Real Women, Real Animals, Real Images
Real Images aren’t always taken on the perfect day. Sometimes, you have to just go with the flow. Of course, certain times of day provide better light, and we plan accordingly. However, sometimes you have to just shoot what you’ve got.
Dr. Neely Heidorn & Dazy
Neely’s day started with heavy fog, and it had started lifting by the time I got to the farm in Livingston, Louisiana. Neely was actually excited about the fog, and we were hoping to capture a few foggy images. We were able to do just that! The fog had started to lift, but we made the best of it.
Dr. Neely Heidorn is the real deal and is a perfect model for this project. She has been Louisiana’s Equine Extension Specialist for the last 16 years. I first met her as the incoming horse specialist for our state at the Southern Regional
4-H/FFA Horse Championships, when my daughter, Alex, was competing. Neely is an advocate for the Louisiana Equine Industry and a great role model for the young women of our state. Not to say that she doesn’t influence young men - she happens to be a terrific boy mom!
Neely and her little red dragon, Dazzling Catalena, make an awesome team. Dazy is a ten-year-old American Quarter Horse that was started as a cutting horse, went on to reining, and has been doing ranch horse classes with Neely the last few years. Neely has put showing to the back of the agenda for a bit so that she can raise her 3 boys, but the horses are a big part of her boy mom journey. She credits Dazy for her sanity!
As we were shooting our session, Neely and I had a conversation about making time and doing something just for ourselves as women - just for joy. Neely referred to the poem by Patty Barnhart, "When I’m an old Horsewoman." She was referencing her love of turquoise and how she was happy to get to wear her jewelry for the photos. I think this particular poem touches so many of us who truly love horses. We may sit in a different saddle or wear a different pair of boots, but none of us can imagine not having horses in our lives. This poem transcends riding disciplines. Maybe you wear turquoise, diamonds, pearls, or gemstones, but we all end up at the barn!
Don’t wait! Go wear the jewelry of your choice and get your favorite photographer to capture some moments for you. You won’t regret it!
