Portraits NW is a fine art equine photographer based in Portland, Oregon, with over 15 years of experience. I drive anywhere in Oregon and Washington for horse sessions, from studio-style portraits in your barn to beach sessions at Nehalem Bay.
I'm Kolu Westcott, a full-time professional photographer and an endurance rider with my own BLM mustang, so I work at your horse's pace and read their cues before I ask for anything more. Choose a barn studio session with studio lights and a minimalist backdrop, or an outdoor session on your favorite trail, in a wide-open field, or on the beach. I recommend having a handler with us, and standard horse safety practices always apply. Every session begins with a complimentary phone consultation and ends with artwork made for your home: framed prints, canvases, and albums.
Equestrian studio portraits
The Barn Studio
Your barn becomes a quiet little studio for the day, with studio lights, a minimalist backdrop, and plenty of time for your horse to relax. The goal is a portrait that feels polished and timeless while still looking unmistakably like your horse. I work at your horse’s pace, taking the time to settle them in and create those small details that make a portrait feel alive.
The Great Outdoors
For horses who belong in the landscape, we take the portrait session outside. Your favorite trail, a wide-open field, the coast, or somewhere that feels uniquely yours can become the setting for your artwork. I love an adventure, and I’m willing to go wherever the right image takes us. If that means riding my own horse up a mountain to find the perfect light and landscape, I’m all in.
These sessions are about more than finding a pretty backdrop. They are about creating artwork that tells the story of your horse, your partnership, and the places you love to ride together.
From a quiet barn to the top of a mountain, we’ll find the setting that feels like you.
Outdoor portraiture
Outdoor sessions are calm, fun, and centred around your horse. We choose a location that feels like part of your story and work at their pace. No posing experience is needed. You will be guided with patience, care, and an eye for the little moments that feel most like the two of you.
The Experience
01
Schedule a Consultation
We’ll discuss your horse, answer questions, and begin planning your portrait experience.
02
Planning Session
Together we’ll choose the style and location that best fits your vision.
03
Portrait Session
Enjoy a relaxed, guided portrait experience designed to create timeless artwork.
04
Artwork Design Appointment
View your portraits and select the artwork that will become part of your home.
Your artwork appointment
After your photoshoot, we welcome you into our studio to see your portraits for the first time and choose the artwork that will live with you. Together, we create the heirloom canvas, fine art prints, and treasured albums.
book your session
Portraits NW is centered around creating tangible artwork for your home. Your session begins with a creative fee, which is applied in full toward your portrait collection.
Creative fee $500
Following your session, we’ll design your artwork together, selecting the pieces, sizes, and finishes that best suit your home and your story. Every collection is thoughtfully commissioned and made specifically for you.
Portrait collections begin at $1,200, with most Portraits NW families investing $2,500 or more in finished artwork. Collections are centered around a statement wall portrait, with complementary smaller pieces designed to bring your favorite poses into the spaces and moments of everyday life.
From heirloom wall portraits to beautifully crafted pieces meant to be held and enjoyed, your artwork is created to become part of your home and remain part of your family for generations.
"Kolu brings a masterful artistry to her work that is unparalleled. I have had the honor to have Kolu photograph my animals multiple times, in the Tulip Fields and on the coast, as well as a "studio session" in my barn. She has the unique ability to capture the precious moments between the poses that are the memories of our lifetimes."
— Wendy B.
"I’ve gotten pictures with Kolu since I was little and she is the best! I’ve also helped behind the scenes with a horse photoshoot and I only have great things to say. She works her hardest to make it a fun and comfortable experience."
— Teagan M.
Are you an equine photographer in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. Portraits NW is a fine art equine photographer based in Portland, Oregon, and I drive anywhere in Oregon and Washington to photograph horses and their people. I have over 15 years of experience, and I'm an endurance rider myself.
Do you photograph horses at my barn?
Yes. Horses can’t come to my studio, so I bring the studio to you. For a studio-style session, your barn becomes a quiet little studio for the day, with studio lights and a minimalist backdrop. I work at your horse’s pace.
Can we do an outdoor session instead?
Absolutely. Your favorite trail, a wide-open field, the coast, or anywhere that feels like yours can become the setting. I love an adventure. I’ll even ride my own horse up a mountain to find the right light.
Do you offer beach horse sessions?
Yes. I photograph beach horse sessions at Nehalem Bay on the Oregon coast. We'll plan the details together during your complimentary phone consultation.
Where do you travel for equine portraits?
I'm based in Portland, Oregon, and I drive anywhere in Oregon and Washington to photograph horses and their people, from the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon to Puget Sound and Eastern Washington.
What does an equine portrait session cost?
Every session begins with a $500 creative fee, which goes in full toward your portrait collection. Collections begin at $1,200, and most clients invest $2,500 or more in finished artwork.
Does my horse need to be well behaved or trained to pose?
No posing experience is needed for you or your horse. I take the time to settle them in, read their cues, and know when to wait. I recommend having a handler with us, and standard horse safety practices always apply, so everyone, horse included, stays safe and relaxed.
What happens after the session?
You'll come to my studio to see your portraits for the first time. Together we'll design your heirloom canvas, fine art prints, and albums.
Do you offer memorial or senior-horse sessions?
Yes. I offer Twilight Sessions for senior horses and horses nearing the end of their lives. These sessions are a priority for me, and I can schedule them on short notice, because I know how precious this time is. The easiest way to book one is to call me at 503-451-3897, and we will celebrate your horse and the bond you share.
A portrait for the years you shared
Let’s turn the bond you carry in your heart into art you will see every day.
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