Alisa is one of my best friends, and after so many years of friendship, I consider her family. This makes photographing for her, more meaningful and rewarding. She puts her heart and soul into the well being of her animals, and when she got a Clay Ranch baby in 2023, I knew I had a new chapter in her life that I wanted to capture.

DC El Bueno Bar, aka “Knox,” has been keeping her on her toes, every day causing mischief, and making Alisa fall more in love with him. On the day of this shoot, he was full of himself, trying to eat anything and everything (thank you to Alisa’s miniature horse that taught Knox that fun trick!), and we struggled through laughing at Knox, trying not to get licked or eaten, and being semi serious to get some honest photos.

After half an hour, we were popsicles in the cold Michigan winter, so we changed plans and let Knox out in the top pasture to get some liberty shots of him. The behavioralist in me lit up when I could clearly see that Knox had 3 modes, ranch horse genes, tip-tappy toes of a mini, and high neck, tail flagging Arabian. His genetics were strong, and Alisa’s going to have so much fun training him in ranch work, but having him grow up with a sassy mini and a flashy arabian, most definitely was rubbing off on Knox. 😂

These were a few of my favorite photos from her Horse & Rider Session. Scroll to the bottom to see photos of Knox last Winter, and the week she brought him home as a weanling.

“Oh my God you’ve outdone yourself - as always!!! You are sooooo incredibly talented. I LOVE them! ❤️❤️❤️ I love his mane and tail blowing in the wind taking on life. He looks like a model with his own fan. I love that his wineglass marking is still showing even if it’s not as strong. These are stunning Jess. I can’t thank you enough! You even managed to get him not being an alligator 🤣 ”

— Alisa