We were lucky to catch up with Alyssa Smolen-Falk recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alyssa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

There’s a quote from Art Wolfe that has resonated with me through the course of my adulthood and has been a huge part of my journey as an equine photographer. “There is some ancient memory in us as humans that makes the warmth and smell of the horse seem familiar, even if they have not been an integral part of our lives.”

I didn’t grow up with horses, despite constantly asking my parents for a horse of my own. Horses have been in my blood since I was a kid. My passion for them continued to grow as I got older, and as my interest in photography began in high school, I knew that I wanted to find a way to combine both passions after graduating.

At the time, horse photography was barely a thing. My knowledge of the photography world was minimal, and it felt like the idea of becoming a full-time horse photographer was outlandish. However, I was determined to find a way to make my idea come to fruition.

I knew I needed to find horse owners that were willing to be my photography subjects to get experience photographing both a horse and its owner, and I continued to build connections in the horse world to help build my portfolio to begin advertising my services. I knew I wanted to have more confidence in my skills before taking the next steps of growing my photography business.

Alyssa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an equine photographer and designer based in the Twin Cities. I help horse owners honor the legacy of the most important equines in their lives through creating beautiful artwork and tangible memories. My passion for horses drives my business and is the heart behind pursuing my photography full-time.

Just after my 30th birthday, I welcomed my first horse into my life, a 6 year old Arabian gelding named Frank. My dreams of being a horse owner had finally come true, and I was eager to begin life as a horse owner. Six months after he came into my life, he had a life-ending injury. My husband and I were devastated, and despite our sadness and turmoil of experiencing something so pivotal, I knew that my photography services held a new level of importance. I looked through my phone photos and thought “I wish I had more photos of us together.” Horses are a part of our hearts, and I aim to provide that heart for my clients.

Since Frank’s passing, I have a new gelding I get to call my own, a 7 year old Friesian cross named Orion. I’ve been making an effort to have photos taken of him and I together and have prints hanging on our wall next to our framed print of Frank.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’m a passionate horsewoman and I put my heart into my photography, and I think my clients and colleagues see that. I photograph the way I see horses and the way I see the world; the little moments that can go unnoticed, the love that every day life can bring. I do everything I can to ensure the experience people have with me is always pleasant, laid back, and enjoyable, and I leave every session wanting my clients to walk away from it thinking “that was so much fun.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being a creative person my entire life, I’ve always enjoyed being hands-on and creating artwork that brings others happiness. Now pairing my photography with my love of horses, I get to meet so many amazing people and share in our passion. Some of my closest friendships have been built because of my photography business, and knowing I get to bring joy to others through my photography sets my soul on fire.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alyssasmolen.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/alyssasmolen_photography
• Facebook: facebook.com/alyssasmolenphotography
• Other: TikTok: tiktok.com/@alyssasmolen_photography

Image Credits
Photo of Alyssa by Shelley Paulson Photography