Jessica + Diams | Winter Horse Lifestyle Session

Inspired by the reward of hard work that farm life provides, my dear friend, Jessica, invited me out to document a snowy winter morning with her horse companion of 10 years, Diamond, or Diams for short. Horses have been an integral part of Jessica’s life since she was gifted riding lessons at 10 years old. Shows and events haven’t ever quite been her fancy; she prefers to explore the U.P. countryside by trail, taking in the fresh air and observing an abundance of wildlife. While in her 20’s, Jessica was met with many big changes, including big moves and career changes. Despite the challenges and uncertainty life presents, her one true constant has always been Diams. When away from the world in the pasture, time is able to slow down and stresses cease.

When I asked Jessica why a lifestyle session was important to her, this is what she had to say:

“I chose a lifestyle session with Diams because she is getting older, and she has been such an important part of my life. Time with the people and creatures we love is finite, and I've been saying for years that it would be great to capture the routine joys of being with her. Smithy, my dog, is always at my side [too], so it was only natural to bring her along for the session [as well].”

Diams is a 23 year old appaloosa. Unlike most appaloosas we grow up seeing plastic toy models of, Diams has what is known as a  “snowflake” coat. The older she gets, the more white her coat becomes. Most horses tend to stay the same color. Smith is Jessica’s young Australian shepherd who I’ve had the honor of photographing in her home before!

Then the snow picked up!

When we made our way back toward the barn, Diams became more relaxed in the close proximity of her fellow stablemates. Riding and walking in the snow can be challenging, and animals don’t always have the patience for photos. We seized the moment of calm, and just then, the snow picked up again, completing our shared session vision.