Family Sessions with horses


This family session was what dreams are made of! Seriously! Like a story out of one of my Greek Mythology books...


I have known Andrea since high school (don't ask how long ago that was!). She reached out to me about doing their family session along with their horses and I couldn't have been more honored.

The women of this family brought their horses, while Andrea's son Hunter brought his horse of steel...his truck! Andrea's horse is Doll, a 10 year old AQHA mare. Hunter's girlfriend, Victoria owns Hot Tamale, a small but adorable 10 year old bay roan AQHA mare. Three year old Carmen brought her mare Coco, a 22 year old sorrel AQHA mare. And last we have Gindii, a small dun mix breed owned by Melanie. And Dave was amazing at helping with all of the horses and everything in between.


While everything about this session looks calm, cool and collected, I know that up until the time we started shooting Andrea did not feel calm, cool and collected. Keys to one of their rigs were forgotten, which required them to turn around and arrive on location later than planned. And it was definitely windier than most people prefer to take their family photos in (myself included) and I would even say windier than most horses will behave well in.


Scroll down to find out why this family session looks so well put together even with unplanned obstacles and what tips they followed to ensure that things would go as smoothly as possible.


Family portrait of five people standing together in sunny field with mountain backdrop.
Family group walking together through tall grass in outdoor setting.
A family group poses together in long white dresses and casual attire amid a sunny outdoor field setting.
An intimate couple's portrait in black and white showing an embrace in a sunlit meadow.
A romantic outdoor portrait capturing a tender moment in golden sunlight.
A close intimate moment between a couple in white attire against a bright natural backdrop.
A sunlit outdoor portrait of a couple in coordinated white and cream colored outfits.
A romantic portrait of a couple in coordinated outfits standing in a sun-drenched field.
A sweet family moment captured in a field with coordinating white outfits and turquoise accessories.
A family portrait in a golden field featuring coordinated white outfits and turquoise jewelry.
A touching father-daughter portrait in casual attire against a sunlit natural backdrop.
Four figures in flowing white dresses walk together through a sun-dappled meadow.
A small figure in a white lace dress and brown cowboy boots stands in a sunlit field.
A playful moment captured in a field as a white dress twirls with brown cowboy boots.
A sweet summer portrait shows a flowing white dress paired with rustic cowboy boots.
A joyful outdoor portrait with sunlight streaming through a white lace dress.
Two people holding hands in casual attire against a natural outdoor backdrop.

TIPs for a smooth family session with horses


plan your outfits out weeks before your photo shoot


With many people and multiple different colored horses, it can be hard to coordinate outfits. Andrea's family opted for neutral colors that compliment all of the horses' colors and all worked well with each...and definitely added to the Greek Gods and Goddess' vibes, might I add.


if you choose a location that is away from your property, make sure that your horses are familiar with the area well before the session date


Andrea's family likes to trailer their horses to Lagoon Valley in Vacaville to trail ride, so these horses have been here many times. This is such a beautiful place for photos, it was a perfect option for a location other than their barn. So, even though it was windy, their horses were very well behaved.


plan to arrive at least a half hour before you are set to start shooting


You will want to arrive at least a half hour or more before you start shooting to let your horses settle, to finish getting yourself and your family into their clothes and make any hair and makeup finishing touches.

Andrea and family were planning to arrive a half hour or more before we were set to start shooting, but life happened! The forgotten keys delayed them, but due to the time buffer that they allowed themselves, they still arrived with plenty of time (of which I assured her NOT to rush). I know that Andrea felt rushed (because she has multiple people and horses to wrangler) but in the end, we had plenty of gorgeous light to work with and their session was PERFECTION.


hire a photographer that works with horses, knows how to pose them and their owners and can smoothly transition many poses and many people in a short amount of time


Working with horses is not like working with puppies. Horses are very large, and sometimes very flighty creatures. Knowing their limits is important. Knowing how to have them stand and where to place their person is important.

It is also important to scope out the best locations with the best light to shoot before you start shooting. I arrived 45 minutes before we started shooting to ensure that I knew where we were going to shoot in order to have the maximum amount of camera time possible. I also always bring an assistant to help with getting ears forward (aka my mom and she is awesome!).

Upon booking an Equestrian session with Lauren Ann Pace Photography, I email a Welcome Guide that talks about all of these things: outfits, when and how to prepare you and your horse, and what to expect from me, your photographer, so that even if life gets in the way, your session with go as smooth as possible.


~scroll down to view the rest of their gorgeous photos and find out what andrea had to say about their experience with Lauren ann pace photography~
A couple walking together through a golden field at sunset.
A beautiful chestnut horse poses with someone in a white dress outdoors.
A chestnut horse with bridle stands beside someone in a flowing white dress.
Someone in a white dress stands beside a majestic chestnut horse in sunny field.
A peaceful scene of a chestnut horse grazing beside someone in white.
A chestnut horse grazes in a sunlit field under a tree while wearing an elegant white dress.
A beautiful chestnut horse stands in a peaceful field at golden hour.
A chestnut horse with bridle stands in a sunlit field on a warm evening.
A close-up view of a chestnut horse wearing decorative bridle in warm sunlight.
A gentle moment between a chestnut horse and someone in a white dress during golden hour.
A beautiful chestnut horse with bridle in a sun-dappled outdoor setting.
A chestnut horse with bridle stands in golden afternoon light.
A close-up portrait of a chestnut horse with bridle against bokeh background.
A chestnut horse with dark bridle poses in warm afternoon sunlight.
A chestnut horse grazes peacefully in a sunlit field while wearing riding gear.
Two horses grazing together in a grassy field, captured in black and white.
A small child in a white dress pets a dark brown horse while wearing cowboy boots in a sunny field.
A young child in a tulle dress stands next to a grazing horse in a sunlit meadow.
A small child in cowboy boots and white dress stands beside a dark horse grazing in golden light.
Black and white photo of a child in a tulle dress and boots standing next to a horse.
A child wearing a white tulle dress and cowboy boots touches a brown horse in warm sunlight.
A child in white dress and boots stands beside a grazing brown horse on a sunny day.
A child in a white dress stands close to a brown horse grazing in a sunny field.
Lauren was beyond awesome, so easy, friendly, fun and relaxing to work with. Wrangling kids, horses, wind all while trying to catch the setting sun was a challenge, but Lauren made everything so seamless. We’ll absolutely be coming back again for pictures in the future.
Woman in white dress stands beside majestic brown horse in outdoor setting.
Woman in white lace dress poses with brown horse wearing decorated bridle.
A dark brown horse stands beside someone in a flowing white dress against a soft natural background.
A majestic dark horse nuzzles close while being pet in an outdoor portrait session.
A beautiful brown horse with bridle poses with someone in white during a photoshoot.
A striking dark horse stands proudly while being photographed with someone in a white dress.
A group poses with their horses for a formal outdoor photo in natural surroundings.
A vintage pickup truck serves as backdrop for a casual outdoor photoshoot.
A couple poses together against a classic blue car during a sunny outdoor session.
A classic black pickup truck parked against a mountain backdrop during sunset.