The Hart Family

My autumn portrait session with the Hart Family took place at their home, set right next to a forest — and it couldn’t have been a better location. Autumn was at its peak, with incredible colour everywhere you looked, making it the perfect backdrop for a relaxed, at-home family portrait session.

Like most families, they wanted to make the most of the opportunity, so we created a wide range of portraits. From individual portraits, to relaxed family group shots, and even images of just the people on their own, the session was designed to give them a varied collection of finished artwork to enjoy in their home.

Yoshi has a particularly lovely story. She’s a Blue Cross rescue and, many years ago when she was a foal, she was actually a companion pony for one of my friend’s horses. It’s funny how things come full circle — she’s now all grown up and has had a fantastic life with the Hart family.

Photographing Grace and Yoshi together was a real pleasure. Their connection was completely natural, and those are always the moments that translate so beautifully into a finished portrait.

Mum Elizabeth’s horse, Gaitor, was included in the session, along with the family’s Shetland pony, Maisy, and their whippet, Emerald. With Grace and George, Mum Elizabeth, and Granny Rachel all taking part, it was a true family session, capturing multiple generations together.

I must admit, this was one of the easiest family portrait sessions I’ve done. We captured the large group portrait in record time, and I was absolutely delighted with the final image. Everything flowed easily, and the result felt natural and very true to the family.

George was particularly happy that his quad bike made an appearance — a small detail, but one that made the portraits feel very personal to him.

One portrait from this session — Grace with Yoshi — has since gone on to win Country & Equine Photographer of the Year 2025.



The image received Gold and Highest Ranked in the Children & Ponies category before being awarded the overall title. I remember knowing, as I took it, that it was something special, and I’m incredibly proud of the recognition it received.

This session is a wonderful example of how relaxed, thoughtful portrait photography at home can result in truly meaningful artwork. By photographing the Hart family in a place that matters to them, we were able to create portraits that feel authentic, unforced, and deeply personal.

Their finished images reflect not just how they look at this moment in time, but who they are as a family — their connections, their personalities, and the life they share with their horses and ponies. Timeless, honest, and full of character, these are exactly the kind of portraits that become part of a family’s story for generations to come.