A horse and its rider enjoy an outdoor photoshoot session near rustic wooden fencing on a sunny day.
A man and woman smile at a farm gate surrounded by cattle and a horse in a lush green field.
A smiling couple stands with a black and white horse and small dog in front of a white van on a farm.
A woman sits on a log beside a brown horse in a field, holding its reins in a serene black and white photo.
Woman in light blue gown walking with a bay horse on a sunlit tree-lined gravel path.
Woman in white lace dress walks alongside a brown horse on a sunlit forest path.
A woman in a light blue gown walks with a brown horse on a sunlit forest path.
Young woman in black top smiling while gently embracing a brown horse outdoors among lush green trees.

A Prom Dress, a Few Horses and a Rather Beautiful Idea


When Samantha first got in touch about arranging a portrait session for her daughter Emma, I knew it was going to be something rather special. Miles of rolling Peak District farmland, beautiful views, a garden full of lovely locations and, of course, plenty of horses. It sounded like my idea of heaven!


The original plan was for Emma to have some photographs taken with her horses in her prom dress on the day of her prom. As beautiful as that sounded, I couldn't help thinking about the potential for muddy hooves, slobbery noses and a rather expensive dress that still needed to make it to the evening in one piece!


Instead, we decided to arrange her portrait session for a few weeks later, once all the excitement of prom had settled down. Not only did it take away the worry of keeping her dress pristine, but it meant we could really make an afternoon of it, with different outfits, plenty of time and the opportunity to include more of Emma's horses.


And I'm so glad we did.

Two men kneeling outdoors with two black Labrador dogs in a black and white portrait photo.

Arriving at the family's home in the Peak District, I was completely spoilt for choice. Samantha and Chris have the most wonderful setting, surrounded by miles of farmland, with stunning countryside views, a beautiful orchard beside the house and their own livery yard.


It was one of those glorious summer afternoons where everything looked beautiful in the sunshine, and with so many locations to explore, we certainly weren't short of inspiration.


Emma's horses are a huge part of her life, from showjumping and team chasing to days out hunting, so naturally they were going to feature heavily in our afternoon together. Delilah and Willow, the smaller ponies, had returned from their holidays, while the handsome bay hunt horses, Huxley, Duke and Woody, were enjoying their summer break.


At one point, we even ventured into the garden with the big hunt horses, which was quite an adventure in itself!

Thankfully, they were wonderfully behaved, and it was lovely to photograph them somewhere a little different from their usual surroundings.


One of my favourite moments of the afternoon, though, happened almost by accident. A bonfire was slowly burning out near the driveway, and the last wisps of smoke were drifting through the trees. With the sunlight filtering through the branches, it created the most beautiful, atmospheric light. It was one of those little moments you simply couldn't have planned, and exactly the sort of thing I love about photographing outdoors.


As an equine photographer, there's something incredibly special about working in locations like this. Every corner offers something different, and when it's somewhere as personal as your own home, the photographs become even more meaningful.

Young woman in navy blouse sits on bench between two bay horses with white markings, posed against brick wall.
Woman walking two chestnut horses down a sunlit gravel path lined with green trees at a horse farm.
Young woman smiling between two bay horses with white markings, holding reins near a brick stable.

More Than Just Prom Photographs


Of course, with a family quite so fond of animals, it would have been a shame not to include a few of the dogs too!

Alongside the horses, Samantha and Chris have quite the collection of four-legged characters, including Labradors, Cocker Spaniels, terriers and even a former police Malinois. But it was their newest arrival, an utterly adorable ten-week-old Cocker Spaniel puppy, who helped us finish the afternoon on a particularly lovely note.


Looking back at Emma's photographs, what I love most is how much more they became than the original idea of a few pictures in her prom dress.

We captured Emma dressed up for such a memorable milestone, but also surrounded by the horses she loves, in the countryside she calls home. From the grandeur of the big bay hunters to the softer moments with the ponies and that gorgeous little puppy, the whole afternoon felt wonderfully personal.


And that's what makes these sessions so special to me. The opportunity to capture not just how everything looks, but a little piece of life as it is right now. The horses, the family home, the familiar surroundings and all those details that will mean even more as the years go by.


If you'd love to capture your own family's story, surrounded by the horses and animals that make it yours, I'd be delighted to create something beautiful with you.

Ready to go for it and get gorgeous images like this for yourself?

Call me on 0795810155, or use the button below to fill in the enquiry form and lets start planning your dream portrait session.

Two riders stand with their animals - a dog and a dark horse relaxing outdoors in a black and white photo.

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