Pro Tips for a Successful Equine Portrait Session
I’m sure having an upcoming equine photoshoot can be a little intimidating. You want everything to go smoothly and to get everything you possibly can out of your session. As a professional equine photographer, I’m here to share some tips that can help you do just that.
- Communicate your vision with your photographer
Now, most people book with photographers because they like their unique style and creativity, however, it’s still just as important to communicate your specific vision to your photographer. This is so we photographers can make sure your session is everything you want it to be. Let your photographer know the purpose of the session, the overall feeling of what you want to portray, and maybe even the type of outfits you’re planning on wearing. Sharing a Pinterest board of inspiration with your photographer is extremely helpful so they can get a good idea of the types of photos you are looking for.
2. Set Realistic Expectations of Your Horse
Being told to stand still for 1-2 hours with their ears up, looking pretty is not a normal thing to ask your horse. The best thing you can do is not set too high of expectations for your pony. If they end up prancing around, not standing still, or getting distracted by everything, that is completely okay. Getting frustrated at your horse for these things is never the answer. Horses are able to sense our emotions after all so they can tell when something is off which will only escalate the situation. Some things I like to do if your horse is having trouble staying focused is moving to a different pose, letting them decompress a little and nibble on some grass, or even a light lunge just to get their feet moving.
3. Be Prepared
Before every shoot, I like to send my clients a planning guide that may help with the photoshoot jitters. It goes over how to get you and your horse ready, what to wear, colors that look good together, and I even supply a checklist with it so you can be fully prepared for the shoot. Make sure to look it over the night before so you don’t forget anything!
4. Work Them Well
Even if your horse is normally super chill, it’s not a bad idea to work them a little before the session. The best way to combat extra energy is to work them. Whether it’s riding them in the morning and bathing them after or just giving them a quick lunge, just helps get the little horsey jitters out.
5. Don’t Start a Session on an Empty Stomach
You know how easily we humans get hangry or grumpy when we’re hungry; well, horses are the same way. Give them a little pre-shoot snack so their tummies are settled for the session. Ps. It’s good for you to get some food in ya too!
6. Bring an Extra Hand
Bring a friend, family member, or trainer to help get you and your horse ready and to help during the session. It’s nice to have a hand to help get ears up, fix hair, grab/hold stuff, etc.
7. Above All, Hire a Professional Photographer Who Knows and Ideally Specializes in Horses
A lot goes into equine photography, we know what poses look good that flatters both you and your horse from the eye of a true horse person. We can also make the session a lot safer by being able to listen to a horse’s body language. For a non-horse person, it can be hard to spot the subtle differences that tell us when a horse is perfectly content or uncomfortable.
