How it all began
My journey into photography began when I was about 12 years old. I’d just received my first camera, and with my grandpa having worked for Kodak, there was a natural curiosity about photography in our family. My father, who was quite handy with his old 35mm, patiently taught me the basics. I fell in love with capturing moments, even if the results weren't always perfect.
I even chose photography as an A-level subject. But, unfortunately, my enthusiasm was almost squashed by an uninspiring teacher who subjected us to dreary documentaries from the 1970s week after week. Still, my love for the craft endured, even as I went on to university to study moving image and pursued a career in TV and film.
Ironically, it was a dramatic coach crash in Thailand that brought me back to still photography. I had taken my trusty film camera with me to document a year in Australia, only to lose it somewhere between Raja and Bangkok in the accident. Thankfully, my travel insurance covered the loss, and I bought a brand new digital SLR—a turning point, as digital was just beginning to replace film.
Had I accepted an editing job lined up at Granada TV, things might have been different. But that near-miss made me reassess my priorities. Instead, I jumped at an opportunity to work on a family ranch in Australia, riding horses, herding sheep and cattle, and spending weekends grooming for polo. On this 10,000-acre farm with a mountain at its center, my passion for photography was rekindled. I filled memory cards with images that celebrated the landscape, the animals, and the people. One of my images even won a small award at the local horse festival photography competition, a boost that gave me the confidence to pursue this passion wholeheartedly.
When I returned to the UK, I wasn’t quite sure of my next step. TV production was increasingly centralized in London, but I was a country girl at heart. I spent a few months working at a friend’s stables, finding comfort among horses and the familiar rhythm of rural life. One day, during a lunch break, I picked up a copy of Horse and Hound magazine and noticed an advert for a summer polo secretary at Guards Polo Club. I went for the interview, got the job, and moved to Berkshire that summer.
It was a pivotal moment that combined my love for horses with my growing passion for photography. Working at Guards Polo Club, I had the incredible opportunity to join Centaur Photographic as a director, photographing royalty, celebrities, and polo legends.
We even pioneered equine fashion photoshoots in the UK—a concept that has since become popular in the equestrian world.
In 2011, after marrying my husband, Alastair, I launched www.lucybrookerphotography.co.uk While my work now focuses on documenting the British countryside and the people who share my love for rural life, I continue to draw from the experiences that shaped me. Today, with Alastair, our two daughters, three dogs and as many ponies, I remain connected to the countryside that inspires my photography every day.
More recently, renovating our own home sparked a new passion for interiors, which inspired me to create fine art images of horses and countryside scenes for people to hang in their homes. Bringing the beauty of the British countryside indoors allows me to share my connection to these landscapes in a way that resonates with others and enriches their spaces.