When I made the decision to upturn my life and leave a career of over a decade to become an equine portrait photographer, I did not expect the transition to be come with quite so many feelings. I had never really struggled with confidence in my previous career because the majority of what I needed to know could be learned from a book or a peer, and the knowledge that I did teach myself gave me the confidence to deliver the job; photography was not the same.
I had entered a world where my knowledge was out of date (I had had a break from horses for around 10 years), knowing the right people mattered and perfecting my knowledge and skill did not come from a book, but came from years of experience that I was yet to have. When I offered to capture some images for the British Dressage North and West Winter ball in 2023, my portrait experience was limited, my knowledge of marketing and running a business was non-existent, and I felt completely out of my depth. This however did not stop me from believing that one day some of these people would be my portrait clients.
Fast forward to a beautifully sunny afternoon in April 2025 and I was all prepped to spend the next two and a half hours capturing some gorgeous images of one of the very people who I first discovered at that ball. Fleur is not only an exceptionally talented athlete, but has the maturity of someone way beyond her 16 years. With the incredible Woodlander Rhythm and Blues by her side (known as Arby at home), we were all set for a very exciting afternoon.
We started her session with some more personal portraits, to allow Fleur and Arby to relax into the photoshoot. It soon became clear just how captivating this team must be inside the white boards as they hit every pose effortlessly and with the help of Fleur’s mom, Kate, the images came with ease. Throughout the session, I was gifted with dream backdrops from rustic archways to tree-lined lawns and rural landscapes that only a photographer could dream of. We worked through each look, focussing on the featured brand but making sure that Fleur and Arby were the forefront of the image.
The beauty of social media imagery is that is really allows for the perfect mix of lifestyle and product photography and highlights how an individual brings their own personality to the brand. If you are running short of motivation, there is no one better than the Pocock family to show you where hard work, determination and a kind soul can get you. I loved every second of this photoshoot and left with a newfound level of creativity and motivation, that has since been poured into some very exciting plans for the future.
If you want to follow more of Fleur’s journey or need a little inspiration, then head over to her Instagram.
