I had the amazing opportunity this week to set up a styled shoot for 15 amazing photographers in northern Utah. Twice a month we get together and take turns planning and styling a shoot. It’s an opportunity for us to try new lenses, ask each other questions, learn from each other, and have a good time! I decided I would give them a little glimpse of what it’s like to be a horse photographer! Our location was the amazing Smith barn in Lewiston, UT. I styled three different shoots, all including horses, to go on at the same time. We broke into 3 smaller groups, and rotated through the different styles.
The first style was a senior shoot. Miss Brendee was the perfect model! I knew Brendee from when we lived in Beaverdam, and always loved her long wavy hair and her amazing personality! I knew she would be amazing for this shoot! She wore a cute long dress from Bohme, her boots, and a cuff made by Desert Sage Bead Art. Tiffany Johnson, one of my favorite makeup artists, did her hair and makeup. My horse Copper was the horse “model” for this shoot, and I’m pretty sure he loved all the attention he was getting for two hours straight! Dahlia Event Planning made a gorgeous wreath to go around his neck, and it really pulled everything together!
The second style was an engagement shoot. Brennan and Bodie were the models for this one, with Russell the horse. They definitely had the toughest job, as Russell gets bored extremely fast and would rather try and eat your clothes then stand and look pretty for pictures. They handled him well, and are so photogenic together! So natural in front of the camera, and Bodie was giving Brennan kisses all night long. One of my favorite comments from one of the other photographers attending was “I asked Brodie to whisper something to Brennan that would make her laugh. He said, TACOS, which made all of us laugh!” Jessica Nelson did Brennan’s hair and makeup, and the dress was provided by RubyClaire Boutique.
The third style was a formal shoot. Abbi and Austin were married last year, so this was the perfect time to get some pictures with their horses and not have to worry too much about getting the dress dirty! They brought their own two horses, which made the shoot that much better! Abbi was so willing to do whatever the photographers asked. My favorite was when someone asked if she could lay down on her horse, and her response was “OK………what way?” Austin was a trooper and helped wherever he was needed, even when he wasn’t in the pictures. Hair and makeup was done by the amazing Carrie Purser, who took my ideas and made them real life! Dahlia Event Planning made a wreath for the bride’s horse as well. This one was super unique and draped around the horse’s neck and tied with a pretty long ribbon.
Overall it was an amazing shoot! It was a ton of work, but so so worth it! Shooting with horses definitely isn’t easy, but it’s my favorite thing to do. I really tried to pay attention while I got my horses ready on what tips I could give people when preparing their horses for a photo shoot, and will have a blog up on that soon so make sure to check back!
Utah Horse Photographer
SENIOR
Model: Brendee Spencer
HMUA: Tiffany Johnson
DRESS: Bohme
HALTER: Camille White
CUFF: Desert Sage Bead Art
FLORIST: Dahlia Event Planning
ENGAGEMENT
Models: Brennan and Bodie Hyer
DRESS: Rubyclaire Boutique
HMUA: Jessica Nelson
HALTER: Heritage Brand
FORMAL
Models: Abbi and Austin Henstra
HMUA: Carrie Purser
DRESS: Bridal Image
FLORIST: Dahlia Event Planning
Here at Lauren Anderson Photography we love to capture the connection you have with your horses and family; whether it is working on the ranch, competing in the arena, or going on a trail ride. We love real moments, and love to capture you doing what you do day in and day out. We understand that horses aren’t just a hobby, they are a lifestyle. To learn more about setting up a session, click here.
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