I’ve spent much of my life around horses and I truly believe they’ve made me a better photographer, especially on a wedding day.

Horses are incredibly intuitive. They don’t respond to the words you say. They respond to the energy you carry. You can’t fake calm with a horse. If you’re anxious, frustrated or overwhelmed, they’ll feel it before you do. The only way to find any connection is to regulate your own emotions first.

That same energy shows up at weddings.

A wedding day is filled with so much emotion. With all the moving pieces and so much care poured into the day, it’s only natural for the energy to run high. Everyone wants things to go beautifully, and in the midst of all that excitement, it can be easy for things to feel a little overwhelming at times.

This is where I carry what I’ve learned in the barn into the way I move through a wedding day. I believe deeply in being a steady presence. Someone who doesn’t add noise or chaos, but instead brings calm. Someone who can quietly hold space for whatever shows up without trying to control it.

Horses have taught me that presence is a two-way street. You can’t expect calm if you’re not offering it. I try my best to bring that same grounded energy to weddings. The best moments aren’t created by direction, but by trust in simply allowing things to unfold and allowing people to be themselves.