My Year in Review: A Journey Through 2025

Jan 3

3 min read

Updated: Oct 24

Reflections on a Unique Year

Welcome to my year in review. 2025 was an interesting and difficult year.

At the beginning of the year, I participated in a photography workshop led by equine photographer Flo Knoyle. This was given to me as an early Christmas gift. I was eager to join this workshop because it provided a chance to capture images of a magnificent horse and birds of prey set against the picturesque backdrop of a historic building and its surroundings.

Lady standing with a horse and bird of prey in front of historic building

The start of the year is typically a calm period for me. During this time, I conducted two model calls. One was for action shots featuring long-maned horses, and the other was a child shoot at a location that caught my interest before Christmas. I photographed two Arabian horses when their owner answered my equine model call. One of the images I captured received a Bronze award after I submitted it to the Pet Photography Awards in the Action category.

An image of an arab horse in motion on a coloured background

Challenges Faced by Photographers

Many photographers experienced a challenging year. Opportunities for work were scarce as people couldn't afford professional photography, which is often viewed as a luxury. I spent much of my time working at my other job to maintain a steady income. In between, I dedicated time to my own photography projects.

One such project was my trip to the Brecon Beacons. I combined this trip with a family visit to photograph the Wild Gelligaer ponies. A friend who worked for World Horse Welfare had shown me some photos she took on her phone during a project there, which sparked my interest. I had always wanted to photograph wild stallions.

I finally encountered the stallions I was looking for just as I was about to head home, feeling disappointed. I captured so many images of the ponies that I asked my friend if I could create a calendar to help raise funds for World Horse Welfare. This led to the creation of my Wild Ponies Calendar 2026. So far, I have raised approximately £350 for the charity, with a few calendars still available for purchase from my shop.

Image of a mare and foal on some hills as the cover of a 2026 calendar

Achieving a Long-held Dream

In 2025, I fulfilled my dream of conducting an equine photo shoot at a castle. For years, I had been reaching out to the National Trust and English Heritage about using some of their sites, but the costs were prohibitive. Then I contacted Herstmonceux Castle, expecting similar disappointment. To my delight, the contact there was incredibly enthusiastic. We reached an agreement, and in the autumn, I conducted a beautiful styled shoot at the castle with the same horse I had photographed at the Flo Knoyle workshop. I am still working on the images from this castle shoot.

A grey stallion and a bride standing in the Elizabethan garden at Herstmonceux castle

Experimental Shoots and Learning Experiences

In 2024 (I believe), I met a young woman who had a horse that could rear on command. After a few potential shoots that didn't materialize, I finally had the opportunity to work with her on a more simplified styled shoot. It was intended to be a Halloween shoot but ended up taking place in mid-November. This shoot was somewhat experimental for me. I was working in very low light conditions and using some new equipment. I'm not entirely satisfied with the images produced, but one of the reasons I organize these shoots is to challenge myself. It's better to make mistakes during these sessions than on those where I'm being paid!

A girl dressed in black sitting on a rearing grey horse in the woods

Showcasing My Work

Amidst everything, I showcased my work at the Iberian Performance Horse Show and the Ardingly Autumn Show and Horse Trials. It was a weekend of contrasts, with Sunday being much more crowded. I decided to create my own garland for equine Christmas photo shoots because I couldn't find what I wanted to buy. It turned out to be more economical, and I really enjoyed the project.

Even though the year was generally quiet, it became quite busy as Christmas approached. I didn't have the time to fully embrace the festive spirit as I usually would. Not that I'm complaining! However, towards the year's end, I experienced a bit of writer's block. I didn't feel happy, fulfilled, or motivated by my photography, which was a clear sign that I needed a break! I realized I had to completely disconnect from it for a couple of weeks.