Jess & Apple

Some portrait sessions stay in my mind because of the people, some because of the horses, and others because of the beautiful places I get to explore along the way.

My portrait session with Jess and her lovely horse Apple was definitely a combination of all three.

Jess had been gifted her equine portrait experience, and after a few changes of plans and a little rescheduling, we finally managed to find a date when everything came together perfectly.

And it was certainly worth the wait.

Jess is lucky enough to call a beautiful farm and livery yard in the heart of the Peak District home. Surrounded by rolling hills, traditional stone walls and the most wonderful countryside views, it really was a dream location for an equine portrait session.

One of the things I particularly loved was being able to explore the different parts of their home, from the fields and yard to the beautiful garden surrounding the house.

As an equine photographer, I absolutely love discovering places like this. Somewhere that feels personal to the people I'm photographing, with beautiful surroundings and little corners that offer endless opportunities for photographs.

Rather than travelling somewhere specifically for their portraits, we could make the most of the place Jess and Apple know so well.

And with Jess having chosen some absolutely gorgeous outfits for the occasion, I couldn't wait to get started.

One of the things I particularly loved about this portrait session was Jess's styling.

She'd put together some beautiful outfits that worked wonderfully with the natural colours and textures of the Peak District countryside.

I always think thoughtful styling makes such a difference to the finished photographs, particularly when we're creating portraits that will eventually become artwork for the home.

We made the most of the farm's stunning surroundings, using the traditional stone walls, open countryside and beautiful views to create a lovely variety of photographs.

We were also able to explore the gorgeous farmhouse garden, which offered something completely different from the surrounding fields and yard.

I love being able to incorporate these more personal parts of someone's home into their portraits. They're often the places people walk past every day without giving them a second thought, but through the camera, they can become something really special.

Of course, Apple had a few ideas of her own about how the afternoon should unfold.

She wasn't necessarily the most cooperative model I've ever photographed, particularly putting a few sassy moves in at the end of the shoot, but that's all part of working with horses.

I never expect them to stand perfectly still or behave impeccably for an entire portrait session. They're animals with their own personalities, and sometimes we simply need to be a little patient, adapt our plans and work around what they're comfortable doing.

Despite Apple keeping us on our toes, we managed to create such a beautiful collection of photographs.

And I think that's something worth remembering. Your horse doesn't need to be perfectly behaved for us to capture beautiful portraits together.

With a little patience, a relaxed approach and an understanding of how horses behave, there's almost always a way to make things work.

Creating Something Beautiful in the Place You Call Home...

Looking back through Jess and Apple's photographs, what I love most is how beautifully everything comes together.

The soft summer colours, the character of the Peak District stone walls, Jess's gorgeous styling and, of course, Apple herself.

But what makes these photographs particularly special is that they were created at home.

There's something lovely about having portraits taken in the place where you spend so much of your everyday life with your horses. The fields you look out over each morning, the yard where you spend countless hours and the beautiful views that become such a familiar part of your world.

Sometimes we're so accustomed to our surroundings that we forget just how wonderful they really are.

That's one of my favourite parts of being an equine photographer. Being able to look at somewhere familiar with fresh eyes and create something that feels a little extraordinary.

Of course, not everyone has a beautiful Peak District farm on their doorstep, but that's the wonderful thing about planning a bespoke portrait session. Whether it's your own yard, a favourite place to ride or somewhere completely new, we can find a setting that feels right for you and your horse.

I also love that Jess's portrait session began as a gift.

Rather than receiving something that might eventually be forgotten, she was given the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Apple, creating photographs that will always remind her of this chapter of their lives together.

And although it took us a little while to get everything organised, the finished photographs were absolutely worth waiting for.

If you'd love to create something beautiful with your own horse, whether at home or somewhere special to you, I'd be delighted to help you plan your own equine portrait experience.