Memories with a beloved canine companion, kept in a lifelong keepsake
Storyteller: Natalie Whelan, Australia
At MILK, we’re constantly inspired by the stories our community shares with us, and Natalie’s is one that really touched our hearts. Her beloved dog Charlie wasn’t just a pet, but her soul companion through some of life’s biggest milestones. To treasure his memory, Natalie chose to create a beautiful pet photo book filled with the moments and love they shared together during a professional photo shoot. It’s a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do: to help people preserve the relationships and stories that matter most.
What format did you choose to create your keepsake and why?
A Moleskine Photo Book. It felt like the right choice because it has that timeless, classic feel to it - understated but really beautiful. I wanted something that reflected the significance of Charlie in my life but small enough to fit my hand in a moment, and Moleskine felt like the perfect canvas for his story.
Why did you create your keepsake?
In memory of my soul dog, Charlie. He passed away a year ago and just before he died, we did a photoshoot together. It felt right on his rainbow anniversary to get the images put into something I could hold forever.
What image do you love most from your keepsake?
The photo I love most from my book features me kissing my beloved Charlie’s head, feeling the soft fur against my face. He looks so sweet here. When I flip to that page, I can almost feel him right there beside me again. It brings back the warmth of that moment during the photoshoot every time.
Do you have an interesting story behind a single shot in the book?
Charlie was 12 and a half years old and sadly had a degenerative illness. As a herding dog, he often played by nipping ankles and as we were walking to leave, he got zoomies and started nipping my feet! It was such a beautiful moment, and our photographer whipped out the camera to capture it. It makes me laugh every time I see it, that cheeky spark was still very much alive in him, even then.
What does your keepsake mean to you and your family?
Charlie will always be my soul dog. We found each other when I was 23 and he was with me through huge milestones. There is a shared undying love between us that will warm my heart forever. Having a photo book to hold in my hands with some of the most beautiful time captured before he passed is something I'll always cherish. It feels like part of him is still here with us, sitting on the coffee table, ready to be remembered at any moment.
What inspires you to take photos in general?
The thought of recalling moments in time decades into the future when the memories have faded in my head is something I look forward to. My parents had a photography business when I was growing up. We had a dark room in our house, and I would go in and develop film with my dad. I've always had a love of photography. For me, it’s about freezing those little slices of life that slip away too quickly.
What inspires you creatively?
Nature and family. Love. Those three things really fuel everything for me. The beauty of the outdoors, the connections I have with the people (and pets, like Charlie) I love, and the small but powerful moments that tie it all together.
What bit of advice would you offer to someone creating their own MILK memento?
It's never too late to memorialize what's important to you. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time, because that time is right now. Even the everyday moments deserve to be remembered - sometimes those turn out to be the most meaningful of all.
Natalie’s keepsake is a moving example of how powerful it can be to turn photos into something lasting. A MILK Photo Book like hers isn’t just a collection of images; it’s a way to hold onto love, memory, and connection for generations to look back on and remember. If you’ve been thinking about creating something special to cherish your own story, whether it’s a family milestone, a life-long friendship, or the memory of a beloved pet, our Design Studio is the perfect place to begin. Start today and create a keepsake that will mean just as much to you as Charlie’s memoir does to Natalie.
