Malory & Holly and Emma & Sky {Prusko Sisters}

This session was on a beautiful fall evening at Shadowlands Ranch with sister Malory and Emma. I had photographed both girls at the Killerney show earlier in the spring and was excited to meet them and their two horses. The evening could not have been more perfect, the sun was shining brilliantly and the fall colours were in their full life.

I arrived and the girls were finishing grooming the horses in the pasture. Their outfits were both perfectly colour coordinated with the colours, beautiful orange and yellow tones. I could already tell that this would be a beautiful session.

Both Emma and Malory were so kind and sweet and within minutes we were all laughing and smiling as we lead the horses towards the back forest. We started in front of a gleaming yellow stand of Aspen trees, the perfect background for the fall portraits.

Once the camera came out, it was clear that Holly and Sky could not be more different in personality. Holly was hot and attentive, easily perking her ears, but also only standing still for a few seconds at a time. The moments she would standstill, it was very clear that she and Malory shared a very strong bond. I know from my own experience that it can be hard to love a hot and energetic horse and it can be frustrating but as Malory put it, "the rare occasions that she’s calm and standing still and I can stroke her face and she will put her head in my arms, it’s the best feeling in the world." It was clear in capturing their images that they shared a special connection and I'm sure under saddle all that energy and excitement must make them quite the competitive pair.

Sky was quite the character in front of the camera as well and did his best to make me work for some great images. He would not put his ears forward for anything. Front throwing sticks, waving my magic attention stick and the girl's mom running around trying to get his attention, nothing worked! I couldn't help but laugh and capture their partnership as it was. The gratitude and connection between Emma and Sky was something beautiful to capture. There were many moments of them leaning on each other and seeming to speak in a way without words that was magnetic and unique to their partnership. It was clear that they shared a kindredness in their spirits, something that I felt privileged to preserve.

Preserving these memories and moments for the Prusko sisters reminded me of the intricacies and uniqueness of each equestrian partnership that I am lucky enough to capture. No bond of horse and rider is the same and no session will be the same. Each time I am lucky enough to capture something altogether individual to that partnership. It was a privilege to capture the two very different bonds of both Malory and Emma with their horses and to preserve the different personalities of the horses. It was truly a treasure.