Losing a pet can be heartbreaking, but if your dog is nearing the end of their life, there is a professional photographer in Portland who wants to help you get a lasting memory.Justine Johnson will take that picture for free, calling it an honor to do so.”Having done portraits for so long, I know that even photos of people's families that they've been wanting for years can be out of their budget,” said Johnson.She says she never wants money to be the reason that people never get that final, perhaps most memorable, photo of their dog.We caught up with her as she shot family-style portraits with Pauley, a 19-year-old rescue pug who, while getting up there in age, is still full of life. “We were just so excited to be able to have an opportunity to celebrate her moment in life where she is still doing really well, has a personality and has all of her stubborn behavior, so we could capture that together,” said Pauley's owner, Christianne Beasley.Johnson wants these photos to be different. She says she knows most dog owners already have countless selfies or candid shots on their phones, but not intimate ones. These are the ones that she will visit a family home or special location to capture. “I think it's a little different to have those photos of you snuggling or playing. You just don't get those yourself, usually,” said Johnson.Those pictures mean a lot to the people they are provided to. “I think we'll treasure those because it's really nice to have her being captured in her normal environment in her daily life with us in our home,” said Pauley's owner, Ben Capellari.While many of Johnson's shoots are full of laughter, like the one with Pauley, she admits that the very nature of what she's offering – working with senior dogs or those that are terminally ill – can be heart wrenching. “I've had a few shoots where I might be coming over to take photos and the vets coming over a couple hours later to put the dog to sleep so, usually everyone's crying at those shoots, me included. It's a tough thing to be part of,” said Johnson.As a professional photographer, Johnson knows she could charge for these photo shoots, but she says she's worried that would mean too many pictures would go untaken. She says she is honored to ensure so many families get that lasting, loving memory. “As most of us know that have animals, those animals are a part of our lives, they're part of your family. So to see the last moments and to see this vulnerability and this emotion from them is, it's an honor to witness it, to be a part of it,” said Johnson.In addition to the pet photos, Johnson also photographs as a professional everything from weddings to prom pictures to baby photos.
Losing a pet can be heartbreaking, but if your dog is nearing the end of their life, there is a professional photographer in Portland who wants to help you get a lasting memory.
Justine Johnson will take that picture for free, calling it an honor to do so.
“Having done portraits for so long, I know that even photos of people's families that they've been wanting for years can be out of their budget,” said Johnson.
She says she never wants money to be the reason that people never get that final, perhaps most memorable, photo of their dog.
We caught up with her as she shot family-style portraits with Pauley, a 19-year-old rescue pug who, while getting up there in age, is still full of life.
“We were just so excited to be able to have an opportunity to celebrate her moment in life where she is still doing really well, has a personality and has all of her stubborn behavior, so we could capture that together,” said Pauley's owner, Christianne Beasley.
Johnson wants these photos to be different. She says she knows most dog owners already have countless selfies or candid shots on their phones, but not intimate ones. These are the ones that she will visit a family home or special location to capture.
“I think it's a little different to have those photos of you snuggling or playing. You just don't get those yourself, usually,” said Johnson.
Those pictures mean a lot to the people they are provided to.
“I think we'll treasure those because it's really nice to have her being captured in her normal environment in her daily life with us in our home,” said Pauley's owner, Ben Capellari.
While many of Johnson's shoots are full of laughter, like the one with Pauley, she admits that the very nature of what she's offering – working with senior dogs or those that are terminally ill – can be heart wrenching.
“I've had a few shoots where I might be coming over to take photos and the vets coming over a couple hours later to put the dog to sleep so, usually everyone's crying at those shoots, me included. It's a tough thing to be part of,” said Johnson.
As a professional photographer, Johnson knows she could charge for these photo shoots, but she says she's worried that would mean too many pictures would go untaken. She says she is honored to ensure so many families get that lasting, loving memory.
“As most of us know that have animals, those animals are a part of our lives, they're part of your family. So to see the last moments and to see this vulnerability and this emotion from them is, it's an honor to witness it, to be a part of it,” said Johnson.
In addition to the pet photos, Johnson also photographs as a professional everything from weddings to prom pictures to baby photos.
