Sweet pony (of all kinds) enthusiasts! You are going to adore this unforgettable family portrait session last autumn. Meet the Thommesens – Kaitlyn, her husband, Derek, and their two delightful daughters, Brynn and Laiya.
Picture this: a quintessential autumn day on their beautiful farmette in East Troy, Wisconsin filled with enough gorgeous greenery and golden light to make a photographer swoon. I was tasked with capturing the essence of their family life, complete with a bunch of adorable animals attempting to steal the spotlight.
To be honest, it was actually their two girls, Brynn and Laiya, who stole the show with their charismatic personalities and twirling, matching dresses. If I wasn’t already completely besotted with this family, then I met Tucker, Kaitlyn’s heart horse, a 22-year-old solid bay paint, who anchored the group with his calm demeanor. Tucker had been with Kaitlyn since high school. And that sweet boy had really been through it, losing an eye to squamous cell carcinoma. But Tucker was still as handsome as ever, rocking his one-of-a-kind look.
Next up was Derek’s palomino paint quarter horse, Brew, who brought goofy charm to the mix. Brynn and Laiya’s mini, Cappuccino, and their elegant Gypsy cross, Star, rounded out their horsey crew. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Thommesen’s energetic pack of dogs on hand for the session and my behind-the-scenes assistant, their cat.
When Kaitlyn and I first spoke she joked, “Good luck trying to get all the animals together” so I immediately set a personal challenge for myself: to capture as many of their four-legged friends as we could in a single portrait. It was no easy feat to get all those critters to cooperate for a portrait. However, with a bit of creativity, we nailed it creating a series of portraits that truly reflected the joyous bond this family shares.
With golden light filtering through the trees, their farmette was the perfect backdrop for the shenanigans – I mean “session”. The vibrant colours of fall added a touch of magic to the portraits, creating a visual sense of warmth and love that permeated the air.
Photographing this sweet family alongside their menagerie was an experience I won’t soon forget. This session was not just about capturing images; it was about freezing in time warmth, laughter, and connection. It was an honour and privilege to be chosen for such a challenge with portraits transformed into heirlooms for this family to cherish for years to come.
