Showstopper Senior Photos With A Horse | Darcy

Darcy, a Laguna Beach High School senior, travels and competes with her horse, Benny, so senior photos with a horse were a no brainer. Working with animals can be tricky, but it’s so worth it when you are able to capture something this important in a senior’s life!

After applying for her senior session in August, Darcy chose a date in October. This is one of my most popular months for senior sessions, and for good reason. October has great weather, especially at the beach. Darcy also opted to add our hair & makeup artist, which is not required, but recommended for best results (and a bit of extra pampering because…why not?!).

When you’re shooting senior photos with a horse, horse stables are an obvious photo location. They’re not always the easiest place to take photos, since they’re not your typical photo backdrop, and there’s often lots of people working hard with their horses in the background. As with many outdoor photo locations, it’s important for the photographer to find a balance between doing what it takes to get the shot, and remaining respectful of the animals and the people who are there to enjoy the space and do their thing! I showed up early to walk around and scope out the best photo spots, with suggestions from Darcy, to make sure we avoided any unphotogenic or cluttered areas. When working with a massively strong, somewhat-opinionated animal, it’s important to have things like locations set so you’re not trying to drag a horse from one area to another in search of the best spots. 

The easiest location for senior photos with a horse is, of course, the ring. The environment speaks for itself, and capturing Darcy riding (bareback, no less!) in her natural habitat was a must. I had her ride around in a circle a couple of times, sometimes looking at the camera and other times focusing more on Benny, as if the camera wasn’t there. A mixture of camera-aware shots and candid shots is key during a senior photo session.

Working with animals always presents an interesting challenge. On the one hand, they are the ultimate addition because it provides the senior client an easy way to feel comfortable on camera, doing something they do on pretty much a daily basis. Animals have a way of bringing subject's guards down and calming nerves. Shout out to our furry friends! At the same time, they don't really understand why they're being asked to stand in certain places for a photo, and similar to working with children, I've found that animals have a time limit. It's important to be able to move quickly, adjust camera settings quickly, and in many cases, follow the animal's lead! Overall, we had so much fun and most importantly, Darcy looked stunning in her element. 

The same goes with dogs, by the way. Sometimes, they're calm, cool, and collected. Other times, they literally cannot (and will not) sit still. As a photographer, this is why being able to adjust settings manually and snap with speed is so important.

With all of that being said, the extra challenge is always worth it. If you are considering taking your senior photos with your horse, go for it! Senior pictures should showcase what is special to you, and including your furry friend is a great way to do that.

Learn about working with me as your Orange County senior photographer (for your senior photos with a horse or otherwise!) by filling out this form.