26 photos from the session. Click any photo to see it large.
RIP Sox. It was a pleasure to photograph Sox for Suzanne. Sadly, he passed away a week after our session.
Suzanne booked an end of life pet photo session because Sox was unwell and the vet couldn’t say how long he had. She wanted photos to remember him by, taken at home and in the places he loved. It was a one-hour session for Suzanne and Sox.
Who was Sox?
Sox was a little terrier cross from Albion Park, a mix of more breeds than anyone could count. For 15 years he was Suzanne’s companion dog. When her husband had a stroke, Sox helped Suzanne manage the life that came after it, and he was by her side through all of it.
Even on the day of our shoot, he spent most of his time keeping an eye on Suzanne.
Why Suzanne wanted end of life photos of Sox
Sox’s bright, happy nature hid what was going on inside his body. His lungs were slowly filling with fluid, and there was no cure for his condition. In older dogs, fluid on the lungs is often linked to the heart starting to fail. The vet wasn’t sure how long Sox had left. It was a waiting game.
Suzanne didn’t want to wait until it was too late. She wanted photos of Sox while he was still himself: tail wagging, ears up, happy at home.
I understand that feeling. When my dog Chilli died in January 2025, my biggest regret was how few photos I had of the two of us together. It’s the reason I started offering these sessions.
Photos in his favourite spots at home
We started inside, in the spots Sox liked to sit: the couch with Suzanne and her husband, his patterned daybed on the verandah, and his soft blue blanket.
Home sessions suit dogs like Sox. There’s no car trip, no studio and nothing new to worry about. He could lie down whenever he wanted, and we worked around him.
A walk across the road to his park by the water
Then we took Sox across the road to “his” park by the water, Wilson Memorial Park in Albion Park. Suzanne took him in his pram because she didn’t think he could walk far, and she wanted him to be comfortable. Once she lifted him out onto the grass, he walked just fine.
You couldn’t tell he was sick. His tail wagged, and off he trotted, in and out of the bushes and along the path. All the while he kept checking back on Suzanne, as if he was still on duty protecting her.
Saying goodbye to Sox
We took his photos on 20 September. Seven days later, I got a text from Suzanne. Sox had passed away peacefully. His time had come.
I’m grateful Suzanne let me spend that afternoon with them both, and that she now has these photos of her mate.
What Suzanne and her family said
“Paul was fantastic with Sox and his photos are a priceless memento of our beautiful mate x Paul was kind, thoughtful and creative. His professionalism and attention to detail was wonderful. I would absolutely recommend Paul and La Lente to photograph your loved one any time x”
Suzanne, 5-star Google review
“Paul was fantastic - and would highly recommend. He captured some amazing and important images for our family.
He went above and beyond throughout the whole process and the photos came out amazing, even went dealing with limitations with mobility we was able to give us something special.
Thank you Paul”
Jack, Suzanne’s son-in-law, 5-star Google review
Shoot details
Dog
Sox, a terrier cross and Suzanne’s companion of 15 years
Owner
Suzanne
Where
At home, then his park by the water
Session
End of life dog photography
Thinking about end of life photos for your dog?
If your dog is old or unwell, don’t wait for a perfect day. Sox still had good days when we did his session. A week later, he was gone.
Sessions happen at your home and in your dog’s favourite places, at your dog’s pace, with breaks whenever they need them. Your family can be in the photos too, and I can usually come at short notice.
See how a session works and what it costs on my end of life dog photography in Sydney page, or read Hannah and Springer’s story. If your dog is still well, have a look at my dog photography sessions.
