IMPERIAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA - Sometime ago, I was contacted by Susana via Instagram to do her wedding portraits. Yeah, only wedding portraits. Nothing else. This isn't the first time someone requested this. But it is still rare. She explained to me she already had the wedding, but the photographer at her wedding broke his foot during the wedding portraits and had to leave. So she wanted a photographer to do some wedding portraits in her wedding dress. But she wanted them with their horse.
Yes. Giddy up. Giddy up. Let's go horse.
My interest peaked. I love horses. I love to photograph them, I love to ride them, and I just love them. When I heard that their horse was pure black, the wild call awoke in me. The Black Rider was summoned. After that, I was no longer in control of myself. She hired me, and I was ready for it.
The day of the shoot, I arrived at the trailhead in Imperial Beach because that's the trail Susana had chosen. We were supposed to meet with the groom and the horse at the beach, but we got lost in the web of trails. After nearly an hour, we finally found Roberto after we retraced our steps back. I fell in love with that horse with no name. I asked them if I can name him. Of course, they said yes. Who would say no to a bright-eyed grown man acting like a child? Heck, they even let me ride that horse all the way to the beach. My chivalry was out the window, I didn't mind that the bride had to walk.
WHAT? SHE DIDN'T WANT TO RIDE THE HORSE. Don't judge me.
The location was set and perfect. The horse was wild. The bride, beautiful. The groom, handsome. The son, scared of the horse. I was at peace. I wanted to shoot longer, but, unfortunately, the horse was not having it and their young son as well. But we did manage to get some beautiful shots. and yes, I rode The Black Rider back all the way to the parking lot. No regrets.