Emily & Footloose | Wisconsin Senior Pictures with a Horse

Emily & Footloose Equestrian Senior Pictures

Western Trails Equestrian Center | West Bend, WI

Let's be real—COVID-19 robbed the classes of 2020 and 2021 of the senior experience that every graduate deserves. The COVID-19 pandemic was devastating in many ways, and natural moments that we come to expect in our final year of high school (parties, social events, graduation) were taken away. My heart goes out to the seniors of '20 and '21, who maintained a positive disposition despite current world conditions, never allowing themselves to wallow in feelings of self-pity. That was why, as their senior photographer, I was dedicated to making sure that their session with me left them feeling pampered, special, and celebrated.

I wanted Emily to feel like a queen on the day of her senior photos, and it was so much fun watching her get pampered in preparation for our session. Our shoot took place at Western Trails Ranch in West Bend, Wisconsin, a beautiful equestrian center that was the perfect backdrop on a warm and sunny summer day.

Emily is a fun-loving and adventurous spirit with a passion for her animals, so it was only natural to bring along Footloose, her horse, and Miley, her sweet dog. Footloose is a gorgeous mustang trained in show jumping. He knows how to do the Spanish walk and performed for us, which resulted in some breathtaking equestrian shots. While Emily was getting ready, with the help of her mom Kristin and Angela of Angela Marie Makeup Artistry, I took some additional photos of Footloose to create into fine art black background images.

The real magic didn't happen until Emily and Footloose were reunited for pictures together. These two just adore each other, and their bond shines through in each and every picture. Emily and Footloose are part of the Wisconsin Hunter & Jumper Association, and their shared admiration is no doubt partially due to many a long day training and developing new skills. Nothing strengthens a bond like hard work and time spent together, and Emily and Footloose are no exception!

 While Emily may not have had the senior year she always expected, I hope that I could give her a senior photography session that went above and beyond her dreams. I was so happy she could incorporate her passion into her senior pictures using Footloose, and I think that the pictures speak for themselves. Life doesn't always go the way we planned, but that doesn't mean we can't make the most of it.

If you are on track to graduate in 2022, it's never too early to schedule your senior session. As the world continues to change, putting down concrete dates in your calendar will guarantee that you can count on having beautiful senior photographs, no matter what. Your journey on the road to graduation is special and unique to you—let's celebrate it.