Maddox
It’s 5am in the morning—-I never wake up at 5am. But I couldn’t sleep—I couldn’t stop thinking about Maddox and the shoot I did for this little family yesterday. It was hands down the hardest shoot I have ever done. I thought that I could make it through the session without crying, but was holding back the tears the entire time. I don’t like posts like these and I don’t like photographing pain, but it wasn’t all sad moments and tears. There was so much love and life to photograph during this hour, too. And if my images, in any way console Abby and Jesse and help them grieve, It was worth the tears and lost sleep. I was honored to be asked to document one of Maddox’s last days here.
Maddox had a major spinal injury just three days ago while playing ball. He is in no pain, but is paralyzed from the waist down and there is nothing that Jesse and Abby can do. Maddox’s vet will be going to their home today to help them let Maddox go. Maddox was the world to Abby. Please keep this family in your prayers.
wow – the tears wouldn’t stop as soon as i saw the first photo – so beautiful. they will cherish these always.
These are beautiful. It’s been a long time since a photo shoot brought me to tears, but this one did.
i am in tears- these are so beautiful! my heart goes out to them.
Wow. You did an amazing job and you truly honored this pup and this family. I too was brought to tears – you completely captured the emotion of the moment, good and bad!
These are beautiful, Julie. You’ve captured emotion and told us a story without even needing words.
what touching photographs. I will say a prayer for the family, it’s never easy to let go!
My heart goes out for this couple, it is the hardest thing to do in life to let go of your animal (your child). I am crying right now while I am typing this note. Beautiful sad heart wrenching pictures.
God this made me want to start crying just reading the story and looking at the pictures. Sending lots of love to the beautiful family.
Oh my goodness, did I bawl like a baby. These are absolutely priceless, and what amazing imagery that these two will have of their Maddox. Thank you for doing this for them. It must be so hard for them, and it must have been so hard for you to shoot. God bless you for it!
Yup, the tears started flowing at the first photo. Ahhh, so sad!
How very sad, but what beautiful photos. They really capture this family and the love so well. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Julie,
I stumbled across your blog a few months ago fell in love with your style right from the beginning so began following your blog. I am a (rookie) photographer also and find your work so inspiring. I have to tell you though, that these latest photos of yours are the most moving photos I think I have ever seen. The incredible way you captured both the joy and the pain at a time like this is amazing and brought me to tears (and it takes a lot for me to get that emotional). I guess partly because my name is also Abby (so some kind of instant crazy connection!) and being a dog owner aswell made it all the more powerful.
So keep doing what you are doing and I can’t wait to see where talent/ability takes you next.
-Abby from New Zealand
I love you, but am really hating you right now. All I can think about is going home to my 2 labs. Great job. I don’t know if I could of gotten through that shoot.
Oh, gawd. Now you’ve got me bawling like a baby, too. Jebus. Heartbreaking. You did such a great job of capturing all the love there. That bond is so evident in these images. Life can be brutal sometimes, but those images, after some time has passed, will be such a beautiful memory for these folks.
These are absolutely beautiful. I cried through the entire post. What a gift for the family to have these!
I don’t know these people at all, but what incredibly beautiful pictures. I am so very VERY sorry for their pain…as a huge animal lover and mommy to three beautiful dogs I can’t imagine their pain and sadness…but you can see the love in their eyes.
God bless poor Maddox and his family. I know they will always treasure these photos.
timeless 🙂 there is great love in the photos and i know they will cherish the memories of their furry friend thanks to you 🙂
Yup…there were tears. Such great, loving pictures.
Wow, beautiful and emotional photos. Having just lost my first dog in November, I feel their pain.
yep – crying. beautiful and a wonderful lasting gift. I am so sorry to the family…
Thank you so very much for sharing this intimate moment. This is something this family will be ever grateful for. Thank you for capturing their deep love for their babies during this time!
I still cannot get through these photos without completely breaking down into tears. I know all too well how this feels and I cannot begin to tell you how much I feel for this family. Thank you for showing these photos and allowing people to see that there is beauty in pain. My thoughts go out to the family.
Blurred vision, as the tears well up, and no amount of words. There is an intense compassion that you not only captured, but can be FELT! You have, once again, set a new standard as a photojournalist. My heart aches for this couple.
What a beautiful photo shoot. The tears just kept flowing, what a loving memorial for Maddox.
Hi Julie, I came across your blog on sunday and loved the first page, buut when I got to this page and these photos – you took my breath away. I shoot people and dogs and can’t even begin to imagine how hard this shoot was to do – but you captured the pain and the joy in the same shot – amazing!!!