Melana got a new pony! New ponies are the best reason to book a Horse & Rider photoshoot, so we quickly added Melana to the travel schedule, and enjoyed an evening with her and Eli at their barn in Palm City, Florida.

Eli is a 5 year old, Welsh/Warmblood cross, and was equally adorable as was wiggly! Being a young horse, our expectations and goals may look different during a photoshoot (than if we were photographing a retired school master with a passport we could only dream of.). We have to work much quicker, give clearer and more intentional directions to the horse, choose locations the horse is comfortable in, and poses where we are setting up the horse for success!

For example, Eli loved the palms and flowers as much as I did, and when we put him within reach of them, his baby brain couldn’t resist the urge to try to eat them! I managed one photo before Eli became a silly hippo, and we had to readjust our plans. I moved Eli and Melana further away from the plants, and changed my location closer to the plants, to photographing through them. This kept Eli from learning bad habits, or eating things he wasn’t supposed to, while still incorporating the palms and flowers into their images.

Learning how to work WITH the horse - no matter their age, discipline, or experience - has been incredibly valuable to the clients. We may laugh a bit more from your horse’s silly quirks, but if you trust me, I can ensure you will love both the experience AND your resulting photos!

Here are a handful of favorites from Melana’s photoshoot with her wiggle worm, plant eating, adorable Mr. Eli! 💕