Finding Freedom Through the Lens: My Photography Journey

Photography has been my constant companion since I was a teenager. Back then, I was a quiet, anxious kid who found solace in the great outdoors. Exploring the rolling hills and wild moors of the Pennines, I discovered a sense of freedom I never knew existed.

I began to photograph the things that brought me joy, from rays of light on water to barren vast landscapes. I photographed from the heart with no constraints or rules of photography in my head. I began to see photography as a time capsule, freeze-framing beautiful moments to enjoy when I needed them the most.  The time I spent photographing from the heart with no agenda has played an important part in where I am today in my art career.

This early love for photography blossomed into a lifelong passion. I pursued my education in the arts, exploring different genres, but always gravitated back to the natural world. My university exhibition was a testament to this – a collection of landscapes that reflected my deep connection to the earth.

Life took some unexpected turns. I traded in my dreams of traveling the world for a career in forensic photography. Whilst challenging, it reinforced the importance of doing something good through photography even in the darkest of situations.

I left forensic photography to become a self-employed wedding and portrait photographer. I built a very successful business, and during this time, my daughter became very poorly. With many hospital appointments and school issues, it was very difficult to manage my business. I was tired and felt like I needed a break away from photography and the stressful time at home, so, loving the outdoors, I decided to try horse riding.

Without going into too much detail, the rest was history; my passion for photography returned the more time I spent with horses. I fell in love with photography all over again and I began to photograph from the heart as I did when I was younger. Back then, there was no such thing as horse photography or social media for that matter! So I had a blank slate to capture everything I loved about horses and how they made me feel. They became my escapism, freedom, connection to nature and often, my muse. 

Today, I'm a photographer dedicated to capturing the spirit of the horse – their power, their elegance, their connection to the natural world. I create art that evokes emotion, that transports viewers to a place of tranquility and wonder.

Throughout my journey, I've learned that photography is so much more than just a technical skill. It's about passion, about finding your voice, and about connecting with the world around you on a deeper level.

Photography has been kind to me and has given me many life lessons. It has helped me grow as a person in times of success and self-doubt, travel to many places around the world, connect with lovely people, provide timeless memories for clients, provide for my family and brought me to my second passion in life - horses.

I often get asked by eager amateur photographers wanting to pursue a career in photography what camera should I get, this always makes me smile as honestly it isn’t about the fancy camera you buy it always comes back to heart. If you photograph what you are truly passionate about and learn to photograph from the heart that is your starting point to build a successful, meaningful career as a photographer.

Would you like to delve into the heart of equine photography? Sign up for my workshop waitlist and be the first to know when I'm opening doors to my brand new workshops capturing the beauty of horses through the lens."