A photographer shared a series of heartbreaking photos after a bride traded her engagement shoot for a final dance with her dying father

Photographer Bonnie Turner told the story in a Facebook post after finding out the father had passed away.
The bride, Becky Carey, had said in an email to Turner that her father had prostate cancer and she had just found out he was going to a hospice.
"Matt and I will worry about our photos later, because this is more pressing with time," she said, asking the photographer if she would capture a dance with her father instead.
Turner's post has been shared thousands of times, and she had since started a GoFundMe campaign for the family to help pay for costs of the wedding and the funeral.
Visit INSIDER.com for more stories.

A photographer shared a heartbreaking photo series after a bride who had booked an engagement shoot with her instead used the money to have her shoot a father-daughter dance with her dying father.

Photographer Bonnie Turner shared a Facebook post on March 28 where she detailed how she came to work with a woman named Becky Carey.

She explained that Carey had got in touch after getting engaged in spring last year and had booked an engagement session for her and her fianc Matt, but never settled on a date because of the rainy weather at the time.

"We were constantly in touch because we connected so well. Then I received this email in September," Turner wrote.

In the email, Carey apologized for "being all over the place" but said she had a "huge ask."

"I had to write this in email because I couldn't keep it together to talk on the phone," she went on.

"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.

father daughter 4 Bonnie Turner Photography

"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."

Carey said that she had arranged for a good friend and videographer to film her and her dad dressed up doing their father-daughter dance so she could play it at the wedding, and she asked if Turner would be willing to come to photograph the event.

"Dad is getting weaker by the day and unfortunately we have to do this as soon as possible," she wrote. "We are throwing this plan together really fast because we don't know how long we have before he won't be able to.

father daughter 8 Bonnie Turner Photography

"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.)"

Clearly, Turner accepted, as along with the photos she wrote in her post: "These photos are near and dear to this family and most of all, special to her.

father daughter 3 Bonnie Turner Photography

"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."

She went on: "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."

father daughter 7 Bonnie Turner Photography

The post has since been shared 33,000 times and has received 5,000 comments of support from people who are likely strangers to the family.

Turner also shared the story and photos on her Instagram account , where she received plenty more kind messages from well-wishers.

She told INSIDER she was "blown away by all the love that so many people have shown for this family," and added that she had since created a GoFundMe account for the family "to help with any wedding expenses or bills" after several requests for one from Facebook users.

father daughter 6 Bonnie Turner Photography

The fundraising page reads: "Thankfully we were able to get those photos done and Tim and Becky shared those photos together for 5 months together until his passing on March 29, 2019.

"I shared their heartfelt story on Facebook and so many of you have given a tremendous outpour of love. You all have asked to donate to her engagement photos and wedding expenses.

"Not only could they use the help with the wedding, her darling mom who stood right by his side and cared for her husband for years could use some relief with any kind of medical, funeral, and/or home expenses.