If your horses feel like family, I encourage you to try and include them for your engagement session (and family shoots, too)! This post covers work from an engagement shoot, but I’ll definitely be making one that displays a family shoot I’ve done with one!
These two lovebirds brought their two gorgeous horses along, which made it all the more special. I was immediately drawn in by the warm, soft light and the way it painted everything that golden hue. Honestly, it felt like a fairytale. We did this engagement session at Crosswinds Marsh on the Southeast side of Michigan. The perfect spot since horses are allowed on the premises.
Tips on including your horses for your engagement session:
Bring a third party to help with caring for them while we are shooting without them. Having another person there to help pose/guide them for photos when the horses are being ridden is also a great idea. Make sure to accommodate for the extra time needed to put gear on them, for them to snack on grass, and time for them to cooperate for the shot we are aiming for.
My approach:
Have your shutter speed on high and pray – just kidding. My shoots are intentional. I will pose you based on my vision and let the horses do their thing. I’m proficient in photoshop and can likely fix what I need to fit the vision I have for the image. I like to lean on more candids, especially when dealing with animals. Focusing on lighting and composition and letting them tell the story. I’ll definitely fit in a handful of posed formals, because I do know they’re nice to have!
By the end of it, I felt like I had not just photographed a couple, but I had documented their love story in a way that truly felt like a celebration, complete with beautiful horses and all. Their connection, the delight in their expressions, and the stunning backdrop made everything come together perfectly, and I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful session.
