Photographers capture end-of-life pet photos

There comes a point in every pet’s life when it’s time to say goodbye, but photographers around the world are making it possible for people to hold onto the memories of their loved one.

It’s a forever keepsake.

“Photographing a pet is kind of a form of closure for these families,” Ashley Carroll said.

She is a photographer for The Tilly Project, which is named after the creator’s cat, which passed away unexpectedly.

The goal of the project is to provide families with photos of their pets as they reach old ages or get sick.

Founded in Maine during the summer of 2021, the project has since grown worldwide.

“I absolutely love doing end-of-life pet photography. It's kind of one of my favorite things to photograph,” Carroll said. “I know what these families are about to go through, and I just want to provide them with as much help as I can.”

Carroll works in veterinary medicine, so she meets many clients there but offers end-of-life pet photo sessions free of charge.

Her most recent one was with Mackenzie Lawrence, her son, Cason, and their 14-year-old dog, Max.

“I think that it's a memory that you're capturing, that it's something that you'll have for the rest of your life that you can hold on to, so it’s important,” Lawrence said.

Max here is one of more than 100 pets Carroll has photographed over the last three years.

“No family should go without these types of photos,” Carroll said.

Lawrence plans to hang the photos in her home and make an album for her son to appreciate when he’s older.  

“I think it's so sentimental because we are always taking pictures with families and weddings and events, but dogs really are part of our family. So, I know for us, it's important to capture those memories as well,” Lawrence said.

The Tilly Project has photographers located throughout New York, the United States and other countries. Click here to find one near you.