By Jessica Dillon
Adam Davis, owner of Daydream Photography, is launching a new no-cost initiative called ‘In Loving Light Project’ to serve families preparing to lose a loved one.
The project offers free photography sessions designed to capture final moments with family members and pets, providing lasting memories during end-of-life care.
“It’s something that, if you know anything about my business, you know kind of started with me losing my dad. Even though I opened in 2023, losing him in 2017 was really the beginning of the journey that got me to where I am now and why I photograph the way I do,” Davis said.
Davis said he was approached in July by someone who asked him to photograph a family member preparing to enter hospice care.
“They wanted to capture images of them together one last time. I ended up doing that session, and it took me back to my dad’s accident and how I never really had those photos. I thought it was such a beautiful thing that they knew they were losing someone, but still chose to take the time to capture those final moments together,” he said.
Although he had previously offered end-of-life photography to friends and family, Davis said the July session prompted him to consider expanding the service.
On Jan. 6, Davis’ dog, Dexter, died unexpectedly.
“That really hit me because I could barely find any photos of the two of us together. It felt like reliving the pain all over again, not having those images to hold onto. Through losing Dexter and some other personal journeys, I decided to put all my focus into getting this project out as soon as possible so other people don’t have to experience that kind of loss without those memories,” he said.
“Even when you lose somebody, you gain a piece of them within yourself. Because of how I lost my dad and the healing I worked through afterward, I was able to cope with losing Dexter in a much healthier way,” Davis said.
He described the loss as sudden and overwhelming.
“I wasn’t going down a dark road, but I felt stuck in my grief. I couldn’t get out of what I was feeling because his death was so sudden. It felt familiar to losing my dad. Dexter was with me constantly. I work from home, so he was by my side all the time. When we made the decision to put him down and bring his ashes home, it happened quickly, and the quiet afterward was overwhelming.”
Davis said that the day he picked up Dexter’s ashes, he drove to High Point to attend the Walk for Peace, where Buddhist monks were participating.
“I had a hard time even getting to the monks. I accidentally rerouted myself somewhere completely different. They were over half an hour away from where I ended up. Traffic was hectic, and I almost gave up. But something in me knew I needed to go,” he said.
After taking photos, Davis said he asked a monk to bless his dog’s ashes.
“Before I could even fully process what I was doing, I asked him to bless my dog. It was like my heart spoke before my mind could catch up. He placed flowers on the ashes and offered a blessing.”
“I went there to witness that prayer, and to find a piece of peace for myself. I needed to be there not as a photographer, but as a human being,” he said.
Davis later shared the experience online and said he received messages from across the United States and England.
“That experience reminded me that sometimes the image we think we’re chasing isn’t the one we’re meant to capture. Sometimes we’re there for something bigger than the photograph,” he said.
The In Loving Light Project is listed at the top of Daydream Photography’s website. Davis said sessions are completely private and free of charge.
“Within the Loving Life Project, this portion is completely private. It’s a free photo session, and I won’t share the images publicly. They’re only for the family. I won’t post about it or talk about specific sessions. I’m still navigating how to advertise something that is meant to remain so personal. Right now, I’m considering making a post that simply explains what it is and why it exists,” he said.
“When it comes to the emotional weight, I try to put myself in other people’s shoes before photographing. I match their energy as much as possible. I can lean on my own past losses, which shaped both my mental health journey and my business, but I don’t think it would be fair to project my grief onto them. Every situation is different,” Davis said.
“If the chance to say goodbye is taken from you, you would give anything to have had it. But when someone is still here, even on borrowed time, families may not always see the value in pausing for photos. I once heard a photographer say to someone who didn’t like being photographed, ‘If you’re not being photographed, how will you be remembered?’ That really stayed with me. Memories fade. Rarely do we pull out a video to show someone. It’s almost always images,” he said.
“For me, photography is a byproduct of what I really do, which is connection. There are many talented photographers, so I had to figure out what sets me apart. I came across the term heart-centered photographer, which describes creating images that go beyond visual representation,” Davis said. “It’s about infusing empathy, compassion, and integrity into every frame and ensuring each photo reflects the subject’s true essence and story. That’s how I see myself.”
Davis said his focus on connection and service also extends to his volunteer work in the community.
“I’ve had the honor of serving as the volunteer photographer for Stone Memorial’s Night to Shine for the past three years. When I first came across the event, I saw the red carpet, the lights, the DJ, everything you’d expect for an unforgettable night, but no photographer.
This project aligns perfectly with my business mission: Advocating for the special needs community and making sure everyone feels seen, heard, and included,” he said.
“Night to Shine has become my favorite event to volunteer for each year. I encourage everyone to sign up next year, take just three hours out of one day to make someone feel truly special and help their night shine,” he said, adding that he is also willing to photograph pets facing end-of-life situations and hopes to partner with local veterinary clinics.
“The project includes pets as well. While it wasn’t triggered solely by losing Dexter, his passing pushed me to move forward with it. Pet loss can be complicated because sometimes there’s no time to prepare. In Dexter’s case, it was sudden. We didn’t get the chance to plan photos or say a long goodbye. But there are situations where families do know it’s coming, and I would love to work with local veterinary clinics, so families have that option when time allows,” he said.
Davis said the project exists so that “love is documented before it becomes loss, and so remembrance has something tangible to hold onto.”
