A Birthday Celebration for Ashleigh & Banjo

San Juan Capistrano, California

There’s something truly magical about watching a story come full circle. I recently had the absolute honor of photographing Ashleigh & Banjo for a special golden hour birthday session in San Juan Capistrano, CA. We met up in a local field that blooms every spring with wild mustard flowers—and this year, they were taller and brighter than ever, creating a sea of golden yellow that looked like something straight out of a dream.

This wasn’t just any session, though. The first time I ever photographed Ashleigh & Banjo was back in 2011, in this exact same field. At the time, Banjo was already a standout with his bold spirit and that unmistakable sparkle in his eye. Over a decade later, not much has changed—he still has that fire in him, and watching him rear up at the young age of 31 was such a full-circle moment. Horses that age aren’t usually so lively, but Banjo clearly missed the memo. It was heartwarming to see him still so connected to Ashleigh, still posing like a pro, and still full of personality.

Revisiting the field where it all began brought back so many memories—not just for me, but for Ashleigh too. This field has become something of a time capsule, holding snapshots of their journey together over the years. The sun dipped low and golden as we moved through the mustard blooms, with Banjo’s bay coat glowing in the light and Ashleigh smiling at his every move. It was one of those sessions that made me pause and take it all in—how lucky we are to witness moments like these.

Ashleigh & Banjo have a bond that’s rare and beautiful. They’ve grown up together, adventured together, and now they’re celebrating yet another year side by side. Documenting that kind of love and history is what makes this work so rewarding. Happy birthday to them both—thank you for letting me capture this milestone and for reminding us all that some connections really do last a lifetime.