A Summer Horse Photoshoot with Liv & Milly

There are some photoshoots that stay in your mind, even years after you photographed them.

Liv and Milly's summer photoshoot is one of those.

I photographed them back in July 2022 at the livery yard in Hartshorne, Derbyshire, where Milly was kept. It was one of those lovely summer days that wasn't particularly sunny, but was warm and comfortable, actually, pretty much perfect weather for a horse photoshoot.

And Milly certainly brought her own personality to the day!

I believe she is an Irish Sport Horse, and she definitely had plenty of sass. But honestly, those little quirks and personalities are exactly what I love about photographing horses. They aren't just beautiful animals standing there waiting to be photographed. They all have their own characters, expressions and opinions, and I want those things to come through in the photographs.

A relaxed start to the photoshoot

We started the day with some casual outfits jeans and T-shirt which worked beautifully with the relaxed feel of the location.

One of my favourite things about photographing horses and their owners is that we don't have to rush from one photograph to the next. There is time to walk, explore, chat and simply spend time together.

We wandered around the beautiful countryside surrounding the livery yard, making the most of the hills and the different backdrops they gave us.

And, of course, there was a little direction from me along the way.

I want my horse and owner photography to feel natural, but that doesn't mean I simply stand back and hope for the best! Sometimes I'll suggest where to stand, how to position yourself with your horse or encourage a little interaction.

It's about finding that balance between beautiful portraits and photographs that still feel like you and your horse.

Then came the summer dresses...

After our casual outfit, Liv changed into some gorgeous summer dresses and it completely changed the feel of the photographs.

We continued exploring the countryside, finding beautiful spots amongst the hills and making the most of the soft summer light.

I love incorporating different outfits into an equestrian photoshoot because it gives the gallery so much variety.

You can have the relaxed, everyday photographs that feel like you and then something a little more elegant and special.

And why not?

If you're going to celebrate the relationship you have with your horse, you might as well have a little fun with it!

It's all about the connection

For me, the best photographs aren't necessarily the ones where everything is perfectly posed.

They're the photographs where you can see the relationship.

A hand resting on your horse's neck.

A little look between you.

A quiet moment together.

A laugh.

Or perhaps your horse deciding that they have absolutely no intention of cooperating with the photograph you've just carefully set up!

Those moments are part of the story too.

And that's why I love photographing horses and their people so much.

Every horse is different. Every person is different. Every relationship is different.

My job is to help bring that out in the photographs.

Why I love being an equestrian photographer

Looking back at this session now, four years later, has reminded me just how lucky I am to do what I do.

I get to spend my working days outside, around horses, meeting lovely people and creating photographs that become memories for them.

What's not to love about that?

Of course, there are days when the weather doesn't behave, horses have other ideas and things don't quite go according to plan.

But that's horses.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I think that's one of the reasons I love a relaxed approach to equestrian photography. We don't need everything to be perfectly controlled. We can work with the horse in front of us, make the most of the location and allow the session to unfold.

Sometimes the unexpected moments turn out to be the photographs you love the most.

Thinking about a late summer photoshoot?

If you've been thinking about booking a photoshoot with your horse, late summer can be a beautiful time to do it.

There is still plenty of colour in the countryside, the evenings can have gorgeous soft light and, hopefully, we're past some of the intense heat that can make summer sessions uncomfortable for our horses.

I'm currently taking bookings for late August and September 2026, so there is still time to plan your own late summer horse photoshoot.

You don't need to know how to pose, and you don't need a perfectly behaved horse.

I'll guide you through the session, help you make the most of the location and give you plenty of direction when you need it — while making sure there is plenty of time simply to enjoy being with your horse.

Whether you want relaxed photographs in jeans and a T-shirt, beautiful summer dresses, or a mixture of both, we can create something that feels personal to you.

Because ultimately, this isn't just about photographs of your horse.

It's about photographs of the two of you together.

If you'd love to create something special with your horse this summer, I'd love to hear from you.

Late August and September dates are now available.