Grand Rapids Pet & Dog Photographer
Celebration of Life Sessions
Celebration of Life (COL) sessions are all about celebrating and honoring your dog – these sessions are for senior dogs or dogs that are at the end of their lives. All photographs on this page are from one of our COL sessions.
Hello and welcome to my Celebration of Life (COL) sessions webpage.
Roughly 2/3s of sessions I photograph are COL sessions. I have also said goodbye to 5 dogs at this point in my life. Needless to say, I am well versed in the emotions, thoughts and anticipatory grief you feel when you start contemplating what life will be like without your pup. I totally get it – it can be so crushing and overwhelming. It makes you wonder if your heart will be the same after the loss. I get it.
I also understand how grateful and honored you are to have been able to share your life with such an exceptional dog - your dog. Your pup has been with you through everything - the good, the mundane, the tragic and the wonderful. Dogs have this inexplicable ability to make their humans’ lives better by simple being.
Throughout this page you will find little bits about how we approach COL sessions, why I think they are so important and just general info about doing a dog photo session with us.
Please feel free to text or email me with questions regarding your own particular situation or concerns.
Best,
Trish Dailey, Owner and Dog Photographer
517-990-5630 – trish@tailwaggerphoto.com
I am a dog person. Dogs have always had a huge role in my life. I get something from my dogs that is absent from a lot of my relationships with other humans. Dogs are somehow more pure than humans. They are loving, forgiving and accepting no matter what the situation. They are the way the world should be, but often is not. I simply cannot imagine my life without sharing it with a dog.
My approach to COL sessions is simple. I want you and your dog to be as comfortable as possible. I understand that this might be a time fraught with emotion and uncertainty. The more comfortable your dog is the easier it will be to capture the images you want and the session will be an overall positive experience for you and your dog.
You know your dog better than anyone else and I respect that. This is why I ask for specific details and directions regarding your dog’s personality. If you have a reactive dog and I need to stay 50 feet away from your pup to keep him from being triggered – then that is what I do during the entire session. If your pup loves treats and butt scratches, then your pup is going to get high value treats and have a really well scratched butt by the end of the session.
I really want you and your dog to have a good experience during your session. Not only because I know how much these photographs will mean to you after you say goodbye to your pup, but also because I know how much the memories of just doing the session will mean to you as well.
I receive texts, calls and emails every month from former clients telling me they cherish the memories of spending an hour or so in the park doing the session just as much as the photographs.
If you can think of anything that will make your session go smoother for you or your dog, just let me know and I will accommodate if I am able.
Testimonials
Five years ago, Trish captured an amazing photo of one of my dogs. That photo has been hanging on my wall, bringing a smile to my face, every single day for the last five years.
Two of my dogs are now 12 years old. I know I’m so fortunate to have gotten so much time with my best friends, but I also know the hard reality that I’m not promised forever with them. As my dogs have started to age and slow down, I’ve contemplated doing a Celebration of Life photo session with them. I’ve talked about it so much, finally, my husband said, “If not now, when? You don’t want to regret not doing it.”
So, I booked that session, and I’m so happy I did. Trish captured the most amazing photos of my dogs that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
When I booked the session, I knew I’d be getting amazing photos, but I got so much more than the photos. Spending two hours on a perfect fall morning in the park with my dogs was just what my soul needed. They were so happy, they were so free, and they loved being the center of attention where everyone was so present in the moment with them. Not only did I get amazing photos, I created amazing memories with my four-legged best friends. I will never be able to thank Tailwagger Dog Photography enough for this Celebration of Life session. 💙
~ Zuri and Dayley's Mom
Book. The. Session.
I’ve been wanting to get photos taken of my dogs for a while, but always found a reason why I shouldn’t spend the money. But they are both seniors and have acquired their fair share of illnesses recently, so I decided it’s now or never. Neither of my dogs can go in the car anymore, and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find a photographer who would be willing and able to come to us vs. us having to drive 30-40 minutes to a bigger city, but Trish didn’t even bat an eye at my request, which was a huge weight off my shoulders. The photos turned out perfect. Trish is very detailed and has a great eye for what the shot will look like. 10/10 recommend!
~ Leonard and Eli’s Mom
Tailwagger knows their shih (tzu) when it comes to dog photography. First, they only photograph dogs. Second, they passionately care about each dog and the situation for the photoshoot (sad or happy).
I adopt all my dogs. One of them, Charlie, was diagnosed with an end of life illness but still had a few months. I decided to have everyone’s photo taken. I’m so glad I did because Charlie passed 5 days later, unexpectedly. I treasure all the photos but especially his. Tailwagger captured his sweet side, being patient with him wondering around the garden. They are also so so easy to work with and are all around GREAT humans!
Charlie ended up winning a billboard contest for the West Michigan Humane Society and they used his Tailwagger photos. Charlie passed away before the contest ended but because I had those photos, he got to shine in lights next to the highway for a full week! 🥹. What a gift!
~ Charlie's Mom
LOVE LOVE LOVE 💕 Trish is the BEST!!! I wanted to photograph my beloved and Trish got us an appointment quickly, was very helpful and responsive, and she came prepared for a winter session! Not only that, she did an exceptional job photographing my sweet Angel, didn’t rush at all, was reasonably priced and made the experience WELL worth it for timeless keepsakes of our children and pets! You won’t be disappointed and I will continue all my dog photography with Tailwagger! 🐾
~ Bella's Mom
A few years ago Trish took "senior" pictures of my dogs Princess and Roxy. I knew I had limited time with them given their ages so when I saw Tailwaggers come up on my Facebook page I booked a mini fall session for my girls. They were approximately 15 and 16 years old at the time. This made the photo shoot somewhat challenging due to their deafness and probably poor eyesight, but Trish was able to capture their smiles and sparkles in their eyes. She was patient and used creative ways to get their attention, making sure the pictures turned out perfect, which they did. I lost Roxy, my beagle, 6 months after the photo shoot and Princess just this past October (2024). I treasure the photographs that I have of my girls. I look at them often and I thank Trish for her talent, care, and compassion for both her 2-legged and 4-legged clients.
~ Princess and Roxy's Mom
FAQs
Are COL sessions different than the sessions listed on the Sessions – Pricing page?
We have three session options (Mini, Classic and Ultimate) for all dog sessions, regardless if it involves a puppy, adult dog or senior pup. The sessions are based on time, as well as how many dogs are involved in the session. Check our Sessions – Pricing page for details.
Can I do a COL session in my yard?
Yes, of course. Sometimes it’s the best option when you have a dog that is more comfortable at home, a reactive dog or a pup that cannot walk that far.
When is the best time for my dog’s Celebration of Life session?
I consider COL sessions to be senior dogs and dogs that are at the end of their lives. Personally – I like to photograph my senior dogs when they are still able to get around fairly well and be able to do action shots. If your pup has just received an unfortunate diagnosis, I wouldn’t wait. But either way, it is your call.
How quickly can I schedule a Celebration of Life Session?
We do our best to fit you in as soon as possible. We've had a couple sessions that took place just hours after we received the inquiry – we will move our schedule around to accommodate you as soon as needed whenever possible.
©2025 Tailwagger Dog Photography. All rights reserved – do not copy photographs without permission.
