Anna & Family | Equestrian Family Photos | River Falls, WI
Brian Welman Equestrian Center, River Falls, WI
Equestrian Family Portraits
It’s almost impossible to grow up loving horses without finding the occasional unicorn thrown in the mix. Horse girls might not dream about unicorns the way they do about their future equine partner, but what I do know is that when you see a unicorn in real life it’s impossible not to fall in love immediately. That’s exactly what happened when I met Anna and her reiner, Gracefully Shine (aka, Marilyn).
With all four kids in tow, Anna and I set out in the 100 degree weather to capture the essence of this horse family. I was beyond impressed by this 5-year-old AQHA mare and how well she handled four young kids climbing all over her. Honestly, I think she loved it just as much as the kids did, which made it that much sweeter to witness. Because Marilyn was such a team player, everyone had a lot of fun. Of course, all the kids have a great sense of humor just like their mom and we legitimately laughed through almost the entire session.
Anna is a veteran of the showpen and recently returned astride Marilyn after taking a break to grow her sweet family. She used to be in the western pleasure arena but has now switched to reining, which is how I actually met her in the first place. Even though Anna and Marilyn haven’t been teamed up that long, it’s evident they share a special bond. Perhaps that’s why Marilyn loved all four kids so much. Not only does she look like a unicorn, she embodies everything that we’d expect in one: long flowing mane, calm demeanor, and a soft spot for kids.
Our session took place at the Brian Welman Training Center where Anna keeps and rides Marilyn. Luckily, we had some built-in help from Addison Welman who made sure Marilyn was photoshoot ready. My sweet husband, Chris, was also on hand for this session and he proved invaluable once again. And a shout out to Angela Marie Makeup Artistry for hair and makeup that withstood the heat and humidity!
Did you know? that I can provide wardrobe options for your next shoot? I provided the yellow dress in the dreamy photos of just Anna and Marilyn. It’s not often that a blonde can pull off wearing yellow, but it’s clear both Anna and Marilyn can wear any color they choose.
