Today we’d like to introduce you to Daphne Treadway.
Hi Daphne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Horses have been a part of my story for as long as I can remember. I grew up owning and showing horses from the time I was a little girl, spending every spare moment at the barn. The smell of hay, the sound of hooves, and the quiet bond between horse and rider shaped so much of who I am today.
After college, life took me in a different direction. I traded horse shows for classrooms, earning my Master’s degree in Education and teaching for many years. Eventually, I stepped away from teaching to focus on raising my children — a season that brought its own kind of joy and purpose.
During that time, I discovered a new passion: photography. What began as a creative outlet quickly became my calling. For the past 20 years, I’ve been honored to photograph newborns and families, creating meaningful portraits that celebrate love, connection, and the beauty of everyday life.
As my children grew older, I felt that familiar pull toward the barn once again. I found myself longing for the calm strength and simple happiness that only horses bring. So, I decided to combine my two greatest passions — photography and horses.
Now, I ride two to three days a week and spend my days creating fine art equine portraits that celebrate the bond between horse and rider. There’s something truly special about capturing the power, grace, and soul of these magnificent animals — and the quiet, unspoken connection they share with their people.
Coming full circle has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. Whether I’m in the saddle or behind the camera, being around horses feels like coming home.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, my journey hasn’t always been easy. About eight years ago, my world was turned upside down when I lost my husband to colon cancer. At the same time, my children were growing up and leaving home — I became an empty nester and a widow within just a few months. It was one of the most difficult seasons of my life.
Balancing my photography business while caring for my husband and trying to meet the needs of my children was incredibly challenging. There were many days when I felt pulled in every direction, doing my best to stay strong for everyone around me.
Riding horses again became therapy for me — a way to find peace, regain strength, and reconnect with a part of myself I had set aside for many years. Being in the barn, surrounded by the quiet rhythm of horses, brought me healing in a way nothing else could.
That season shaped the woman and photographer I am today. It deepened my compassion and strengthened my belief in preserving the relationships that matter most — whether between family members or between a rider and their horse.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the owner and photographer behind **Daphne’s Portrait Design** and **Daphne’s Equine Portraits**, where I specialize in creating fine art portraits that celebrate connection — whether that’s the love between a mother and child or the bond between a horse and rider.
For the past 20 years, I’ve focused primarily on newborn and family photography, offering a luxury, full-service experience that guides clients from their first consultation to the moment their finished artwork is hanging on their walls. My approach is rooted in storytelling — capturing emotion, connection, and authenticity — and transforming those fleeting moments into heirloom pieces that can be cherished for generations.
In recent years, I’ve expanded my work to include **equine fine art photography**, which has become an incredible passion of mine. I’m known for my black-background portraits that highlight the grace, strength, and soul of the horse, as well as my horse-and-rider sessions that capture the deep partnership between them. These portraits aren’t just photographs — they’re pieces of art that celebrate a lifelong bond.
What sets my work apart is the level of care and artistry that goes into every detail. From the way each session is planned and styled, to the handcrafted, museum-quality products I deliver, my goal is always the same — to create artwork that feels deeply personal and timeless.
I’m most proud of the trust my clients place in me. Whether it’s a new mother handing me her newborn or a rider trusting me to capture the heart of their horse, it’s an incredible honor to tell their stories through my lens.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up on a farm in Georgia, surrounded by animals of every kind — horses, cows, goats, rabbits, ducks, dogs, and cats. It was a wonderful way to grow up, and that farm will always hold a special place in my heart. To this day, it’s still my favorite place in the world. If I ever won the lottery, that’s the first thing I’d buy back! From as early as I can remember, I loved spending time with my animals — especially my horse. The barn was my happy place, where I felt completely at peace. I was actually very shy as a child and stayed that way through much of high school. It wasn’t until after college that I began to truly come out of my shell. Looking back, I think the quiet nature of those early years gave me an appreciation for observing details and emotions — something that has become a huge part of who I am as a photographer today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.daphnesequineportraits.com/
- Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/daphnesequineportraits/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daphnesequineportraits/
- Other: www.daphnesportraitdesign.com
