Iain, Colin & Fergus

I first met Iain at Burghley Horse Trials last September when he visited my stand, and I was thrilled when he got in touch to arrange a portrait session at his stunning farm in Loughborough. Spending the day with Iain, Dawn, and their incredible animals was an absolute pleasure.

The session primarily focused on Iain and his gorgeous geldings, Colin and Fergus. It’s not often I get to photograph men so fully embracing the experience, so working with Iain and his horses was a real joy. I loved the outfit choices he had prepared and thoroughly enjoyed going through them with him on the day, choosing the perfect look for each shot.

Of course, we couldn’t do the session without including Dawn’s beautiful Highland horses. Their majestic presence adds such character to the farm, and their history is remarkable—they’ve even had a royal visit and have featured in BBC documentaries for the incredible work Dawn does with the Riding for the Disabled Association. The yard itself has a wonderfully inclusive and welcoming feel, equipped with all the specialist tools needed to support disabled riders, and it was truly inspiring to witness the care and dedication that goes into this work.

We also included a few special family shots with their labradors, Bonnie and Brook, and Dawn’s horse Mags made a lovely appearance too. Capturing all the personalities of the animals, along with the beauty and charm of their working home, made for a session that was wonderfully diverse.

The day was a wonderful reminder of why I love what I do—creating portraits that capture not just the beauty of horses and animals, but the people who care for them so deeply. Thank you, Iain and Dawn, for welcoming me into your home and letting me document your incredible family, both human and equine.