Question & Answers

Why do you like to photograph horses?

I have been around horses for half my life and understand how incredible the bond you can share with a horse can be. Every friendship is different and learning what is special about each one in a photo session, and then capturing this in photographs the rider can treasure, is very rewarding.

What is your approach to photographing horses?

I want to create images the owner of the horse can look with a smile on his or her face as the images capture the spirit and personality of the horse, so through an unobtrusive, relaxed and informal approach I’m able to do this.

There are several people at my yard wanting to have session, can you offer a discount?

This is something I am regularly asked and am very happy to provide you with discounted rates for multiple sessions at one yard, or two yards if they are close. If there are multiple sessions taking place I can offer half an hour sessions if someone would only like a few head shots of their horse. Rates for these can be found on the 'Booking your session' page.

My horse is particularly naughty and I am worried I won’t get many good photographs?

I fully appreciate your point here and have had some very demanding horses to work with in the past. I’m very relaxed in my nature and we can work with your horse to find what he or she would be happy doing. If your horse has some entertaining 'party tricks' that you love about him or here then lets recreate these in photographs! Perhaps she loves to pull a mare-ish face everytime you do something and you would like to capture this moment as it sums up part of her unique personality!

All the people in your portfolio are young, blonde with blue eyes?!

When I first started offering these sessions this was partly true but as the years have gone on more and more equestrians that have never had photo shoots before have approached me about commissions. Anyone should feel as though their friendship with their horse deserves to be photographed and I feel it is a priveledge to take the pictures for anyone.

I’m not very confident in front of the camera, is there anything we can do?

I hear this a lot and flows on from the previous answer. The sessions I offer have an emphasis on fun, feeling relaxed, enjoying the time you’re spending with your horse and letting this come through in photographs. Before the session begins we can run through ideas for photos, the type of images you’d like to have taken and any worries you may have. I have a portfolio of photographs that show a wide range of ideas and this can help to give you ideas and make you feel more comfortable. The experience is about the friendship you share with your horse and letting this come through into my camera frame, not a 'strike a pose' shoot.

I would like to get a gift voucher for my friend, how do I go about purchasing one?

Please give me a call or drop me an email and I can run through how to purchase a gift voucher. Your voucher can be personalised with a message and can include requested photos for example a particular head shot or portrait of them and their horse.

Can I purchase money off vouchers?

Most definitely, if you would like to give your friend or relative a voucher to go towards outcomes or an actual photo session this can be discussed. Once again I can provide you with a personalised gift voucher, the design, production & posting of the voucher is free of charge.

I saw a photo in an equine magazine that I would love to recreate?

If you have any ideas of what you’d like to have created please make a note of these. These could be newspaper cuttings, sketches, etc. and provide me with brilliant guidance to work to.

Do you have an assistant to help with photo sessions?

For every session I suggest that the owner of the horse asks a friend to help with the session. If a horse gets easily bored it can be very hard to keep him or her looking alert without someone attracting his attention (normally with food or doing star jumps!). Normally Amy, my partner, will help but sometimes she isn't available.

What happens if it rains?

I like to take provisional bookings and when I know what the weather is doing for the date, I’ll phone up the client to see if they are free for the date. If the weather changes for the worst I am more than happy to postpone at the last minute as heavy cloud cover and rain never makes for good photographs or a fun photo session. However, if you wish to cancel within 24 hours of the session due to non-weather related reasons there will be a charge.

I only want photos of my horse, none of me, is this possible?

This is more than fine with me and after I have taken a range of head shots, close up eye photos, artistic photos of his nose and numnah mark, for example, we can try a range of fun shots. Letting him go in his or her field and capturing him at liberty charging around, rolling and relaxing can be some of the most character filled photographs.

How much would you charge to travel to …?

As I travel across the UK offering sessions I am happy to provide you with a quote for travel. I am based in Sussex and on extreme occasions I may need to stay at a b&b the night before the session so I am fully refreshed for the day of the session. The charge for this stay would be passed on to you.