Now and then our horses trade the trail for the camera. A shoot on Hydra is equal parts glamour and patience, a lot of waiting for the light, the odd flick of a tail at the wrong moment, and every so often a frame that stops you. Here is a look at what goes on behind the pictures.
Horses that know how to pose
There is a reason our horses are easy to photograph, and it is the same reason they are easy to ride: they are calm, and they are used to people. A horse that does not spook at a busy harbour or a giggling child will not mind a photographer crouching in front of it either. That steadiness is what lets a shoot feel relaxed rather than rushed.
The island does half the work
It helps that the backdrop is Hydra. Stone lanes, whitewashed walls, pine and sea light, a clear coastline with no cars in the frame. You do not have to dress the set. You find a good spot, wait for the light to soften, and let the island be the island.
The quiet moments
The photos people love most are rarely the posed ones. They are the in-between moments, a horse leaning in for a scratch, a laugh between takes, the pause before everyone is ready. Those are the ones that say what a day with the horses actually feels like, which is the whole point.
If you are a photographer, a couple or a brand looking to shoot with horses on Hydra, get in touch and tell us what you have in mind. We are always happy to talk it through.
