Fleur & Lyra

Sometimes the most beautiful portrait sessions come together in the most unexpected ways. This particular shoot began as a model call, as I was looking for someone to help me update my welcome books and refresh a few elements of my style guide. Fleurella very kindly offered to step in and bring along her dog, Lyra — and the moment I saw Fleur’s incredible hair and Lyra’s striking eyes, I knew this was going to be something special.

What started as a simple portrait session quickly turned into a wonderful family morning in one of my favourite winter locations in the Peak District. Fleur made the most of the opportunity and brought along the whole family: her brother and sister, Teddy and Berry, her mum and dad Terene and Michael, their other lovely dogs Cookie and Pretzel, and her beautiful horse Carlos. It quickly became a real celebration of family, animals, and the landscape that surrounds them.

There is something truly special about the Peak District in winter. January and February often bring the most beautiful, subtle colours across the landscape — soft grasses, muted heather, frosty tones and pale winter light that simply cannot be recreated at any other time of year.

We were lucky enough to have a crisp, bright winter morning, the kind that makes the early alarm clock completely worthwhile. Yes, it was a little chilly, but sessions like this always prove that if you’re brave enough to wrap up warm and embrace an early start, the results can be absolutely breathtaking.

Fleur and I started by heading up the hill to capture some beautiful portraits of her and Lyra together, while the rest of the family got themselves ready below. Lyra was an absolute dream in front of the camera, and the connection between them made those first portraits incredibly special.

This location also has a gorgeous little bridlepath lined with tall pine trees, along with a rustic wooden gate that makes the perfect frame for portraits. Once everyone was ready, we moved there to capture a family image together.

Now, five people, one horse and three dogs could easily become chaotic — but this wonderful family absolutely smashed it. In fact, it was probably the quickest family portrait I’ve ever photographed! Everyone fell into place and within seconds we had the most beautiful shot.

After capturing the main family portrait, we split off into smaller groupings and individual portraits with the different dogs. Terene had a lovely idea for a family frame made up of several images, so we made sure to photograph everyone in different combinations to bring that vision to life.

Sessions like this are a wonderful reminder of why investing in a family portrait session is so meaningful. Life moves quickly, families grow and change, and our animals — who are just as much a part of the family — are with us for such a precious amount of time. Taking the opportunity to pause and document these relationships creates something truly lasting.

Portraits become more than photographs; they become artwork that tells the story of your family at this moment in time.

We finished the morning with some beautiful portraits of Fleur and her horse, Carlos. Fleur was incredibly brave and wore a short dress for these final images — despite the cold and a rather breezy hilltop! But the elegance of those portraits against the winter landscape made it completely worthwhile. The movement of her hair, the soft light, and Carlos standing proudly beside her created some truly stunning final images.

This session was such a joy to photograph and a perfect example of how a portrait experience can become a memorable morning spent together as a family, while creating artwork that will be treasured for years to come.

If you’ve been thinking about capturing your own family and animals in a beautiful setting like the Peak District, a portrait session is the perfect way to create something truly meaningful for your home — artwork that celebrates the people and animals who mean the most.