A Tattoo Tribute: Honoring a Beloved Pup with a Date Night Session

There’s something beautifully raw about documenting love and loss in real time, and this session was a perfect blend of both.

My friend and her fiancé invited me to photograph a unique and deeply meaningful evening — a date night that took place inside a local tattoo shop. Earlier that week, they had said goodbye to their beloved dog, a pup who had been by her side for years. To honor that bond, she decided to get a memorial tattoo.

We started our session right there inside the tattoo studio, where the low lighting, buzzing needles, and quiet conversations created such an intimate, reflective mood. I captured the couple as they cuddled up, exchanged glances, and shared a few soft laughs — a little joy woven into the bittersweetness of the moment.

As the artist began working on the tattoo, I documented each stage — from stencil to ink — preserving the process of transforming grief into something permanent and beautiful. It wasn’t just about the ink. It was about honoring a love that will never fade and capturing the strength of a couple who shows up for each other through everything.

This wasn’t your typical couple’s session — it was real, personal, emotional, and honestly one of the most powerful moments I’ve had the honor to photograph.