From Editorial to Family: A Belgian Shoot with Natalie Lankester
Some commissions feel less like work and more like being welcomed into someone’s world. My time in Belgium with Natalie Lankester was exactly that.
Natalie is one of those equestrian powerhouses who seems to balance it all. Top-level riding, family life with her three beautiful girls, and a constant stream of interviews, features, and media requests. When the press comes calling, she needs signed-off, high-quality portraits ready to go. That is something I specialise in for riders at this level.
I flew into Brussels where one of Natalie’s team collected me and drove me straight to their Belgian base. The evening was spent catching up with Natalie, her husband Rashid, the girls and of course Younger by 3 weeks Hannah, her brilliant right-hand gal and PR agent. Between games of Uno and a lot of laughter we decided we had become quite the girl gang. We are now affectionately known as the Oversharing Hannahs, the duo Natalie never knew she needed but now cannot get rid of.
The Shoot Begins
The following morning started bright and early at their stunning equestrian base. It is one of those yards that people dream of, the sort of place anyone who is anyone thanks their lucky stars to call home, however long they stay. For this shoot we had the brilliant Marlien Echelpoels with us for hair and make up, plus a suitcase of beautiful clothing to work with. PR Hannah and I sorted through everything and created a manageable list of outfits for Natalie and each of the girls. The temptation in a set up like this is to keep going for hours on end but I know how quickly overwhelm creeps in, especially with kids.
Eighteen years in, I can read everyone’s limits and know when to push and when to pull back. We started with a relaxed walking shot, something that eases everyone into the session, horses included. They relax when they realise I am not the vet or dentist and I become their new best friend pretty quickly.
From there we moved into family portraits with Natalie and her three girls in soft, relaxed outfits. I used the barn entrance framed by white hydrangeas. The flowers softened the wooden doors and gave a natural backdrop that tied the style together. I created a powerful shot of Natalie with her eldest daughter Hessa, who is the very image of her mother. I then brought in a wooden chair and one of Natalie’s top horses in the background, carefully held by a groom who I later edited out. Safety first, Photoshop second. That one is a hero image, the kind that could be a double page magazine spread or a framed centrepiece at home.
Family Moments
As we moved through the day the styling and atmosphere shifted. Natalie changed outfits, we added hats, swapped jewellery, and brought in ponies and dressage horses depending on the mood of the set. For her daughter Alier we kept things full of giggles and squeezes. With Natalie solo, I leaned into thoughtful, editorial-style portraits that bring intrigue and presence.
While Natalie changed outfits I had the girls pick out something from her wardrobe. Oversized sunglasses, jewellery, hats, shoes, the works. I wanted to capture that moment all little girls have when they raid their mother’s closet and dream of the day they grow into it. The laughter that followed made for some of my favourite family frames.
Later, I found a set of big barn doors painted white and blue that felt almost seaside. I asked the girls to kick off their shoes and run barefoot, squeezing mummy and laughing. These are the memories that matter.
More Fun
The next set of images was trickier as we all had the perfect shot in mind but of course you can’t tell the horse what we’re all looking for, but I hope you can see from below what the shot was and that we nailed it.
As Natalie walked back to the kitchen I stopped her in the door way of the barn and asked her to turn around, this was the result which I saw 0.2 seconds before it happened, magic. Again, while Natalie changed the girls were up for another group shot, this time with their baby sister Maitha, who lets everyone know what we’re all doing and directs the shoot her way.
Then it was time for all 4 girls together. Natalie went for a more structured style for these, always relaxed and chic but the boots really elevate the look here. Maitha then had a 10 minute play in the indoor school while I photographed her laughing and digging in the sand.
Editorial Energy
We then shifted into something far more editorial. Natalie twirled through fields with her arms out while I slowed down the shutter speed to capture movement in camera. At first she was not convinced by what she saw on the back of the camera but she trusted me. When the final images were delivered she understood. The shots have a dance and energy that feels different and alive.
Our final looks included a boho chic set among hydrangea hedges, something I rarely have the luxury of on a yard, and a relaxed double denim family session in the woods behind the base. These gave us the balance of strong, confident editorial imagery alongside fun, playful family photographs.
Wrapping Up
After we finished, Natalie still had two horses to ride. I photographed her quietly schooling and stretching them while ‘Younger by 3 weeks’ Hannah watched on. The perfect end to a day that had been full of energy, beauty and lots of laughter.
Thank you Natalie for welcoming me in, for trusting me, for putting up with my chatty ways, and for being a wonderful friend. Here is to the next shoot and here is to big things happening.