Horse & Rider Portraits, an Equine Session in The Lower Mainland BC: Why She Skipped the Mini Session
Brooke's Photography | Equine, canine and branding photographer serving Vancouver and the Lower Mainland
She had done equine mini photo sessions before, but she was never quite happy with how they turned out. She had a bigger vision, and it just couldn't come to life in a short window of time. That makes complete sense to me. When you're watching the clock, there's no room to breathe, to try something different, or to let your horse settle into the moment.
Our equine photography session had no time limit. It lasted about two hours, and because of that we were able to do everything she'd been picturing: two different outfits, different backgrounds, different exposures, and riding photos too. We weren't rushing from one thing to the next, and you can feel that in the images.
Some sessions come together quickly, and then there are the ones that are a long time coming. This one was initiated back in April and didn't actually happen until September.
When we first started planning, she told me she wanted to feel really ready. She wanted to take the summer to get herself to a place where she felt her best, and I loved that, because that's exactly what I hope every client feels walking into their session. It's the whole point. I want my clients to feel amazing about themselves and about their story with their horse, and when someone gives herself the space to get there, I'm 100% in.
Then the weather just would not cooperate. Anyone who lives in the Lower Mainland knows how that goes. We kept watching the forecast and kept rescheduling, this session really needed sunshine. The vibe she had in mind was summer, with her sundresses and golden light, so we waited for the right day instead of settling for a gloomy one.
A big part of an equine session is the horse, they will set the tone for the day, and we must adapt. And Hemi, he is such a bombproof guy, which is a dream to work with, but the calmest horse can be tricky to get a good ear-forward look from. A horse who is totally relaxed is, well, totally relaxed. So we tried a few different behind-the-scenes tricks, we even enlisted her kids to shake pom poms and squeeze a rubber chicken. But one of the simplest methods ended up being, pointing him towards the bush. If you know horses, you know how intriguing a scary tree line can be, it's usually enough to get that curious, perked-up expression we were hoping for. Sometimes the best portraits come from a little bit of patience and a lot of creativity.
Her daughter, wild at heart, really wanted to be included, so we made room for her in a few of the images, and I'm so glad we did. Those are the ones that tell the bigger story of what Hemi means to this family. Her son jumped in as our assistant for the day and was honestly fantastic at helping us get Hemi's ears up. A little helper like that makes a big difference.
A custom session all about her is what she needed. She ended up with beautiful images she'll cherish for a lifetime, along with an album she can pick up and hold whenever she wants to remember those moments. That's what I love most about printed art. These images won't get lost in a phone or buried in a folder. They'll sit on a coffee table, get flipped through on a quiet evening, and one day get shown to grandkids who never got to meet Hemi like she did.
If you've been meaning to book an equine photographer in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland and you're waiting until you feel ready, or the weather is better, or the timing finally lines up, that's completely okay. A session like this is worth planning around, and I'll happily wait for the right day with you. And if a short session has never quite captured what you're picturing, know that there's another way to do it, with all the time you need.
If you have a bigger vision for you and your horse, I'd love to hear about it. 🤍
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