There’s something incredibly special about photographing people in the place that means the most to them, and Sian and Mick’s session was exactly that. From the moment I arrived at their beautiful home in the Derbyshire countryside, it was clear this wasn’t just going to be a horse portrait session — it was going to be a celebration of their entire lifestyle, the animals they adore, and the memories they’ve built together.
We started the morning with the full gang — dogs Tinks, Teddy, Bailey and Sandy included. One of the sheep fields had a gorgeous stone bridge that Mick particularly loved, so we used that as the backdrop for some of the first family portraits. Their driveway was lined with the most vibrant yellow daffodils, which instantly made everything feel beautifully spring-like.
Spring sessions always have such a fresh, joyful feel to them, and these blooms made the perfect setting for timeless countryside portraits. Plus the spring morning light is always one of my favourite things.
As we wandered through the fields, the sheep and lambs became part of the story too.
Lambing season is such a huge part of Sian and Mick’s life, so incorporating it naturally into their images felt incredibly meaningful. In fact, two lambs were actually born during our shoot — one of those unforgettable moments that makes these sessions so much more than just photographs.
Those tiny little moments of real life are often the ones that end up meaning the most years later.
My favourite sessions are always the ones that embrace the chaos and beauty of a full animal-loving family, and this shoot had everything — horses, dogs, donkeys, lambs, cats and even alpacas making little background appearances.
We photographed big family groupings first before slowing everything down for some quieter portraits between Sian and her lovely horse, Cally. Those moments together were calm, emotional and full of connection — exactly the kind of images I love creating. In fact, the whole shoot was just of images I love creating.
After their session, we designed a stunning three-piece wall artwork for their lounge, giving Sian beautiful daily reminders of the animals and memories that matter most to her. That’s always the goal with my portrait sessions — not simply creating digital images that sit unseen on a phone, but artwork that becomes part of your home and your story.
If you’ve ever dreamed of capturing your own horses, dogs or countryside lifestyle in a meaningful way, I’d love to help you create something truly personal for your home. Whether it’s one horse, the whole family or every animal on the farm — those are always my favourite kinds of sessions. Get in touch to start planning your own luxury portrait experience.
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.
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