Catherine & Phi

A Special Reunion with Catherine and Phi...

One of the loveliest parts of being an equine photographer is getting to see familiar faces again, especially clients who have been with me since the early days of my business.

Catherine was one of those clients, so returning to photograph her with her lovely horse, Phi, a few years after our first portrait session together was particularly special.

This time, however, there was a slightly different reason behind their photographs.

Phi has been facing some health challenges, and although Catherine continues to enjoy precious time with him, she knows that their future together is a little uncertain.

We wanted to create a beautiful collection of photographs celebrating their relationship, capturing them together on a lovely summer's day, surrounded by the familiar places they both love.

Because sometimes, the most important photographs are the ones we make time for before we realise just how much they'll mean to us.

A Relaxed Summer Afternoon, Plenty of Polos and One Very Good Boy...

We knew that Phi might find standing around for photographs a little challenging, so it was particularly important that we planned everything around him. We started in the yard, close to his familiar stable, taking our time to see how he was feeling before gradually making our way towards his paddock.

And I have to say, he was an absolute superstar.

We needn't have worried quite so much, because Phi was incredibly patient with us, although I think his favourite part of the afternoon was when we removed his headcollar and let him enjoy a little freedom in the field.

With plenty of Polos, some lovely grass and Catherine by his side, he was perfectly happy.

Those quieter moments were some of my favourites.

There was no pressure for Phi to stand perfectly or do anything he wasn't comfortable with. We simply worked around him, allowing Catherine to enjoy spending time with her boy while I captured their relationship naturally.

And that's exactly how I believe an equine portrait session should feel, particularly when photographing older horses or those who need a little extra consideration.

There's Never a Perfect Time to Capture Your Memories...

Something I've learnt over the years is that there's rarely a perfect time to arrange photographs with your horse.

Life gets busy, the seasons change, and it's so easy to tell ourselves we'll organise something next year.

But the reality is that we never quite know what's around the corner.

For Catherine, having these photographs taken while Phi was feeling fairly comfortable and happy was incredibly important. Rather than waiting until circumstances became more difficult, we were able to create beautiful memories together on a warm summer's day, with Phi enjoying his favourite treats and the familiar surroundings of home.

Catherine now has a gorgeous piece of framed artwork to enjoy every day, alongside a beautiful collection of photographs documenting their relationship.

And I hope that whenever she looks at them, she'll be transported straight back to that afternoon. The sunshine, the laughter, the endless Polos and the joy of simply spending time with her lovely boy.

Ultimately, that's what photographs are for.

Not just remembering what someone looked like, but remembering exactly how it felt to be there.

If you've been thinking about having photographs taken with your horse, please don't feel you need to wait for the perfect moment. Sometimes the most beautiful memories are made on an ordinary day, doing the things you've always loved together.