OJ’s Rainbow Bridge Pet Portraits | Dash Point State Park Tacoma Pet Photography
Saying goodbye to your dog can be a bittersweet experience, but it's also a celebration of the wonderful memories and experiences you shared together. Dogs are more than just pets, they are loyal companions and beloved family members. A dog’s only fault is that they don’t live as long as we do, and while the emotions can be overwhelming, saying goodbye is also a chance to reflect on the joy and happiness they brought to your life. It's an opportunity to be grateful for the special bond you shared, and the love and loyalty that your dog displayed every day.
I met sweet OJ the senior labrador on the beach at Dash Point State Park with his mom and dad. OJ has a terminal diagnosis and his mom wanted to make sure they had frame-worthy portraits of their handsome boy, and pictures of OJ and his favorite person: his dad. When we started the session they weren’t sure how long he’d be able to enjoy the beach and thought he would likely just walk around a bit, but boy were they wrong. This boy LOVES to run and splash! The beach was at low tide so we were able to take off his leash and fully experience his old man zoomies. OJ had a blast splashing through the cold water, finding sticks in the sand, and running back and forth between me and his parents once he realized everyone was packing pockets full of cookies. His parents smiled so much during this session and couldn’t believe how much fun he was having. This was my first time meeting them, and seeing this sweet old man filled with so much joy and energy brought tears to my eyes. I am honored to witness this part of their story. I truly love my job.
About the location: Dash Point State Park has a gorgeous, soft sandy, wide-open beach on the Puget Sound. With stunning views of the water you can also see the Olympic Mountains, and even the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, on a clear day. This beach is perfect for dogs as it’s open, level, and mostly soft sand with no big rocky areas like other beaches around Seattle and Tacoma. There is easy parking just a 2 minute walk from the beach and parking is free with a Discover Pass (or you can pay for a day pass at the kiosk in the lot). Dash Point State Park is located in Federal Way and is one of the few dog-friendly beaches in the Tacoma and Seattle areas, so it makes for the perfect location for pet portraits.
