Aden, Charlotte & Hank | An Evening in the Field
There are some evenings when everything seems to come together: beautiful light, a wonderful location, and the kind of connection that makes photographing it all feel almost effortless.
My evening with Aden, Charlotte, and Hank was one of those. As an equine photographer, these are the sessions I love most: beautiful horses, the people who adore them, and the opportunity to tell their story against the landscape of a Massachusetts summer.
Aden arrived looking absolutely beautiful. Her long hair, flowing dress, and quiet confidence seemed made for the landscape around us. The day had been humid, but thankfully not quite as hot as some of the summer days we'd been having, and as the evening went on, the light began to soften across the fields.
We started among the trees, where the deeper greens and filtered light created a beautiful backdrop for Aden and Charlotte. Charlotte, it turned out, was something of a professional herself. She seemed to know exactly when I needed those ears forward and that lovely, attentive expression, making my job remarkably easy.
Hank was a little greener and wasn't quite as interested in a full modeling career that evening. His appearance was brief, but he did wonderfully while he was in front of the camera. One of the things I love about working with horses is that every session unfolds a little differently. We work with the horse who shows up that day, rather than forcing something that isn't there.
And then we headed out into the field.
A Golden Summer Horse & Rider Session
It was one of those locations that makes a photographer's heart beat a little faster. Long grasses surrounded a winding mowed trail, with beautiful trees framing the field in the distance. As the sun began to sink, everything took on that warm, golden glow that lasts for only a short while before disappearing.
Aden and Charlotte looked completely at home in it.
Some of my favorite photographs from the evening came from simply giving them space within that landscape. Charlotte standing quietly beside Aden. Aden looking up at her. The two of them moving through the tall grass together. And then, with the evening light pouring across the field, Aden climbed onto Charlotte and the entire scene seemed to come together.
Aden is an aspiring model, and her confidence in front of the camera was evident from the beginning. She moved naturally, took direction beautifully, and was incredibly accommodating as we explored different areas and ideas throughout the session. But what struck me just as much was how kind and easygoing she was. There was no sense of rushing. We simply followed the light and let the evening unfold.
That's one of the things I've loved most about my Equine & Rider Project and about photographing horse-and-rider sessions throughout Massachusetts. Every horse and every person brings something completely different to the experience: different personalities, different relationships, different landscapes, and different stories.
With Aden, Charlotte, and Hank, it was an evening filled with warmth, long grass, fading sunlight, and a little bit of magic that only seems to happen when you're standing in a field with a horse as the day comes to an end.
And I'm very grateful I was there with my camera when it did.
Give Them Something to Look Forward To
Looking for something meaningful for the horse lover in your life this holiday season? Equine portrait session gift vouchers are available, giving them the opportunity to create something beautiful with the horse they love when the warmer days return.
And if you've been thinking about a session of your own next year, you don't have to wait until spring to begin planning. My equine sessions are intentionally limited each season, and summer dates can be reserved in advance.
Give someone you love a story worth preserving, or save a little space for your own.