High School Senior Portraits with Horses | Jillian
High School Senior Portraits with Horses | Jillian
Youngstown, OH
As a photographer, there is something so rewarding about being entrusted to capture life’s precious moments. Each photoshoot presents a new opportunity to capture individual stories in unique ways, and I was so excited to get started with Jillian and her two beautiful horses. The occasion? Jillian was a senior set to graduate high school, and we set out to get her the senior pictures she always dreamed of.
Jillian’s ardent love for her horses is clear in how she presents herself, and it was a no-brainer to include Flashy and Dolly in her senior pictures. Flashy is a Pony of America, and Dolly is an American Quarter Horse. The excitement and anticipation for graduation was palpable, and Jillian wanted to commemorate the special moment with her two cherished horses.
Our session took place in East Palestine, Ohio, a small village near the Pennsylvania border. We knew early on that lighting was going to be imperative to getting the shots we wanted, so at the break of dawn, we armed ourselves with the necessary equipment and got ready for the sunrise.
East Palestine was a beautiful backdrop for the early morning light, with the soft sun coming through the trees and bouncing off the white picket fences. The gorgeous setting couldn’t distract from Jillian and her horses, though—they were the easy stars of this photoshoot! Jillian looked incredible as she switched between outfits for the various shots, and the horses were mesmerizing in the complimentary light. But the spotlight was really on the bond shared between the three. Jillian and her horses have a deep, emotional connection, and their close relationship comes through clearly.
Observing the love that Jillian had for her horses, how she cared for them and how they responded to her, was like witnessing a special kind of magic. It made me realize that we were not just taking senior pictures, but we were documenting an extraordinary partnership - a bond that was rooted in shared passion, mutual trust, and unconditional love. Jillian has incredible things to look forward to as she leaves high school behind, but my hope is that no matter where life after high school takes her, she’ll know with these pictures that home is never far away.
