Equine Photoshoot with Olivia and Her 3 Special Ponies 

I had the privilege of working with Olivia Mu and her three beautiful ponies in this luxury equine lifestyle photoshoot in Essex. Each year, I have the pleasure of attending the Hertfordshire County Show, where I run a competition offering a free equine photoshoot. Visitors can enter by scanning a QR code, and this year, the lucky winner was Doreen, Olivia's mum! What made it even more special was that Olivia’s stables are just a short distance from where I am based, despite them living several hours away from the show ground. A few weeks later, I found myself heading to their beautiful rustic livery yard in the middle of the forest to photograph some very friendly ponies and one very cheerful young rider - Olivia!

Preparation for photographing ponies and a child

Before the shoot, I had a detailed conversation with Doreen about how we would approach the photoshoot, especially since we would be working with three ponies and Olivia, a bright young showing rider. Doreen reassured me that their ponies - two of which are professional show ponies, and the third being their experienced home-pony - would be calm and cooperative on the day. And Doreen was absolutely right!

When hosting a child and pony photoshoot, safety is the number one priority. As the photographer, it’s my job (alongside the parent or guardian) to ensure that everyone enjoys the experience and that we make well-informed, thoughtful decisions regarding each child or pony very step of the way. I pride myself on being able to read equine body language and expressions, which allows me to gauge the ponies’ comfort levels and tailor the shoot to suit each pony’s personality. I always ask owners how far they feel their ponies would be willing to go with our plans for locations and poses, and I respect every pony as an individual with their own thoughts and feelings.



Equine Photoshoot Styling for a Child

Doreen selected three fantastic outfits for Olivia that brought plenty of personality and charm to the shoot. The first was a floaty pink and green floral dress with a Peter Pan collar and frilled cuffs. Next was a simple, elegant white dress with bows on the shoulders, and finally, a chic denim Moschino playsuit. Each outfit complemented Olivia’s brown Todpur country boots, which Doreen had polished to perfection by hand.

The styling didn’t stop there - Doreen also selected the perfect accessories for Olivia. We had a sweet Alice band decorated with pink hearts, and later, Olivia wore a set of hairbands with daisy flowers on the toggles. These thoughtful little touches add a luxurious and personal feel to the shoot, pulling everything together and elevating the final gallery of images.

Olivia's ponies

I was lucky enough to meet Olivia’s three wonderful ponies, each with their own striking pretty faces and distinct personalities.

Doris, a stunning dapple grey Welsh pony, who Olivia rides in lead rein Mountain & Moorland (M&M) classes. Olivia recently qualified for HOYS (Horse of the Year Show) with Doris, and both had an amazing time riding at such a prestigious show looking picture perfect!

Dolly, is Olivia’s Bay British Show Pony. She was incredibly professional and did everything we asked, despite being the newest addition to the family. She took to the shoot like a seasoned pro! The photographs show just how well Olivia handled her and how great they look together despite them being a relatively new combination together. I will be excited to keep up with their progress in the coming years.

And last but certainly not least, we had Pickle - or as I called her, Perfect Pickle! A strawberry roan pony who was simply perfect in every way. Pickle did everything with grace like the true little lady she is - never making a fuss, and it was an honour to work with her especially as it was Pickle's birthday! Pickle is the epitome of an all-rounder. Olivia and Pickle share a special friendship, and next year, they’ll be joining her school’s jumping team together. Simply put, they don’t make ponies like Perfect Pickle anymore!

The Viewing Experience

After the photoshoot, Doreen and Olivia visited me to see the final images, and as is often the case, the viewing brought out some happy tears. It’s always a special privilege to witness how deeply these photographs touch my clients, and Doreen was no exception. What made this experience even more memorable was how calm and connected Olivia naturally is with her ponies. She has such a happy and friendly way, and it’s clear that the ponies feel at ease with her, which made capturing those moments all the more special. I can’t wait to see Olivia’s photos shared online, and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a wonderful, kind-hearted family.