08/13/2026
One of the most heartbreaking and devastating things you can go through in this life is the loss of a pet. The family member you chose, and who, in return, chooses you. They are there through every milestone, every high and low, every good and not-so-good decision you make. They grow alongside us, becoming such a constant part of our lives that it’s truly impossible to imagine a life where they aren’t there.
When Jodi let me know that Jake was sick and asked if I could photograph their family together with him, it was an immediate yes and an honor to do so.
We went back and forth about rescheduling a few times because of some pretty intense heat and wind in the forecast. Ultimately, we decided to just go for it and looking back now, I am so grateful that we did. The wind was definitely a little wild, but most importantly, Jake was surrounded by the people who loved him. Every hand resting on him, every kiss, every snuggle and every little look feels that much more special now knowing what these photographs would come to mean just hours later, because this beautiful evening was sadly Jake’s last.
There is something so incredibly selfless about loving an animal. We get the privilege of being their whole world, but with that comes the responsibility of making the decisions they can’t make for themselves. Of loving them enough to really listen when they can’t tell us what they need, and somehow finding the strength to recognize when their purpose here on earth has been fulfilled. Sometimes the greatest act of love we can give them is choosing to carry the heartbreak ourselves so they no longer have to carry the pain.
There are sessions that remind me why photographs matter so much. Why we document the ordinary days, the milestones, the beginnings and, as heartbreaking as they may be, the goodbyes too.
And if you make it to the last slide, you’ll find the very first photo I took of a much younger Jake (and Eddie lol) eight years ago during that first session with the Szabos 🥹
What an incredible privilege it is to be trusted with documenting your lives for all of these years.
🤍
