I look at more than just the technical details when planning a session. I want to find the little things that make the photographs feel personal to the rider and their horse. For this particular session, one of those details brought me back to something I hadn't done in years: braiding a horse.
It was the first time I had been able to work on braiding a horse since I sold my mare a few years back. Originally, I learned how to braid because I wanted my first gelding and I to fit in a little more in the PHJA hunter ring. I started taking cosmetology classes in high school specifically to help improve my braiding technique for horse shows, and it eventually evolved into learning more creative and complex braids.
For Fancy's session, that meant pulling out my old braiding kit, creating diamond braids, and finishing them with fresh flowers and gold cuffs to complement her owner's outfit. Getting to use a skill that had such a connection to my own time showing horses, while also using it to add a personal detail to one of my clients' session.
We started the session with an emerald green dress and some dark background portraits in the barn aisle before making our way to one of my favorite spots on the property. During a previous visit, I had noticed a small pond tucked away on the farm and immediately pictured it as a backdrop. The different shades of green created a beautiful, almost monochromatic setting that kept the focus on Fancy and Jacquelyn.
After a quick dinner break for Fancy and an outfit change for her owner, we headed out to the pasture beneath the beautiful old oak trees. The second outfit, a white skirt paired with a denim vest and brown cowboy hat, completely changed the feel of the session. On our way there, I spotted a bush covered in soft purple flowers and couldn't resist stopping for a few photos. The pop of color ended up complementing the outfit perfectly and became one of my favorite unexpected parts of the day.
Like many young horses, Fancy had a few ideas of her own. At four years old, she was sweet, curious, and occasionally more interested in what was happening around her than posing for photos. She wasn't quite sure what to think about the cowhide I had brought out for the pasture setup, but after a few minutes of investigating it, she settled right in. Later, after her bridle came off for a few grazing photos, she decided it was the perfect time to race around the pasture and show off a few zoomies before settling back down. Those unplanned moments gave us some beautiful liberty images and captured a little more of who Fancy is.
One of my favorite images from this session was a double exposure portrait of Fancy and Jacquelyn. Double exposures are a technique I have been spending a lot of time learning and refining, and my goal is to eventually make them a signature part of my horse and rider sessions. I love how they allow me to combine the horse and rider into a single piece of artwork that feels a little different from a traditional portrait while still telling the story of their partnership.
