Emily & Capers

I met Emily at the barn for an afternoon session. She had her handsome boy, Capers, groomed and ready for his modeling debut! It turned out to be a fun afternoon of finding creative backdrops in ordinary places around the property, and the session felt less structured and more like play.

We started right after feeding time, so Capers was pretty content. The whole session was very relaxed, and it didn't take long for Emily to become a "pro" at taking direction from me while also keeping Capers in hand, which is not as easy as she makes it look! But the gentle feel of these images shows what a sweet connection the two have. They seem so natural together. 

I'm always interested in how horses came into a person's life. Emily said she's been horse crazy for as long as she can remember. For her 4th birthday, she had pony rides in her backyard! As she got older, she went to summer horse camps, took riding lessons, and showed hunters and jumpers. All this prepared her to eventually ride for Berry College's equestrian team.

But after starting her career as a wildlife biologist, she missed being at the barn, and in 2023 she bought her first horse - Capers! And he's a good one. She describes him as goofy and brave, and I can attest to his sweetness. The two of them have covered hundreds of miles on trail rides, gone on camping trips, and started working more in the arena. She said that after leasing or riding other people's horses, it's super freeing to be able to have her own.

They've been on a lot of adventures together, but have so many more to come. I'm happy I was able to have a peek into their world - and capture some gorgeous images in the process!