McCaskill Family | Family Photos with Horse and Dogs
McCaskill Family Photo Session with Pets
Reedsville, WI
While none of us are strangers to the perceived idea of a “conventional family”, the truth is that no two families are quite alike. Families are so often a diverse group of the people we choose for ourselves; the place we go to feel loved and safe. And our families wouldn’t be complete without our four-legged friends! While I always enjoy traditional family sessions capturing candid moments between parents and their kids, I love featuring four-legged “children” too!
Morgan and Brett are two people who have created for themselves a beautiful family with their number of fur babies, and I was so excited to showcase their family ties. Another focus of our session was to highlight the lifetime bond shared between Morgan and her Quarter Horse mare, Dixie. Morgan has owned Dixie since the day she was born. Dixie suffered a major injury in her early years, and it took Morgan so much time, love, and patience in helping Dixie heal. If you have ever raised a horse from infancy and helped it through injury and trials, you understand the intense bond that comes from developing such a deep relationship. Dixie adores her mom Morgan, and long gone are any sign of injury. She is happy, healthy, and eager to please—especially when treats are involved!
Our session took place at Equine Enterprises, LLC in Reedsville, Wisconsin, where Dixie is boarded. Our first few pictures were taken at the top of the hill, and while the light and scenery made for some absolutely breathtaking snapshots, the bugs made it positively unbearable. So we made our way back to the barn and found a comfortable spot that didn’t compromise on the scenery. Angela Marie Makeup Artistry did Morgan’s hair and makeup, and she looked perfect in front of the camera with her natural beauty on full display.
The day was a warm one, so we were sure to take breaks in between poses and pictures. It was a very relaxing session and there was a lot of contagious laughter, especially while watching Ace (a Sheltie) and Zoey (a Border Collie mix) play with each other. Brett and Morgan are both huge animal lovers. Brett works as a veterinarian in Kiel and Morgan works as an equine chiropractor at her own business, Backcountry Animal Chiropractic—she is licensed and qualified for both equines and humans and uses her abilities to work on horse and rider pairs. I especially loved Morgan and Brett’s devotion towards one another—the loving couple is coming up on their second wedding anniversary in September, but every adoring glance and exchanged smile made them seem like newlyweds. When they looked at each other, it was as though everything else melted away and it was just the two of them.
You do not need to have a traditional family to get family photos done—no matter who you consider a part of your tribe, professional photographs are a fantastic way to celebrate your relationships with the people (and animals!) you hold most dear. I take great pride in capturing everyone’s authentic family dynamic with candid and honest photographs. I look forward to meeting your family, no matter how big or small!
