Gemma, Sierra, Flash and Millie

Two weeks ago, I had a shoot with Gemma, and her lovely team of horses she rides, as well as the lovely little edition of Millie her dog too! Our location was Totleywells Equestrian, which is the perfect type of yard for photoshoots. With a complete mixture of locations, from open canter tracks, to a big barn entrance, these types of busy yards provide endless variations of photos to suit all styles. The weather we got was a complete mix of sunshine, clouds, and a breeze as well.

From the classical effect of the black backgrounds, to the rustic charm of the iron barns, every backdrop provided a unique canvas to showcase the deep bond Gemma shares with these horses. We started in the fields, and the walk down was worth it to make sure we got our foliage shots too. Shooting in some dramatic skies really brings the locations to life in early spring, and it highlighted the beautiful bond these guys all share.

We of course had to give Flash some time to shine, and he was perfect to shoot with around the yard. These "around the yard" locations really depend what the light is like on the day, and can range from anything such as corrugated iron backdrops, to wooden gates or fence lines. Having this flexibility in locations is a fabulous starting point when shooting with horses who like to keep moving! Constantly changing what we are doing, and where, keeps everyone happy and engaged throughout the shoot.

Our collaboration

This shoot was made even more special through a wonderful collaboration with Totleywells Equestrian, and I’m thrilled to share that there is more to come in the next few weeks. Seeing these images come to life in a collection, will be truly rewarding—I can hardly wait for everyone who knows Gemma and her horses to see them

Stay tuned for more from this exciting session, including our yard offer, and special yard shoot days. If you are considering your own bespoke equine portrait experience, I would love to chat!