Working With the Light: Olivia and Moike’s Friesian Horse Photoshoot

There are days when the light is soft, golden and seemingly made for photography.

And then there are days when the sun is absolutely relentless.

This Friesian horse photoshoot with Olivia and her beautiful mare Moike was very much one of the latter.

It was the summer of 2022 and we had glorious sunshine, a very warm afternoon and very little shade to work with. The kind of bright, mid-afternoon light that can make photographing a black horse particularly challenging.

But sometimes you simply have to work with what you have.

Meet Moike

Moike is a beautiful Friesian mare who had found her way to Olivia after being passed between several homes. Olivia had bought her from Scotland and by the time of their photoshoot they were clearly establishing something very special together.

Moike had arrived at her forever home with Olivia and the two had developed a lovely partnership.

They enjoyed hacking and dressage together and Olivia had also recently started exploring liberty work with Moike. She was already doing brilliantly at it, and there was a lovely sense of trust between them that came through in the photographs.

That connection is always one of my favourite things to photograph.

It isn't just about having a beautiful horse standing in the right place. It's about the relationship between horse and owner, the little moments of communication and the way they naturally look towards each other.

And Olivia and Moike had that in abundance.

Photographing a black horse in harsh summer light

The conditions weren't exactly easy.

The afternoon sun was high and strong, with very little shade available. Photographing a black horse in bright sunlight brings its own challenges because there is a very fine balance between retaining detail in the horse's dark coat while also dealing with areas of much brighter light.

Add a colourful patterned dress and a mixture of strong colours into the scene and there was plenty for me to think about.

But I actually enjoy working in conditions like this.

You can't always choose the weather or wait for the perfect light. Sometimes the location, the time of day and the weather simply give you what they give you and the job is to find the angles, compositions and moments that work within it.

Rather than fighting the sunlight, I looked for ways to use it.

There are moments where the strong summer light becomes part of the image rather than something to avoid. It creates contrast, highlights the shape and movement of the horse and gives the photographs a very different feel from the soft, muted look you might get on an overcast day.

And Moike's dark coat worked beautifully against the summer landscape.

A dress that worked beautifully with Moike

Olivia had chosen a reddish-pink floral dress for the shoot, and it turned out to be a lovely choice.

The colours worked surprisingly well alongside Moike's rich black coat, adding a little warmth and colour to the images without distracting from the horse.

I always encourage clients to think about what they genuinely enjoy wearing rather than trying to create some perfectly styled version of themselves.

What matters most is that you feel comfortable and like yourself.

The right outfit can then become part of the story rather than simply something you've worn for a photoshoot.

The photographs tell the story

Looking back at this session now, it is the relationship between Olivia and Moike that stands out to me most.

There is a quietness to some of the images, despite the strength and presence of a Friesian horse. Moike has that unmistakable elegance that the breed is known for, but alongside Olivia she also felt relaxed and connected.

And that is what I wanted the photographs to preserve.

Not simply this is my horse, but this is us.

The hacking, the dressage, the beginnings of their liberty work and all those ordinary moments that make up the partnership between a horse and their person.

Those are the photographs that become meaningful long after the day itself has passed.

A little about Friesian horses

Originally from Friesland in the Netherlands, Friesians are known for their striking black coats, flowing manes and tails, feathered legs and naturally elegant movement. They have a long association with carriage work and classical riding but today they can be found enjoying everything from dressage and hacking to liberty work and other disciplines.

There is something particularly distinctive about photographing one. That combination of presence, movement and sheer elegance is difficult to miss.

And Moike was certainly no exception.

Looking back

This shoot was several years ago now, but it is one I still enjoy looking back on.

Not because the conditions were perfect. They really weren't.

Quite the opposite.

It reminds me that good photographs don't require everything to line up perfectly. Sometimes the most interesting images come from making the best of the light, the location and the conditions you actually have in front of you.

And, most importantly, from photographing a horse and their person who have a genuine connection.

That is something you can't manufacture.

Your horse. Your story. Your photographs.

Whether you have a Friesian, a native pony, a competition horse or the horse who has simply been part of your life for years, your relationship is worth photographing.

My equine photoshoots are relaxed, personal sessions designed around you and your horse, with beautiful finished artwork created to be enjoyed in your home.

If you'd love photographs that capture more than just what your horse looks like, I'd love to hear from you.