We previously talked about photographer Sujata Setia, known for her touching portraits of children and dogs. But then came heartbreaking news: Mustang, the beloved dog who often appeared in her photos, had passed away unexpectedly. For Sujata, this wasn’t just the loss of a pet—it was the loss of someone she considered a son.
After her daughter was born, Mustang had become a second child to her. The grief was overwhelming and couldn’t simply be brushed aside. Her husband urged her to focus on the present. He gently suggested getting another dog—for their daughter’s sake, so she wouldn’t feel alone, and so Sujata might begin to heal. But Sujata was devastated. “No! It’s impossible!” she cried, unable to imagine replacing Mustang.
Still, her husband had a point: life moves forward, and somehow, she had to find the strength to continue her work. Before, Mustang had often been her muse. Clients loved him, especially during baby photoshoots—he brought charm and warmth to every frame. Could there ever be another dog like him?
Sujata struggled with that question. Then, approaching it from her professional perspective, she began accepting sessions involving babies and animals again—mostly dogs. With careful attention to detail, she composed each shot. Was the new dog as photogenic? Did he have the same gentle spirit as Mustang?
Slowly, something began to shift. Sujata’s heartache eased. In every puppy she photographed, she started to see echoes of Mustang—not as replacements, but as reminders. Each one, after all, is just a baby too, with an unknown future full of potential.
And perhaps that’s the beauty of it. Without trying to recreate what was lost, she realized the joy in starting fresh. Her daughter, too, began asking for a puppy. Maybe even two—one of them to carry the name Mustang, keeping his spirit alive in a new chapter.