Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing Marina and horse, Max, at the stunning Totleywells. These two have been building their partnership over the past few years, and it was such a joy to capture the bond they’ve developed.
We were blessed with a warm, softly lit day that gave us the perfect conditions for portraits. Totleywells is a fabulous yard, that offered gorgeous backdrops, with its mix of fence lines, lush foliage, and open spaces that framed Marina and Max beautifully.
One of the special touches of this shoot was weaving Marina’s love of dressage into the session. We styled some of her outfits with a nod to the discipline, creating a look that felt both elegant and personal to their story. Max looked incredible against the natural setting, carrying himself with poise and a quiet confidence that shone
Marina’s partner, Gus, also joined us for parts of the shoot. Not only did he step in for a few moments on camera, but he was also an amazing help behind the scenes—keeping Max relaxed, lending a hand with little details, and making the day feel fun and easy. The resulting collection of images was a perfect reflection of their story so far—full of warmth, personality, and connection.
Marina chose to take home a beautiful 16" frame, along all of her resolution digitals to tell their story from start to finish. It’s always wonderful to see the images come together in such a timeless way, and it was an absolute pleasure getting to know Marina, Max, and Gus throughout the process.
Totleywells has quickly become one of my favourite places to shoot. Over time, I’ve been lucky enough to build relationships with many of the wonderful liveries there, and each session feels like coming back to a little community. I can’t wait to return soon and capture more stories in such a special setting.