I’ve known Tayja and her family for a few years, so it was a lot of fun to be able to do her senior portraits. We started out in downtown Ontario and then headed out toward her parents’ house for some shots with their horses. I’ve photographed horses before, but mostly just candid pictures of my friends riding, nothing serious. Anyway, I guess we did alright!

 

I wouldn’t ordinarily bother with a jumping photo if her tummy is showing, but this seemed like a clever way to show off her tattoo. I like it, but it’s okay if you don’t.

 

Goofing around. But no, seriously, I love the orange wall of this coffee shop. I’d been looking for an excuse to take a senior here for photos. When I saw Tayja was wearing blue, I knew we had to go here. Blue is across the color wheel from orange, which means they enhance each other. Want your jeans to appear bluer? Wear an orange shirt.

 

 

Check out this stone bridge! Isn’t it cool?

 

 

 

 

I learned that when horses have their ears pointing forward like this, it’s like they’re smiling. Good thing Tayja is a lot better at getting her horses to smile than I am.

 

 

 

By this time the sun was going down, but that makes the perfect opportunity for silhouette shots. Although this isn’t a typical senior photo, like one that you’d submit to the school yearbook, I think it summarizes Tayja and her relationship with horses in a unique way.