Ilya & Lena | Horse & Rider Photoshoot

Horse & Rider Photoshoot in Verona, WI

In the picturesque town of Verona, Wisconsin, I recently embarked on an exciting journey to chronicle the timeless bond between Ilya and her beloved horse, Lena. Set against the backdrop of their cherished barn, we were able to get some beautiful portraits that encapsulated the essence of Ilya and Lena’s deep connection, and I am so excited to share with you some of my favorite pictures from this shoot. I think you’ll agree that it celebrates the beautiful relationship between this experienced rider and her cherished thoroughbred companion.

For Ilya, Vernona’s rolling hills and serene landscapes have served as the perfect backdrop to nurture her passion for horses. In fact, she’s been taking lessons at the barn we took pictures at since she was just eight years old. There was a permeating feeling of joy and nostalgia as we made our way through the barn and set up for pictures. We were fortunate to have Ilya’s dad on hand, and he was eager to offer support and assistance behind the scenes. I've always noticed that the familiar presence that a loved one can provide adds a sense of comfort to a session, and Ilya’s dad was no exception—his help allowed the photoshoot to flow seamlessly, and we were able to focus on capturing the true essence of Ilya and Lena’s bond.

Lena is a beautiful horse, an off-track Thoroughbred. While Lena was bred and trained to be a racehorse, she now spends her time with Ilya enjoying comfortable rides or training in the dressage discipline. It was a fun challenge capturing Lena on camera, and I was focused on highlighting the grace and elegance of her movements. Capturing a powerful, moving object on camera is not always easy, but I was really happy with the pictures I got of Lena in action.

We also wanted to get some pictures of Lena and Ilya together, to highlight their bond and relationship. Ilya’s connection with Lena, which has been nurtured over many years, emanated a sense of profound trust and mutual respect, and these qualities became the driving force behind the portraits. You can really see in the way that they look at each other that there is a lot of love.

There is an artistry that exists within the rider and horse relationship, and Ilya and Lena gave me an opportunity to capture a stunning example on camera. There is a trust, respect, and love that binds them together, and using my camera to tell their stories is why I chose this as my career. I hope you love these pictures of Ilya and Lena as much as I do, and I hope that these are pictures that Ilya will enjoy for years to come.