When you think of the images from your shoot, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s just for moments shared between you both, but what if that moment wasn’t just yours and your horse’s? What if it also holds the team behind you both, the childhood pony that started it all, or the trusted barn dog that's always in life's picture.
Your photoshoot is all about bringing your equestrian lifestyle to life in artwork, and if you'd like to include anyone else in the experience, even for just 10 minutes, it's the perfect opportunity to do so.
A Portrait of Life, Not Just a Pose
When we come to frame your pictures, it isn’t just about how it looks—it’s about how it feels. It’s about capturing the soul of your lifestyle, the essence of your relationships, and the quiet beauty in the everyday. When we include the full cast of your life—be it your spirited dog, your daughter and her Shetland pony, or your partner doing their best to hold onto one of the ponies—we begin to create something far richer than a portrait. We create an heirloom.
My (Not-So-Secret) Secrets to seamless group shots
I’ve been doing this a while, and I’ve got more than a few tips and tricks up my sleeve:
- Working to suit the horses - When we're got any number of horses involved, making sure they are happy and relaxed in our set-up for group shots is the no.1 priority. Often using spaces like the front of the stable barn, or over the field gate, are places they are every day that we can use to make our jobs a little bit easier.
- Catching attention - Trying to get multiple ears forward, dogs looking alert, and everyone relaxed can be a mouthful. Luckily, I often have an awesome assistant on hand with treats, and neighing app, and some funky dance moves to set an epic scene for the images.
- Session flow that works – We build in gentle transitions: bringing in the bench , then bringing in the family, then the adding in the dogs to finish. Building things up means everyone has time to relax into the shots before the big group one is taken.
- Natural posing guidance – Not everyone feels at home in front of the camera (human or animal!), but I’m there to guide you every step of the way with gentle, flattering direction that never feels stiff or forced.
- Time for spontaneity – Some of the most magical moments happen in-between poses. A nudge on the head from the horses, and or a kiss from the dogs. Often, as soon as we sort out where everyone is standing, the group shots talk for themselves in creating character, and real moments to look back on.
Every family looks a little different. However your story unfolds, I’ll be there to photograph it with care, creativity, and the kind of attention that turns a photoshoot into something to celebrate.
