A few weeks ago Hannah and I packed our cameras, video kit and far more equipment than we could comfortably carry, and headed off to Spain to photograph someone I have known for over 25 years, international dressage trainer and judge, Nicky Barrett.
The brief sounded relatively straightforward. Nicky wanted a fresh library of images and video content that would help her promote her online coaching business and attract new clients from around the world. Although she already teaches riders across Europe, the UK, Dubai, Australia and beyond, many people simply don’t realise that training remotely with someone of Nicky’s calibre is even an option.
What we didn’t realise was quite how early our first day would begin.
After arriving in Spain, we enjoyed a lovely evening catching up over dinner. Like so often happens when horsey people get together, conversation flowed easily. We talked horses, business, clients, the equestrian industry and everything in between. Before we knew it, it was 1am.
It was at that point Nicky casually mentioned that her first lesson started at 5am.
There was a brief moment where Hannah and I looked at each other and did the maths. Not only was that a 5am start in Spain, it was a 4am start on UK time! We still hadn’t prepared all of our equipment and knew we would need time to get everything organised before the lesson began. Our alarms were set for 4.30am and we crawled out of our beds knowing we had managed around two and a half hours of sleep.
The following morning, armed with coffee and determination, we started documenting what turned out to be one of the most interesting aspects of the entire trip.
Before arriving, I wasn’t entirely sure what Nicky’s online coaching looked like in practice. Like many people, I wondered how much a trainer could really see through a screen. The answer, it turns out, is quite a lot.
Clients connect with Nicky via WhatsApp or FaceTime. Both coach and rider wear headsets, allowing them to communicate continuously throughout the lesson while a groom, friend or family member films the session from the middle of the arena. The camera simply follows the horse and rider around while Nicky watches from Spain and coaches exactly as she would in person.
Watching this unfold completely changed my perception of online coaching. The communication was seamless, the video quality was excellent and Nicky could clearly see every detail she needed to help both horse and rider improve. It was fascinating to watch and easy to understand why riders from all over the world choose to train with her in this way.
Photographically, the challenge was creating enough variety to tell the whole story.
When you spend several days photographing one person, you have to work much harder than you would at a busy event or wedding. There are no constantly changing scenes or endless new subjects appearing in front of your camera. Instead, you need to consciously create variety.
Before travelling, Hannah and I had spent time discussing the types of images we might need. We didn’t have a rigid shot list, but we had thought carefully about the story we wanted to tell. We knew we needed details, portraits, working remotely, working in person, lifestyle images, environmental portraits and everything in between.
Over two morningswe photographed Nicky coaching remotely, working on her tablet, spending time with her dogs, coaching riders in person and interacting with horses. We photographed details and big-picture scenes. We photographed inside and outside. We photographed wide shots that established the environment and tighter images that captured personality and expression.
One of my favourite locations was the colourful outdoor seating area at Nicky’s home. The images perfectly summed up everything we were trying to communicate. Sunshine, relaxed Mediterranean living, professional coaching and the freedom that comes with running an international business from home. Sometimes a location simply helps tell the story for you, and this was one of those places.
Not every location worked so well. One area we had planned to use looked promising initially, but when we started shooting the light simply wasn’t right. Rather than forcing it, we took a few frames and moved on. Knowing when to abandon an idea is often just as important as knowing when to pursue one.
Throughout the shoot Hannah and I constantly swapped roles. One minute I would be photographing while Hannah captured video. The next minute we would switch. Working this way allowed us to build a complete content library without overwhelming Nicky and kept us both creatively engaged throughout the project.
By the end of the trip we delivered 188 finished images, alongside a collection of video content, and all of the editing was completed in around a day.
When Nicky received the gallery, her feedback was simple. She said the images were perfect and she couldn’t have wished for anything more. As photographers, that’s always lovely to hear, particularly when you’ve invested so much thought into creatingimages that genuinely serve a client’s business.
Of course, every trip comes with a few unexpected lessons.
One of my favourites involved a Michelin-starred restaurant. Nicky had very kindly booked lunch for us after one of the shoot days. The only issue was that Hannah was still dressed head-to-toe in her sportswear from the morning’s photography session. Surrounded by elegantly dressed guests enjoying a leisurely lunch, she was absolutely mortified. The lesson? Always pack one smart outfit, no matter what kind of shoot you think you’re travelling for.
Looking back, however, the biggest lesson from the trip wasn’t about photography at all.
I first met Nicky around 25 years ago after being introduced through a mutual friend. At the time, I approached her and asked whether she would be willing to help me build my portfolio. She agreed, loved the images and over time began recommending clients to me. We stayed connected, kept in touch and continued supporting each other’s businesses over the years.
Twenty-five years later, that relationship led to Hannah and I boarding a plane to Spain to create content for her international business.
It’s a reminder that the opportunities which shape our careers rarely appear overnight. They are often built slowly through trust, relationships and consistently doing a good job.
If there are three lessons I’d encourage you to take away from this trip, they would be these.
Firstly, preparation matters. Think through every type of image you might need before you arrive. The more prepared you are, the easier it becomes to create variety and tell a complete story.
Secondly, make sure your kit is in perfect working order before travelling. When you’re abroad, there are no second chances if you forget a charger or discover something isn’t working properly.
And finally, if you’re shooting at a location you’ve never seen before,ask for iPhone photos or videos in advance. Understanding the space and the light before you arrive can make an enormous difference to the success of the shoot.
Most importantly, never underestimate the value of relationships. Cameras change. Trends change. Technology changes. But trust and reputation continue to open doors long after the photographs themselves have been taken.
Sometimes those doors even lead to Spain.
