Two horses, one white and one dark bay, and two people in black blazers on a wide stretch of Assateague Island shoreline. This is an engagement session built around the animals as much as the couple. Below are the frames I would show first, along with what I would plan for if you want horses in your own session.

If you are looking for an Assateague Island engagement photographer, you can see the full set in the Assateague Island engagement gallery.

Starting close

I began with the quietest picture of the day: the two of them forehead to forehead, with the white horse leaning in beside them. Horses are curious, and a curious horse that stays close gives you an expression no one can direct. I kept the frame tight and let the gray sky and water stay soft behind them.

Engaged couple in black standing forehead to forehead on the beach while a smiling white horse leans in beside them, soft gray sky and water behind
Forehead to forehead, with the white horse leaning in.
Woman with a blonde ponytail pressing her face to the muzzle of a dark horse, sand dune and grasses behind her
Cheek to the horse's muzzle, a dune behind her.

Black tailoring against pale sand

Black blazers and white shirts were the whole palette. On pale sand and a soft sky that is enough: the two of them read clearly from a distance, and the horses, one white and one dark, repeat the contrast. When you plan wardrobe for a beach session, I would keep it simple and let the setting supply the color.

Smiling couple in black standing arm in arm between a white horse and a dark horse on a sand dune
Arm in arm between the two horses.
Woman and man in black blazers sitting on a dark bay horse holding hands, a white horse beside them, soft golden light in a pale sky
Hand in hand on horseback in soft light.

Wooden breakwaters and calm water

Lines of weathered posts run into the water along this shoreline, and they gave the frame something to lead the eye. I used them twice: wide, with one rider small against the water, and closer in, with the couple and both horses standing on the stones.

Couple in black standing on a stone and timber breakwater beside a dark bay horse and a white horse, calm water behind
The couple and both horses on the breakwater.
Woman standing with a dark horse at the end of a long timber and stone breakwater, calm gray water and sky
One rider and one horse at the end of the breakwater.

Movement on the beach

A session with horses can be still, and it can be fast. Once the horses were comfortable we let them move: a slow trot along the water and, in black and white, a full gallop across the sand. For motion I let the dunes blur, so the horse stays sharp against a soft background.

Black and white photograph of two riders galloping their horses across the sand, one dark horse and one white, dunes blurred behind
Two horses at a gallop, in black and white.
Woman riding a dark horse at a trot along the shoreline, sand kicking up behind them, calm water and gray sky
A trot along the shoreline.
Rider on a white horse rearing up on the beach in soft golden light, a breakwater and water behind
Rearing in golden light.

Walking the horses in golden light

Between the faster frames we simply walked. Leading the horses along the water's edge gave me the easiest, most natural pictures of the two of them together, and the warm, low light made the sand glow.

Couple in black leading a white horse and a dark horse along the shoreline in warm sunset light, a ship on the horizon
Leading both horses along the shoreline.
Black and white portrait of a couple in black standing between a white horse and a dark horse, the man reaching toward the white horse's bridle
Black and white, two horses and one portrait.

A kiss between the horses

I always leave room at the end of a session for something simple. Here it was a kiss between the two horses, once everyone, people and animals, had settled.

Couple in black kissing between a white horse and a dark horse on a sand dune
A kiss between the horses on the dune.
Black and white photograph of a couple kissing between a dark horse and a white horse
The same moment in black and white.

Planning an engagement session with horses

A few things I would think about before you book a session like this:

  • Check the rules for the location first. Parks and beaches have their own policies on horses, permits and photography, so confirm what is allowed before you plan.
  • Work with an experienced handler. A calm, familiar horse makes the session safer and gives you better pictures.
  • Plan around the light. Soft, low light flatters skin, sand and water, so I usually schedule a session toward the end of the day.
  • Choose simple, fitted clothing. Close tailoring and boots look right on horseback and move well, and plain colors keep the horses and the setting in focus.
  • Give the session time. Horses need a few minutes to settle, and the best frames usually come after that.

If you are planning an engagement session with horses in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC, get in touch and tell me about the setting you have in mind.

Black and white photograph of a couple galloping on a white horse across the sand, dunes and trees behind
Racing the shoreline, in black and white.