diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f0089ff..08cbf90 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 Gemfile.lock
 log/*.log
 pkg/
+spec/examples.txt
 spec/dummy/log/*.log
 spec/dummy/tmp/
 /gemfiles/*.gemfile.lock
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5b2683b..0e537c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -345,6 +345,15 @@ Journaled::AuditLog.with_snapshots do
 end
 ```
 
+Snapshots can also be enabled globally for all _deletion_ operations. Since
+`changes` will be empty on deletion, you should consider using this if you care
+about the contents of any records being deleted (and/or don't have a full audit
+trail from their time of creation):
+
+```ruby
+Journaled::AuditLog.snapshot_on_deletion = true
+```
+
 Events with snapshots will continue to populate the `changes` field, but will
 additionally contain a snapshot with the full state of the user:
 
diff --git a/app/models/journaled/audit_log/event.rb b/app/models/journaled/audit_log/event.rb
index 165ab6a..856578d 100644
--- a/app/models/journaled/audit_log/event.rb
+++ b/app/models/journaled/audit_log/event.rb
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ def changes
       end
 
       def snapshot
-        filtered_attributes if record._log_snapshot || AuditLog.snapshots_enabled
+        filtered_attributes if record._log_snapshot || AuditLog.snapshots_enabled ||
+          (database_operation == 'delete' && AuditLog.snapshot_on_deletion)
       end
 
       def actor
diff --git a/lib/journaled/audit_log.rb b/lib/journaled/audit_log.rb
index 78ca40a..e59d77a 100644
--- a/lib/journaled/audit_log.rb
+++ b/lib/journaled/audit_log.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ module AuditLog
     mattr_accessor(:default_enqueue_opts) { {} }
     mattr_accessor(:excluded_classes) { DEFAULT_EXCLUDED_CLASSES.dup }
     thread_mattr_accessor(:snapshots_enabled) { false }
+    thread_mattr_accessor(:snapshot_on_deletion) { false }
     thread_mattr_accessor(:_disabled) { false }
     thread_mattr_accessor(:_force) { false }
 
diff --git a/lib/journaled/version.rb b/lib/journaled/version.rb
index 9f26ec8..7b5b5a8 100644
--- a/lib/journaled/version.rb
+++ b/lib/journaled/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module Journaled
-  VERSION = "5.1.1".freeze
+  VERSION = "5.2.0".freeze
 end
diff --git a/spec/lib/journaled/audit_log_spec.rb b/spec/lib/journaled/audit_log_spec.rb
index d49cd8c..d3e57b4 100644
--- a/spec/lib/journaled/audit_log_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/journaled/audit_log_spec.rb
@@ -389,6 +389,23 @@ def assign_attrs(**attrs)
           end
         end
       end
+
+      context 'and snapshotting is enabled only on deletion' do
+        subject { MyModel.new(name: 'bob') }
+
+        before do
+          described_class.snapshot_on_deletion = true
+        end
+
+        it 'emits snapshots through the lifecycle of the object, and filters the expected fields' do
+          expect { subject.save }
+            .to not_journal_event_including(snapshot: { all: 'attributes', password: '[FILTERED]' })
+          expect { subject.update(name: 'robert') }
+            .to not_journal_event_including(snapshot: { all: 'attributes', password: '[FILTERED]' })
+          expect { subject.destroy }
+            .to journal_event_including(snapshot: { all: 'attributes', password: '[FILTERED]' })
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     context 'and a field is ignored' do
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 7a091e5..c2d3eeb 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     mocks.verify_partial_doubles = true
   end
 
+  config.example_status_persistence_file_path = 'spec/examples.txt'
   config.order = :random
 end