Beyond A Pretty Picture: Capturing The Unique Bond And Connection Between Horse And Owner
- Emma Campbell, Equine Portrait Photographer
- Jul 15
- 5 min read
There is something very special about photographing a horse and their owner, who have tuned into each other’s behaviours and are now working as a team. Such relationships can often take years to form, and once trust, respect, and love is there, for a photographer, such partnerships are incredible to capture.
I first became aware of such powerful relationships when I purchased my Fell pony, Lathomdale Louie.
He was a 3 half-year-old, and had predominately been a conservation grazer, up on the fells, with limited human contact. I became fascinated by how I was going to reassure him that he was going to be loved and would have a home for life. I drew on horse behaviour resources and looked at ways - how best to communicate with him.
As the years passed, we grew to understand each other more, and I realised what we had was unique. He was reading my body language, and I his. We’d found a partnership, a team.
And this is what I love about capturing my clients and their horses! That every relationship is unique, and that’s what makes it so special. So much so, it has become the core of my photography work.
So, how do you capture it?
Here are my five top tips to help you celebrate these special relationships — and to help those being photographed see the true value in what has been captured.
1. It starts with a discovery call
Before a client books, I always ask them, “Why is now a good time to have an equine photoshoot?” What has prompted this move?
Do you know, no one wakes up in the morning and says, “Today I’m going to make sure I capture some memories — I’ll book a photoshoot.” There is usually an event or a trigger that has set off those initial thoughts, and it’s this that I want to learn more about — so I can tailor the shoot specifically to them.
Just by listening to a potential client can be incredibly rewarding. By asking meaningful questions, they begin to reflect on what their horse truly means to them, and how valuable these memories are.
Even if they don’t book a session with me at this stage, it’s often enlightening for them simply to be heard. And sometimes, that conversation plants a seed, and they return the following year to book.
2. Choose a location that is special to them
This, for me, is so important.
I want to capture the connection between horse and owner — and not place the horse in an environment they’re not used to. I don’t want their personality to change. I don’t want them on adrenaline, as they might be in a showground.
I often say to my clients:
“Where is your happy place?
Where do you both hang out?”
That’s where we’ll photograph.
This sometimes goes against the idea of creating a grand portrait in a beautiful landscape or in front of a stately home — especially if it’s not their home! But that’s okay, because that’s not my priority. Their relationship with their horse is.
When I visit a client’s location, I look for potential places to photograph — a field with tall grass, a mature tree, or an interesting barn or building. Their connection will make the image powerful; the surroundings will simply complement it — and always come second.
3. Keep posing to a minimum
I often see equine photography training courses suggest a long list of poses which photographers can use for their clients. Unfortunately, this never worked for me - as I often confused my clients, and the images rarely looked natural!
Instead, I tend to stick to just two or three poses. This gives perhaps a nervous owner something simple to focus on and helps them relax. One of my go-to approaches is to simply ask them to walk away and then come back towards me.
It’s a great way to start the session, and I find it relaxes both the owner and the horse.
The second is even simpler: just talk to their horse. Say hello. And as both begin to feel more comfortable, this is when the magic begins to happen.
4. Bring along a friend
If a client can bring a friend along, it makes a huge difference — especially if that friend brings a bit of humour and knows the horse well. An extra pair of hands is always welcome, particularly when they understand the dynamics of the partnership I’m photographing. But also makes the experience more enjoyable.
5. Keep your equipment simple
For every session, I use a straightforward setup, relying on a full-frame DSLR and my Nikkor 24–70mm f/2.8G ED lens, always working with natural light. I don’t use accessories like reflectors or flash — as I feel, they can distract or even frighten horses.
Again, this comes back to my desire to keep things natural and avoid anything that could hinder the horse’s personality from shining through.
My spare camera and Sigma 70–200mm f/2.8 lens are kept in the car, mostly for long-distance shots, such as those taken at the beach. With a fast-moving animal, for me, simplicity is key.
Want to learn more?
Emma is available for online mentoring and training. She’s passionate about education, and having experienced firsthand how mentoring helped her progress in her own work, he is now keen to pass on her expertise to help others.
For more information and to book a free 15-minute complimentary chat to see how Emma can help with your photography journey, visit: https://horse-portrait-photographer.uk/pet-and-equine-photography-training-and-mentoring/
Emma Campbell
Equine Portrait Photographer | Judge | Mentor
Emma is a full-time Equine Portrait Photographer based in the UK. She was one of the first photographers to be awarded a Master Craftsman by The Guild of Photographers for Equine Photography in 2020. And she has won numerous Photography Awards. Her work has been exhibited in the Design Museum in London and featured in Horse & Hound, Country Life, Your Horse, and Cumbria & Lancashire Life magazines.
In 2024, Emma became a Panel Member, Judge, and Mentor with The Guild of Photographers.
She also judged for ClickLive Masters and The British Photography Awards.
A former riding school instructor, Emma has a 2:1 BSc Hons in Equine Science and Business and a postgraduate qualification in Photojournalism. She also holds an ILM qualification in Effective Mentoring Skills with the British School of Coaching.
Website - horse-portrait-photographer.uk
Facebook - @ejcampbellphotography
This article is from the July issue of Equine Business Magazine
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