Equine Photographer Strikes Gold With Pony’s Maternity Photoshoot

She carries so well…

Photo courtesy of Liz Lacroix of Genesis Ell Photography.

Liz Lacroix does frequent maternity and newborn photoshoots for human clients, but she never expected equine maternity could become her new beat. A spontaneous photo session with her pregnant pony mare Paisley has been unexpectedly popular online.

“It was on a snow day so my daughter was home. She came up with the idea for our mare, who is very pregnant. I have all the props — crowns, jewels and wraps — so we trudged out and dressed her up. It was pretty spur of the moment,” Liz explained.

That spur of the moment idea certainly made an impression. Since posting the gallery last week, Paisley’s photos have been widely shared by horse lovers and photographers alike and Liz has found herself with a new niche service for customers.

“It’s a crack up! I’ve booked two horse maternity shoots!” she said.

As for the pony, she’s just glowing:

Photo courtesy of Liz Lacroix of Genesis Ell Photography.

Paisley, a Section A Welsh, came to Liz as a rescue who “had issues she couldn’t overcome,” so while she would never be suitable as a lesson horse in Liz’s hunter/jumper program, her excellent bloodlines made her a prime candidate for breeding. Paisley was bred to another Section A Welsh and is due in six weeks. Liz assures us we can look forward to newborn photos, too!

Liz has been a lifelong rider but learned photography while she was stationed in Japan with the Marine Corps. After retiring from the military she apprenticed with a photographer in San Diego and started doing newborn and maternity photography in her garage studio. Now based outside of Reno, Nevada, Liz does family and equine photography with the surrounding high desert landscape and distant mountain range serving as a gorgeous backdrop.

Photo courtesy of Liz Lacroix of Genesis Ell Photography.

Her daughter, Cadence, has taken after her mother for her horse sense and creativity. She helps her mom bring photo projects to life like the fantasy world depicted below.

Liz’s busy schedule juggling multiple occupations as a mom, rider, trainer and photographer sounds par for the course for the driven, active and creative type she is, but she wouldn’t change it for the world.

“I quit my 9-5 and started doing what I’m doing and never looked back,” she said. “Getting to make your passion into your job…I’m so lucky.”

Find Genesis Ell Photography on Facebook to see more of Liz’s work and book a session for you… or your pregnant pony.

Photo courtesy of Liz Lacroix of Genesis Ell Photography.