 My spurs are still jingling from galloping around Arizona with Shelley Paulson of Shelley Paulson Photography. Over the course of three days, I assisted Shelley on an equine photo shoot for Farnam Horse, found an amazing flannel shirt at Tractor Supply, and was able to have my very own photo session with the talented Shelley Paulson! Here's a little recap of our adventures. Shelley (fresh in from Minnesota) and I had a blast in Arizona together. We spent some time catching up in person since last seeing each other at this year's American Horse Publications conference in New Mexico. Shelley was my very first house guest at our new horse property, too!  Farnam, a maker of horse health products, recently held a contest called the SuperMask SuperModel contest where people submit photos of their horse and if selected win Farnam horse care products and a full-day photo shoot. This year's winner was to be photographed by Shelley Paulson Photography. Lucky for me, the winner happened to be located in the Scottsdale area, which is just outside of Phoenix. Shelley and I have been connecting on a business-level in a two-person mastermind. When she found out she was going to do the Faram session, Shelley reached out to me to be her assistant for the day. I jumped out of my cowgirl boots at the opportunity because obviously Shelley is awesome, but she is also considered one of the TOP equestrian photographers in the country! It was an honor to be asked to help her during the shoot with Farnam.  Barn aisle conversations in preparation for the photo session. We scouted the location the day before the photo shoot at a beautiful ranch in the heart of Scottsdale. It ended up being a rather crazy experience because there was a terrible storm that night. Luckily, the day of the photo shoot the weather was just perfect. It's so weird. Every time I have a visitor to Arizona, the weather gets strange. Before Shelley got here, it was 115 degrees for a week straight. HOT. When she arrived, it started storming, turned overcast, AND got COLD. I didn't expect it to be cold when we went out scouting. It had been the normal Arizona hot when I left the house. I was in a tank top and shorts! There was a cold, stormy wind blowing through the metal barn in the middle of a lightning storm while we were scouting. Brrrrrrr.  A view from inside the barn before the storm. Shelley suggested we go the local Tractor Supply after we wrapped up. We were hoping they would have hoodies or something. We were staying at a hotel near the shoot the first night and didn't have access to my plethora of sweatshirts at home in my closet Well, this is Arizona at the end of summer, so Tractor Supply didn't have hoodies yet, but there were these plaid shirts made of this soft, stretchy fabric. Shelley picked one out while I was using the ladies room. I walked up and grabbed the same shirt. I turned to Shelley and wiggled the shirt on the hanger. She smiled and said, "I know I already grabbed one." She shook her hanger back. Ha! "I can't really get the same shirt," I said. "Why not?" Shelley replied. So, we decided to just get matching shirts and be twins. We didn't really have much to choose from anyway. We went out to eat in our matching shirts, and we showed up to the photo shoot the next morning in our matching shirts. Guess what? Nobody even noticed! That was the funniest part.  Shelley and Carly rocking their matching Tractor Supply shirts! If you're ever worried about what you look like, don't. Most people are too concerned with whatever they're doing to even notice, so just go out there and rock your crazy self. I will never wear the shirt without thinking of Shelley and our fun Arizona adventure together!  I go behind the scenes of Shelley's camera! I'm working with Shelley again and traveling to California as her photo assistant, and I'm totally bringing my shirt. I learned so much at the Farnam photo shoot and I met some really great people, too.  A huge thank you to Farnam! They sent me a surprise goodie package to thank me for my help during the photo shoot. My spurs are jingling over all the wonderful horse products in the care package.  Thank you for the goodies Farnam Horse! Sissy was so excited to try on her own SuperMask that Farnam sent. She just had to model it for me, so we could take a selfie together!  Sissy loves her new Farnam SuperMask! I'm so fortunate that while Shelley was here we had time to do a portrait session together. I have these beautiful beautiful photos of Sissy that I'll forever be able to remember our time in Arizona by. Shelley really captured some touching moments between Sissy and me. Here's a few samples from our photo session in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve!  Photo: Shelley Paulson Photography  Photo: Shelley Paulson Photography  Photo: Shelley Paulson Photography  Photo: Shelley Paulson Photography  Photo: Shelley Pauslon Photography The whole time, gratitude was flowing through me because I was working with Shelley Paulson, I was coming off my own horse property, and going across the street to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve where I'll get to ride Sissy in the future. So much happiness was pouring out of me at the time. It was such a special adventure to work with and be photographed by Shelley. Listen to Shelley's Equestrian Author Spotlight! You'll learn ...
About Shelley Paulson Photography Shelley Paulson is an award-winning equestrian photographer based in Minnesota. She has combined her deep love of horses with her passion for creating heartfelt, meaningful images to create a thriving full-time career. Her work has been published worldwide and can be seen in various equestrian publications and in advertising for major equine brands such as Horse Illustrated, Western Horseman, Nutrena, and Farnam. Visit Shelley's website at https://www.shelleypaulson.com/  Equine Photographer Shelly Paulson & her Horses About FarnamWe know that the bond between you and your horse is special – it’s a partnership built on mutual trust. Our mission is to continually strengthen that bond with simple, effective and innovative horse care solutions that help make every moment of your life together safer, healthier and more enjoyable. Widely recognized as the leader in quality horse care products, Farnam offers an ever-expanding range of equine essentials. These include fly & insect control, dewormers, grooming, hoof & leg care, wound care treatments, leather care, stable supplies and nutritional supplements. As we mark our 70th anniversary, we’re proud to be your continuing partner in horse care. We know how special you and your horse are to each other. That’s why we’re in the business...we’re horse people too and love to share our equine partnerships with you. (www.farnam.com/who-we-are) About Equine Author Carly Kade Carly Kade & her Paint Horse Carly Kade is an award-winning equestrian author and the host of the Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast. Creative writing makes her spurs jingle! She writes fiction about horses, horse shows, Western pleasure and a handsome cowboy or two. Her books are for people just like her — crazy about reading, horses and cute cowboys! In her free time, Carly enjoys competitively showing her registered Paint Horse, works on her next novel, reads voraciously, spends time with her two adopted dogs, and loves exploring the great outdoors. In the Reins, the first in Carly's series of novels inspired by the equestrian lifestyle, has been an Amazon best seller for more than 10 weeks, is an EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award Winner for Best Western Fiction and has earned two Feathered Quill Book Awards in the Romance and Adult Book featuring Animals categories. The In the Reins equestrian romance series is available now in Audiobook, Paperback and eBook on Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks and Kobo. The In the Reins Horse Book Series  Comments are closed.
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Books by Carly Kade
In the Reins is an EQUUS Film Festival Official Literary Award Winner
In the Reins earns TWO Feathered Quill Book Awards
Cowboy Away Earns Carly Kade Second EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award
In the Reins is the Self Publishers Association Book of the Week
Book TrailerAuthor InfoCarly Kade writes for anyone who loves horses, handsome cowboys and a great romance. Creative writing about horses makes her spurs jingle! Archives
September 2023
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