A common question that comes up in preparation for a horse photography session with Ride the Sky Equine Photography is, “Should I braid or band my horse for his photoshoot?”
The History of Braiding Horse Manes
What is Horse Mane Banding?
Horse mane banding is something common in the western show world.
The goal of banding is to make the mane lay flat against the horse’s neck.
When banding a mane, you want to make sure that the bands fall in a precise straight line. The line of the bands runs parallel to the line of the end of the mane, therefore, making the horse’s neck appear longer.
Should I braid or band my horse for his portrait session with Ride the Sky Equine Photography?
This is completely up to you. Braiding and/or banding gives a very formal and polished feel to your images.
I always suggest that you think about how you want to dress for your horse photography session and match your horse to your vibe. For example, are you going to be wearing your complete show attire? Then perhaps your horse would look best braided or banded.
Are you going to be dressing in jeans or a dress? Maybe your horse would look better in his more natural state.
Of course, this only works if you are planning on being in the images with your horse. If you are not, then you should consider what you love best about your horse. Do you love taking him into the show ring? Do you love it when he’s out grazing in the field? Do you love watching his mane fly around in the breeze? What are your favorite things to do with your horse? What do you most want to remember about your horse? Those are the things you should consider when planning how you want your horse to look for during his photography session.
Got more Questions?
If you have more questions about horse photoshoots, make sure to check out our other blog posts including:
How long does a horse photoshoot take?
What if my horse doesn’t behave during his photoshoot?
Questions to Ask a Horse Photographer BEFORE Booking
Can we Have a Horse Photoshoot in the Rain?
Ready to Schedule your Horse's Portrait Session?
Interested in scheduling your horse’s portrait session with Ride the Sky Equine Photography?
Betsy Bird, Cr. Photog., CPP, of Ride the Sky Equine Photography spends her days doing insane things to make animals look at her. Clearly, she’s desperate for attention. Outside of acting like a total goofball, she invests in growing her business, mentoring photographers, dealing with her teenagers' angst, and hanging with Nitro, the best dog ever.
Betsy has earned her Photographic Craftsman degree from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) which honors photographers who contribute to the photographic industry through speaking, mentoring, and publishing. Betsy is also a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) with PPA. The CPP designation is held by fewer than 2,500 photographers nationwide and is a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry, and professionalism.
Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Professional Photographers of East Tennessee (PPETN) and the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association (TNPPA). She is also a professional member of the Equine Photographers Network (EPN).
Betsy's award-winning work has been featured in a variety of publications and is found throughout homes and stables in the United States. She is also the co-author of the book, Equine & Equestrian Photography Poses that Sell: The Ultimate Guide to Posing Horses & Humans. She has also been featured on Scenic Trend, the Profitable Photographer Podcast, The Business Animal Podcast, Chatter Magazine, Cowgirls with Cameras Podcast, the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Chattanoogan, and the Focal Points Podcast to name a few.
Ride the Sky Equine Photography specializes in on-location photography for horses and their equestrians. Ride the Sky Equine Photography is based in Chattanooga, TN and works in Tennessee, North Georgia, and beyond.