I’ve known Rachel for a few years now and it was about time we did a shoot together, since Rachel is an experienced model and presenter.

I’ve always been a ‘do everything’ photographer, but since having my daughter my priorities have changed and I have recently decided to focus mainly on Equestrian Photography. Horses are my first love, and what’s better than spending the day photographing Horses and their wonderful owners?!

Since the rollercoaster that 2020 threw at us, I’ve moved home, moved my studio, got married and had a little girl and now I’m back into the swing of working after my Maternity leave, I felt like I was starting my business again. So I needed to update my portfolio and begin making contacts in a new area.

After asking Rachel if she would so kindly model for my portfolio with her handsome boy Certavi, I reached out to R&R Country, a local Equestrian store, to see if they’d be interested in collaborating and providing clothing for our shoot, which they were more than happy to do.

We chose to shoot on a sunny evening in June, with Certavi in Rachel’s Garden. When I arrived, he was in the paddock next to Rachel’s garden, and came flying up to the gate, prancing like an Arab. He wasn’t too sure about being separated from his friends, so we took our time with him to let him get settled, walking around the garden. It’s important to allow Horses to settle into a new situation in their own time. I wanted to make sure Ceratvi felt safe and relaxed.

The first outfit was a Schoffel Oxford Shirt and Jeans, with a Holland Cooper belt and Chatham Marine Deck Shoes.

Ceratvi is a 13-year-old bay Thoroughbred. He kept us busy on our shoot, determined to head back to the yard for tea. Although he had relaxed into the shoot a little bit more, he was still a typical bold and spirited Thoroughbred and had his ears forward for almost every shot with no encouragement. When we came to do an outfit change, Rachel handed me the lead rope to keep him walking round, so we didn’t have to pop him back in the paddock on his own.

lady walking down driveway with horse in bridle

For the second outfit, we swapped to his bridle as we took him out down the lane and back towards his stable. He was instantly more relaxed with this change of scenery, as he knew he was heading for home.

Rachel wore a LeMieux sleeveless polo and jacket, with Aubrion skinny jeans and her own country boots.

Once back to the stable block, Certavi was pleased to make a start on his dinner as Rachel changed, so we only brought him out for a few more shots, before letting him relax and enjoy his tea before popping him back to bed in his stable.

The final outfit was a more casual combination of Pikeur riding tights, Pikeur sleeveless polo shirt and cap and Ariat trainers.

It was lovely to work with Rachel and Certavi, capturing their relationship as well as some editorial shots for my portfolio.

Special thanks to R&R Country for the clothing and Matt & Rachel for allowing us to shoot in their garden with a Horse… Hopefully the grass wasn’t ruined ;)

Model: Rachel Cheshire

Makeup: Hayley Parker

Rachel & Certavi

Outfit 1: Smart

Outfit 2: Smart/Casual

Outfit 3: Riding/Casual

Victoria Gray Photography

Rachel & Certavi

Outfit 1: Smart

Outfit 2: Smart/Casual

Outfit 3: Riding/Casual

Lauryn & Romulan Prince

James & Ozzie

Victoria Gray Photography