On a gorgeous fall day, Arden and her soulful boy, Calamari graced my camera lens at Windsor Stables in Milton, Georgia for their Horse & Rider portrait experience.

Arden’s journey with horseback riding began when she was a child. Always active, Arden requested to give horseback riding a try, her wish was granted…but only after she had tried everything else on the track and field! Ever since then, Arden and her horses have been inseparable. Her dedication to sports and passion for equestrianism has proven beneficial, guiding Arden to be hard working, focused, and ultimately accepted into eight top schools.

Despite Calamari being a little fidgety that day, Arden, who was about to celebrate her 20th birthday, handled him effortlessly, never once losing her patience with him. The session was a delightful medley of affectionate posing, candid shots, and some giggles in between. 

Arden’s Mom, Jacqueline’s desire for this portrait session with Cal was not a whim but a long-standing vision….one that Arden did not share but jumped into willingly nonetheless.  This is common among my younger clients, I think sometimes is just because their parents are the ones who notice how quickly they grow and change, making each milestone more sentimental and the desire to freeze time and hit pause on their child’s growing up increasingly stronger with each year that whizzes by.  Regardless of who is the driving force behind doing a portrait session with me, even the most resistant subjects have a great time and love their portraits.  We all leave with sore cheeks from smiling and I often hear “ Wow, that was so much more fun than I imagined it would be”.

 Seeing Arden in her show attire, with Calamari looking regal as ever, was a sight to behold. For the latter half of the session, Arden changed into a stunning mint green dress paired with white western boots, a look she carried effortlessly. The contrast between the formal equestrian attire and the casual dress perfectly encapsulated Arden’s personality: an accomplished equestrian who is also a vibrant and fun-loving young woman.

Not a family to do things by halves, Arden’s parents had plans for a significant revamp of their home decor. It’s been a while since their last family portraits – when Arden was just five years old!  

They envisioned replacing the existing canvases adorning their long wall in the room that Arden affectionately calls the “museum room” with fresh portraits of Arden and her majestic horse.  And a large framed statement piece from this session was destined for the wall above the couch in the den. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Charlotte Detienne (@charlottedetiennephotography)

Asides from Arden’s impeccably elegant hands and fairy-like grip on the reins – seriously, it makes all the difference when a rider doesn’t “death grip” a mangled bundle of reins; what struck me the most during this session was the palpable bond between Arden and Calamari. I witnessed a depth of connection and understanding that was nothing short of beautiful.  I’m sure that our paths will cross again in the future, but for now, these timeless portraits of a girl and her horse will serve as a testament to their unbreakable bond and shared journey.