‘Then I received this email. ‘Hi there, My dad has been fighting cancer. Dad is getting weaker by the day. We have to do this as soon as possible.’

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“Met this darling woman at the end of Spring last year. She got engaged and booked an engagement session with me. Never settled on exact date due to all the rain we had been getting. We were constantly in touch because we connected so well. Then I received this email in September.

‘Hi there,

So I know you probably think I am the biggest photo session flake in the whole world, I’m so sorry for being all over the place with our requests changing. Yet, I have a huge ask, to see if it is possible. I had to write this in email because I couldn’t keep it together to talk on the phone.

My dad has been fighting Prostate cancer and his body is now at the point where it can’t handle more treatment. We found out yesterday that he starts hospice this week. We’d really love to use the deposit Matt gave you to do a family photo session. Matt and I will worry about our photos later, because this is more pressing with time. We haven’t had professional family photos taken since my brother and I were little, and this would mean so much to us. Of course this is a very difficult and dark time, but I know how you feel about love and capturing it so beautifully and meaningfully.

Bonnie Turner Photography

This weekend (on Sunday) a good friend of mine who does videography is doing a really special favor for me – My dad and I are getting dressed up to film our first dance so I can have it at my wedding. Dad is getting weaker by the day, and unfortunately, we have to do this as soon as possible. I wanted to see if you were able and willing to come and take photos at my parent’s house in Woodbridge on this really last-minute request. We are throwing this plan together really fast because we don’t know how long we have before he won’t be able to.

I know this is a huge ask and no worries if you can’t do it. It’s not an ideal location, but I know you can make anything look gorgeous. (Except maybe not my ugly crying that I will try to get out beforehand.)

Please let me know your thoughts. You can email or text me. I just didn’t want to send a 4-page text!

Thanks girl, talk to you soon.

Xo’

Bonnie Turner Photography
Bonnie Turner Photography
Bonnie Turner Photography
Bonnie Turner Photography
Bonnie Turner Photography
Bonnie Turner Photography

These photos are near and dear to this family and most of all, special to her. She knew he possibly wouldn’t make it to walk her down the aisle or share that father-daughter dance on her wedding day. So she took it upon herself to scratch those engagement photos for a while and share that father-daughter moment in the back yard where she grew up.

My heart is heavy today as I have been informed of his passing. He fought so hard for a very long time.

Photographs and memories are EVERYTHING when they are all you have left.”

Bonnie Turner Photography
Bonnie Turner Photography
Bonnie Turner Photography

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Bonnie Turner of Bonnie Turner Photography. You can learn more about the family’s memorial fund in honor of the bride’s late father here. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here, and subscribe to our best stories in our free newsletter here.

Read more heartfelt stories like this:

‘I got a message about a 19-year-old bride who has cancer. She was told she wouldn’t make it through the night. They had to move her wedding to that very day.’

‘We decided if Dad couldn’t be at the wedding, we’d take the wedding to Dad. The moment he saw me, I will never forget. There were A LOT of tears.’

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