It was snowing more than expected the evening I first met Stephanie Hiebesen of Right Touch Horse Training. We were both late because of slippery roads, but when she walked in the door of the coffee shop where we were meeting, the warmth of her smile brightened the room. 

Stephanie is an up and coming young horse trainer with an impressive pedigree. She has a degree in Natural Horsemanship Training, learning the ways of legendary horsemen Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt, and Buck Brannaman. She also has a Master’s degree in equine nutrition, genetics, anatomy and physiology as well as equine psychology and behavior. 

Bottom line? She knows her stuff!

Stephanie came to me because she was looking for photography to help her improve her brand and communicate her passion for her work and her high level of training and skill. The primary goal for this session was to make images she could use to promote her training business at the Minnesota Horse Expo, which was supposed to happen last weekend, but unfortunately has been canceled due to Covid-19.

But the original timeline meant we would be doing these photos in the winter. When we were brainstorming, we talked about how we might create images that she could use year-round. My first thought was to do half the session in the barn using window and doorway light. I had no idea that the barn she trains out of, Bellwether Farm, would have such a beautiful interior! When the barn was recently renovated, they tore out half an aisle of stalls and repurposed the wood to create a beautiful wood backdrop we used for the photos! The wall was perfectly situated so I could utilize the light from a row of windows and a large door to create gentle images with dimensional light. The setting and light were perfect for Stephanie, who has a soft heart and depth of character.

After the photos in the barn, we moved outside, where the snow and pine trees made for a perfect Minnesota winter setting and a joy-filled ending to our time together.

Inspired by Stephanie’s session, I’m going to be offering a new service in 2020 – Equestrian Branding Photography. These sessions are for equestrian business owners, like Stephanie, who have an ongoing need for professional images they can freely use in marketing and social media. In just one session, we can work together to create months of beautiful content that tells their story, reflects their brand, and makes them stand out from the herd. If you’d like to learn more, visit my Equestrian Branding Photography page.