"Farewell" photo shoot.

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Greylegs

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I have seen a post on FB from a photographer who was asked to do a "farewell" photo shoot for a horse which was scheduled to be PTS. Fair enough - I can see why you might want a few nice pictures to remember your old friend before they depart. But the images were of the horse, actually deceased on the ground, with a bunch of flowers by its feet. Am I the only one who finds that rather tasteless? It would be a hard "no" from me, but each to their own I suppose. Thoughts?
 
Greylegs said:
I have seen a post on FB from a photographer who was asked to do a "farewell" photo shoot for a horse which was scheduled to be PTS. Fair enough - I can see why you might want a few nice pictures to remember your old friend before they depart. But the images were of the horse, actually deceased on the ground, with a bunch of flowers by its feet. Am I the only one who finds that rather tasteless? It would be a hard "no" from me, but each to their own I suppose. Thoughts?
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I saw that and I really didn’t like it. But at the end of the day, I suppose it’s up to the owner what they want and I wouldn’t judge them for it.

What I disliked was the photographer sharing the picture publicly with no warning; I didn’t want to see a photo of a dead horse on my Facebook feed.
 
My friend has photos on her phone of all her animals when they are dead. She also has a photo of her husband in his coffin when he died. That's definitely odd! I saw the post and wondered why anyone would want to dwell on the dead body. I can understand why people take a last photo, although I wouldn't personally, but not when actually dead.
 
I much prefer pictures showing them full of life. That precious life connection remembered.
Death is a part of life, agreed, but it’s the absolute state of void of life. Maybe some have death pictures to help them process the death, i can understand that. But if i needed that it wouldnt be something i’d share on social media.
 
I don’t think my 34yo will make to the end of the summer so I have to really think about my options. No way in hell would I do something like that!! Will just try and get as many candid pictures as possible over the next few months
 
I do think it’s weird but here’s the thing, which I cannot explain..my cousin married a Greek man and eventually went to live on his island. She died unexpectedly last autumn and I went to her funeral. It was a traditional funeral with an open coffin which I was concerned about until I saw her. She looked beautiful surrounded by lace and flowers and I’ll admit to feeling like I wanted a photo of her. I didn’t of course but it was a bizarre and sudden thought.
 
Someone I’ve seen on Twitter has their horse’s skull and prepared hide. I know everyone handles things differently but I did find that a bit odd, I’m not sure I could walk past my horse’s skull everyday. I have no idea who they are as it popped up in my Twitter feed, I think they’re from the US or Canada.
 
I have been to a funeral and caught people taking selfies with the coffin. A lot of cultures have different after death traditions and rituals even across the British isles but selfies and this just screams I'm putting this in social media for clout.
 
I didn’t feel anything other than utter loss when I saw my girls laying flat. There was no beauty or love at the sight.
Personally I don’t get it at all. I’m glad that the memories of them on the ground are fading, I couldn’t think of anything worse than having pictures to remind me. I’m afraid a few flowers isn’t going to make it nicer.
 
Peglo said:
I didn’t feel anything other than utter loss when I saw my girls laying flat. There was no beauty or love at the sight.
Personally I don’t get it at all. I’m glad that the memories of them on the ground are fading, I couldn’t think of anything worse than having pictures to remind me. I’m afraid a few flowers isn’t going to make it nicer.
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I haven't seen any of my departed animals on the floor. I've always managed to be there, but turn at as they fall and walk away, not looking back. (My OH has stayed for the practicalities). I held a friends horse for her once and the image stayed with me for a long time and I think it's made me a bit phobic about dead bodies.
 
I absolutely wouldn't want a professional photographer to take them but I do wish I had taken one of kiki.
It all felt so surreal at the time he was pts and I didn't take in what was happening. I had planned it in my head so many times and it went like clockwork and was stress free for him which is the main thing. I stayed with him for a few min but left before the lorry came and really I think I needed more time. I'm struggling to explain why but I do think a photo would have helped me process maybe
 
The worst for me was after the arson in which my horse was killed with 6 others.

We were there immediately after the fire whilst police and fire brigade were investigating and I saw the burnt bodies. That was bad enough but the following week the local paper published a picture of my horse's burnt body on it's front page for all to see (I knew it was him as he was in the end stable of the block) and without asking my permission.

29 years later I can still see that image in my head. However what happened has enabled me to be there for other PTS for friends who couldn't manage it themselves so maybe some good has come of it.

It has also changed my attitude to death in that I now cannot cry anymore. I dealt alone with my parents deaths, my various horses, sheep, dogs and never cried about any of them. As above there are different attitudes to death in different cultures. Probably not healthy the 'experts' would say but it is what it is.

When my mother died my father insisted that he had to see her body. I suggested that he perhaps shouldn't but went with him when he did. Ever after until he died he regretted that he'd seen her body. It haunted him.

Overall I now like to remember and have images of people/animals as they were alive and prior to any deterioration leading up to death. Bodies to me are what is left after the soul has departed.
 
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