On 25th of november 2010 I received her first email.

 

“Dear Sara,

Everytime I see your posts on Facebook, I’m astonished by your photos. I really love the way you are able to capture special moments with amazing light and color.
Today I saw the photo of the doctor on the beach with a horse, and then I knew I had to ask you something. 

I have been inspired by horses all my life, since I was a baby. I started horseriding when I was 4 and now I’m 23 and still in love with these beautiful animals. 
That’s why I would like to ask you if there is a possibility to have a photoshoot captured by you with my horse. 
Due to my school, I have to go on an internship abroad which means that I will have to sell Lux, my wonderful horse. It is not an easy choice, but I think it’s not fair to keep him, while I can’t take care of him while I am abroad. Still, he’s a great horse with a great personality, and with his white head and beautiful lightbrown color he looks like he just came from some fairytale.

I hope you will take this unregular request into consideration, I would be really delighted! Looking forward to your reaction!

Kind regards,

Geraldine 

Maassluis NL”

Everything about her request and choice of words showed me what a great personality she has. It requires a certain amount of unselfishness and love to desire the best for the ones you cherish. Even if it means letting them free to go, be loved, cared for and get the best attention possible, somewhere else. Even if it hurts like nothing else ever has, still that desire for the utter best. That is real love, it is so beautiful!

On 29th of August 2011 she called, Lux has found a new owner…….. she is coming to pick him up tomorrow, she said. We hadn’t contacted each other much when she was studying abroad and I was busy photographing and meeting clients. Suddenly her call, but especially the emotion in her words, changed my schedule for that evening. A couple of hours later I found myself driving together with my father, to meet Geraldine & her horse Lux. In between all the emails, shoots, weddings and editing, my father had organized a fun day at the beach near my place (Bloemendaal) to see the daughter he had not been seeing (at least) for the last 60 days, due to her fully booked schedule! Now we are driving away from my house to fulfill a girl’s dream. Father is sitting beside me while I drive and from the look in his eyes I know I am doing the right thing. Thank you father for letting me be the best person I can possibly be, even if it means less quality time with the man I am so proud of having as a father and role model.

The young beauty: Geraldine arrives with her mother and sister at the beach-club in Hoek v. Holland (The Netherlands) and while I am busy with the styling of the shoot,my ‘grand amore’  Menno joins my father for a drink. A couple of minutes later I meet the fairytale horse; Lux on the beach. That evening, the air, the sea, the sand and even the wind screamed LOVE. It was magical to photograph the beauty of love between Geraldine and Lux and share that magical moment with the men of my life and the women of Geraldine’s life. It was emotional, fun but most of all something to always remember. An Everlasting Moment.

My father always says, sharing is caring.

Enjoy!

♥