With the first snow of the season, we decided to return to one of our favorite shooting locations, but this time with a very different vision. A horseback riding club, a bold young woman named Mitra, and an outfit that was far from the usual flowing dresses or delicate tulle. Leather, faux fur, and a cowboy hat gave this shoot an entirely new atmosphere.
Our spirited black horse brought a special kind of energy to the session. He wasn’t used to snow and didn’t quite know what to do with it. He danced around, shifted in and out of frame, constantly challenging the rhythm of our work. But standing beside Mitra, something shifted, his energy met hers, and something quietly poetic happened.
Mitra’s gaze toward the horse was soft but steady. Her hands, gentle and unafraid, offered a quiet trust. Then came a moment of transformation, she changed her hat. A small accessory, yes, but it changed everything. Suddenly, the mood softened. The edginess turned into warmth. The woman in the frame looked more serene, more feminine, not just in clothing, but in presence.
In one frame, she wore a half-smile and a playful expression that broke through the cold. In another, she gently closed her eyes as the horse leaned into her touch. These were moments that couldn’t be staged, they had to be waited for.
And for me, that was the real work of the day, waiting, watching, letting the story unfold on its own.
There were technical challenges too. The cold, flat light made everything feel muted. The sun stayed hidden behind clouds, and the snow didn’t bounce light the way I’d hoped. We had to keep adjusting, moving to find the right angle, to keep the mountains softly visible in the background, all while our horse playfully pulled us off balance. He clearly wanted a gallop, not a portrait.
In every shot, it was the small details that mattered: a slightly tilted hat, a hidden smile under the brim, a hand resting gently on a restless animal. I loved capturing the contrast between the toughness of leather and the softness of manicured nails. That subtle tension held the beauty of the whole experience.
Photography that day taught me patience, not just technical, but emotional. There was no control here, only presence. And sometimes, that’s enough. A girl and a horse can carry a story all on their own, no script, no poses, just connection.
And if you’re patient, the camera listens.
| photographer | camera | lens |
|---|---|---|
| @farideh.shahedi | sony a7 iii | 24_70 f 2.8 |
