Erin and Stanley: Horse Girl Dreams (Just a Little Later in Life) in Elkton, FL

Some stories hit you in just the right way and Erin’s session with her beautiful roan gelding Stanley is one of those. Erin came to horses as an adult, and let me tell you, she is all in. She’s fully living her best horse girl life, and Stanley, a retired ranch horse from Texas, is soaking up every minute of being adored in what I like to call his “loved by a grown woman” era.

We created equine portraits at the peaceful, green horse farm where Stanley now lives in Elkton, Florida, just outside of St. Augustine, and the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. We started with black background studio portraits, capturing Stanley’s handsome features, his kind eye, and quiet strength. Then we moved into liberty and action images, letting him show off his personality and stretch out in the tall green grass.

Of course, the heart of this session was Erin and Stanley together. The connection between the two of them is undeniable, and it came through in every image. We finished out the evening in the most stunning clover patch with a glowing silhouette sky and a few more portraits under the old Florida oak trees, which always deliver that timeless, natural backdrop I love as a horse photographer in NE Florida.

And because Erin believes in celebrating her whole crew, we also included her husband and their two beautiful dogs for a full family portrait session—and yes, everyone behaved like pros. (The dogs may or may not have tried to steal the show… we’re not naming names.)

After the session, Erin and her family joined me for their viewing and ordering appointment, where we designed a custom heirloom album featuring her favorite moments. The standout? A dramatic silhouette of her and Stanley that now lives on the acrylic cover of her album—a perfect statement piece for the coffee table, book shelf, or to take to the office anytime she wants to show off her amazing life with horses.

Erin has also been such a support to Fast Horse Photography this past year. From assisting me during other sessions to help capture the perfect horse expression, to generously sharing Stanley as a model for tack companies like Two Horse Tack and Total Saddle Fit, she’s become a part of my creative community.

Sessions like this are why I love what I do. I provide boutique equine photography in St. Augustine, Elkton, and throughout Northeast Florida, and I work with horsewomen of all ages and experience who want to celebrate their story—whether they’ve been riding their whole life or just found their way to the barn a little later.

Want to create something meaningful with your horse? Visit FastHorsePhotography.com to learn more about equine portraits, black background photography, liberty sessions, and custom artwork options.

– Cara Taylor Swift
Fast Horse Photography
Boutique Equine Photography in Elkton, FL and Northeast Florida