Sessions

An Equine Session That Meant So Much to Me

There are many sessions I have photographed over the years that have stuck with me, but this one with my friend Elaina and her horse in Port Washington, Wisconsin is one of my absolute favorites, and means so much to me.

When my family and I first moved to West Bend, Wisconsin in 2024, I hired Elaina to watch our daughter while I worked. She was the first nanny we had after our move, and it was really nerve wracking having to learn to trust a whole new person to care for her.

However, it didn’t take long for that trust to form. Elaina was not only the kindest person, but she was amazing with our daughter.

From Nanny to Friend

As time went on, our relationship grew, and she told me how she had four horses in the Port Washington area. I immediately knew that I wanted to photograph her with them.

Not only because I loved the idea of such a fun session, but also because there was no better way for me to show my gratitude toward her for being so amazing to our daughter.

Meeting Her Horses in Port Washington

Once Elaina and I finally met up to photograph her with her horses, it was such an amazing time. We met in the early evening so we could take advantage of that golden hour light.

She introduced me to all four horses (which, I won’t lie, I forgot their names at this point), but they all had their own personalities. A couple of them were young and wild, and one of them was so easygoing and relaxed. It was funny seeing how different they all were. It really is a testament to how amazing animals are.

A Fun and Laid-Back Session

We took our time photographing Elaina with each of her horses. At first, we found a nicely lit area down at the lower portion of the property where she was able to ride them.

It was so fun watching her ride and being able to interact with the horses to get their attention for photos. They were definitely confused when I kept making goofy noises, but they loved when we shook the treat bag for them.

Golden Hour and the Most Beautiful Light

As sunset got closer, we made our way back up to the upper part of the property, and the lighting was absolutely perfect.

One of my favorite photos from the session was Elaina looking at her horse with the blue sky in the background. It really highlighted the relationship she shares with them. Here’s what Elaina had to say about her gallery:

“I’ve gone to a couple photographers to get photos done and Melissa is by far the best! Got a sneak peek of some photos not even a week after the shoot and loved every single photo. Definitely recommend using her!”

Interested in an Equine Session for Your Senior or Family Photos?

If you have ever considered a family or senior session including your horses, then you have come to the right place! I have experience photographing family and senior sessions including their horses and would love to work with you next. I photograph in West Bend, Waukesha, Port Washington, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, Pewaukee, Milwaukee, and surrounding Wisconsin areas.

Contact me here to start planning your session.