve loved and lost?
To savor one more moment?
When the toys are put away, and the food is discarded, and the bills have all been paid, what do you have to hold onto? To remind you of the love you shared, and the joy they brought to your life? For many of us, what remains is photographs.
I treasure the photos I have of my pets and family and friends. Each image is a step back in time, to remind me how full my life has been, and what’s important to me. Today, with a camera in every pocket, it’s easier than ever to document all the things we love. It’s fast, and it’s fun! But when we’re taking countless snapshots, don’t they tend to get lost in the “noise?”
There is immeasurable value in thoughtful, intentional memory-making with the ones we love.
By slowing down, and making a special occasion out of documenting our time together, we’re giving a gift to our future selves. The gift of a moment, frozen in time, that can never be replicated exactly as it happened or as we remember it. The gift of emotion and expression and feeling, perfectly captured to transport you back to that day and time.
Remember how your dog’s fur felt under your fingertips. How his paws smelled like chips and he’d look at you with the saddest eyes, pleading for a bite of whatever you were having. His goofy smile and bad breath and favorite toy he took everywhere, even outside in the rain.
Our time with these remarkable creatures is so, so fleeting.
When we consider the impact they’ve had on our lives, the gravity of the relationship we’ve shared, and the immense loss we feel when they’re gone, nothing becomes more valuable than those frozen moments that we can look back on with a smile.
We have loved, we were loved in return, and here’s the proof: proudly, beautifully displayed, to enjoy and remember and feel for the rest of our own fleeting lives.
What are Joy Sessions?
Created by Minneapolis-based Sarah Beth Photography, Joy Sessions are special photo sessions just for terminally ill and elderly pets. Rather than something sad, Joy Sessions are meant to be a celebration of life, to create tangible memories that you can cherish forever. They’re an opportunity to capture the relationship you have with your pets before they pass.
But today, Joy Sessions are so much more than just photographs. Read our blog post about the new, deeper meaning of Joy Sessions.
- Joysession.com is a resource for pet owners, to help you navigate the journey of losing a pet.
- It’s a network of photographers and service providers who offer end-of-life pet photography sessions, hospice services, holistic options, and more!
- It’s a place to learn about helpful resources from signs of aging to managing pain, to saying goodbye and creating memorials after they’ve passed.
- It’s where you can enjoy fellow pet owners’ stories and photos, and share yours with the world.
We hope you enjoy the website, and discover some things to help you through this moment in time with your best friend!
Read the story of Joan and Joy, where the idea for Joy Sessions® began.
Visit the Frequently Asked Questions for more info.
**The term Joy Session® is a registered trademark of Sarah Beth Photography, LLC, and may not be used without permission.
