We met Karen last year and learned quickly that she has a passion for horses and deep compassion for rescue. She provided photography services for the 2010 SAFE Benefit Horse Show at Donida Farm and captured some truly beautiful moments, even in the rain. Karen also donated some of her image work to HeART of the Horse II and spent all day supporting the event and admiring all the other great work there.
Meet Karen…
“Depicting horses has been my passion for practically my whole life. I started in early childhood with drawing and painting horses, moving on to a camera in my teens. After that it was taking pictures at shows or horse events and during riding. In 2005, when I volunteered at a private barn, I started to pursue horse photography more seriously, taking pictures of all of the horses there repeatedly.
I Have a background in fine arts, including photography, and I am a member with the Equine Photographer’s Network where I update my photography knowledge on a continuous basis. I prefer natural light and do so whenever possible as it brings the photograph to light. Fog, snow, frost or rain should not stop you to schedule a shoot; the light during these times can be amazing and can lead to a very special photograph.
With Horseback riding I stared about 20 years ago with German style dressage but soon switched to a more open style which places more emphasis on communication and less on control of the horse. I have always been awed by the baroque horses and like taking photos of the classical breeds the most. I now own a beautiful Arab-Trakehner mare and play with her regularly, try new things, and sometimes ride using the centered riding approach. This mare has led me on an exciting journey to greater self-awareness.
The horse-human bond and the beauty that is inherit to all horses is what I am trying to capture in all my photographs. I am always in search of the perfect pictures, the perfect light, especially in rescue horses, the spark that they display after only a short while of good care is amazing. With many horses being abandoned at this time for various reasons, I am very grateful to organizations like SAFE that step in and give them a new chance.”
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- photo by Karen Wegehenkel
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- photo by Karen Wegehenkel
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- photo by Karen Wegehenkel
Karen is offering the following special in March:
Schedule a portrait session this month and 50% of the proceeds will go to SAFE. Be sure to mention that you found her through SAFE!
Contact Karen at: Horse Photography by Karen Wegehenkel
email: horse@wegehenkel.com
Phone: 206–229-0248
Karen is an amazing person and a talented artist. I was so impressed with the gorgeous candids she got at the show last year.
You might also recognize Karen in one of the photos on January HeARTist, Liz Stabbert’s HeART of the Horse thread! Beautiful inside & outside as well as behind and in front of the camera!