The Session That Started It All
Last week, I had the pleasure of photographing my very first Equine & Rider model session as part of my new Equine & Rider Project on the South Shore of Massachusetts.
The day greeted us with classic New England summer weather: warm, humid, and hovering around 87 degrees. While the heat was certainly noticeable, the cloud cover provided a beautiful natural diffuser, creating soft, flattering light throughout much of the session. Every so often, the sun would peek through the clouds, giving us brief moments of light breaking across the landscape.
Our session took place on a beautiful South Shore property, a peaceful setting that perfectly reflected Casey's love of animals. It didn't take long to see the special bond she shares with her horses. The quiet trust, affection, and partnership between them was evident in every interaction and made photographing them together a true joy.
Her horses were absolutely stunning. Calm, expressive, and striking to photograph, they brought so much presence to each image. Because the pair spends nearly all of their time together, they preferred to stay close throughout the session. Their connection to one another was just as evident as their connection to Casey, adding another layer of authenticity to the horse and rider portraits we created.
As the evening progressed, the bugs became a little more enthusiastic about joining the session than we had hoped. With marshland and water bordering the property, the flies were out in full force by the end of the evening. Thankfully, everyone handled it with patience and good humor.
And then there was Dawson.
Dawson, Casey's Springer Spaniel, may not have realized he wasn't the star of the session. Wearing an adorable bow tie and brimming with curiosity, he followed us across the property, carefully supervising every step of the process. More than once, he managed to sneak into the frame, creating some unexpected and charming moments. His sweet personality quickly won me over, and I suspect he'll make a few appearances in the final gallery.
This session was everything I hoped my first Equine & Rider model session would be: meaningful, authentic, and filled with the special relationships that make equine and rider photography so rewarding. I'm incredibly grateful to Casey for trusting me with her horses and for helping bring this new project to life.
As a Massachusetts equine photographer, my goal is to create timeless portraits that celebrate the bond between horses and the people who love them. I can't wait to share the finished images from this beautiful South Shore session.
Stay tuned for a look at the final gallery and the portraits we created together.
Interested in an Equine Session?
I offer custom Equine & Rider portrait sessions throughout Massachusetts, creating fine art imagery that celebrates the connection between horses and the people who love them.