Horse Portrait Session
This article takes you behind the scenes of a Lake District horse portrait session, explaining how experience, environment and a calm approach help create natural, meaningful equine portraits.
You really can’t get much more scenic than Cumbria. Rolling fells, open common land, changing skies and that unmistakable Lake District light all combine to create a setting that feels both wild and timeless – the perfect backdrop for a horse portrait photoshoot.
Add to that Connie and her beautiful Connemara horse, Flip, and you have a truly special combination. Their session took place on a spring afternoon just outside Caldbeck, a quiet village in the northern Lake District.
30 years on and reflecting back to my first pony – you just realise just how amazing he was!
The Personal Impact of a First Pony
It’s not until I reflected back to my first pony, that I realised just how amazing Piper O’Dundee (pictured here – with me! was.) He was the best Highland pony.
He was so patient with me and really looked after me. He gave me the confidence to try new things, whether that was competing or developing my riding. He helped create the building blocks to progress with my horsemanship, and I fundamentally believe, the key skills I learnt then, have created the building blocks to how I am around horses today.
Emma x
Your horse photoshoot in the landscape that is special to you
Embracing the Elements (and the Unexpected)
As with many outdoor horse photoshoots, the weather forecast wasn’t exactly reassuring. Brisk winds and heavy showers were predicted, and if there’s one thing we know about Cumbria, it’s that the weather rarely sticks to one plan. After checking the weather apps and talking everything through, we decided to go ahead.
Ironically, it was the sunshine that became our biggest challenge. Bright, harsh light can create deep contrast on faces, and with grey horses like Flip, it can easily cause coats to appear blown out and lacking detail. This is where experience really matters. Small decisions – such as positioning Connie with her back to the sun, using natural shade, or adjusting angles and locations – make a huge difference to how relaxed, flattering and timeless the final images feel.
Light is everything in photography. Get that right first, and everything else starts to fall into place. I was also aware that the strong light was reflecting the beautiful yellow tones of the gorse onto Flip’s coat, something that would need careful correction during post-production using my go-to software, Photoshop.
Lake District Horse Photoshoot
Choosing landscapes that mean something.
Celebr
PRICELESS
A Calm, Enjoyable Experience for Horse and Rider
One of the things clients often worry about before a horse photoshoot is whether their horse will behave, cope with the environment, or feel unsettled. This is where listening really matters – clients know their horses best. Even with an easy-going horse like Flip, I approach every session with patience and calm. The horse always comes first, and nothing is rushed, allowing them to relax and simply be themselves.
Connie had several outfit changes during the shoot, and each time we worked in a slightly different area – long grass, gorse, roadside and open common land – always responding to the light and conditions in that moment. This approach not only creates variety in the final gallery, but also keeps the session feeling natural and enjoyable rather than staged or pressured.
The Treasure Box
Providing a daily reminder in YOUR home, OF just how amazing they are!
More Than Just Beautiful Photographs
A horse photoshoot isn’t just about creating images for social media. For many clients, it’s a confidence-boosting experience. Being photographed with your horse, in a setting that reflects who you are together, often helps people see themselves – and their partnership – in a completely new way.
Artwork That Lives With You
And after the session, the photographs don’t just live on a hard drive. Connie’s mum, Debbie, has already chosen an aluminium wall art piece from the shoot – a modern, handcrafted finish that suits the drama of the Lake District landscape beautifully. Seeing your images professionally printed and displayed at home transforms them from ‘nice photos’ into something you live with every day.
That’s where the real value lies. Each time you walk past, your piece of wall art evokes a feeling, tells your story, and helps reaffirm positive memories and emotions.
Why Experience Matters
Every location, every horse and every client is different. It starts with listening to my client, understanding their story, and knowing why we are here. From there, it’s about using my professional experience to read the light, adapt to the weather, work with horses of all temperaments, and guide clients gently through the process so that each session feels relaxed, enjoyable and genuinely personal.
My role isn’t just to take photographs, but to create a whole experience – one where you feel supported, confident and completely at ease.
Portfolio
A SMALL selection of photographs taken from a young person’s Horse Portrait Session
Additional Horse Photoshoots
Lake District Horse Portrait Session
A Lake District Horse Portrait Session You can’t get more scenic than Cumbria! Add a dash of the brilliant pair,…
Amy & Nellie’s Equine Portrait Session
It was an absolute delight to meet Amy and her beautiful mare Nellie, a few weeks ago for their Equine…
Mother-Daughter Horse Photoshoot – A Cherished Experience
Horse Photoshoot For many mothers and daughters, horses are more than just a shared passion – they’re a way of…
About the author
Emma Campbell is a professional horse portrait photographer and Master Craftsman (MCrGPP) with over 30 years’ experience capturing horses and their owners.
An award-winning photographer, Emma won Overall Winner, Image of the Year (Judges’ Choice) and Equine Image of the Year with The Guild of Photographers in 2020.
She holds a BSc (Hons) in Equine Science and Business and is recognised as one of the first photographers to achieve Master Craftsman status in equine photography with The Guild.
In 2024, Emma became a Panel Member, Judge and Mentor with The Guild of Photographers and has judged at ClickMasters Live and The British Photography Awards. Her work has featured in equestrian and photography publications and has been exhibited at the Design Museum, London.
Become a VIP
Receive regular news and Exclusive Horse Photoshoot Session offers! Sign up today x
Emma Campbell
HORSE PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER
Coverage
Based in Cumbria, England.
Emma’s work covers the whole of the North England, (Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumbria, Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside) Southern/Borders Scotland, North Wales and the Midlands.
UK wide on request.
© 2026 | Emma Campbell Photography | Horse Portrait Photographer