Female Equestrian Business Owners Need to Get Visible in Chattanooga

It’s time for female equestrian business owners to get visible in their horse community.

Tired of slaving away in your horse business and never being noticed? Tired of playing small and ready to take on the world – or at least the Chattanooga equestrian community?

Let’s get real. Empowered women make things better wherever they go.

I want to help you get more visible so that your ideal herd can find you. Learn more about how I can help in the Guide to Equestrian Brand Photography.

Hi there!

I’m Betsy, an equestrian brand photographer.  We could spend our next couple of minutes together with me telling you my boring life story but, seriously,  who wants to read that? Instead, I’ll just tell you that if you want to know more about me, head here. Personally, I’d rather get right to the fun stuff. So, rather than waste your time, let me tell you why I want to help you become more visible with your equestrian brand.

So Picture This:

Typical day. 

Working away at my computer editing images. Doing my thing. … and PING!

A text message from a friend. TBH, I debated looking at it because I was kind of in a groove with my editing.

But, I did. I read it.  And…I read it a second time.

Then shifted gears and started frantically typing in “Facebook.com” and flipping to my business page.

What the heck?

Why had I posted a lovely Mother’s Day post dedicated to Horse Moms…on November 21st?

…And thus began my descent into social media madness.

Trying to figure out why Facebook had a massive brain fart and spent the next two years randomly posting previously scheduled posts on my business page. 

But, that dear reader, is a story for another day.   And, it’s also the reason I don’t use the Facebook scheduler or the Facebook page messenger. EVER.

So, so, so embarrassing.

That was a few years ago…

And to this day, I haven’t forgotten the embarrassment of that little Facebook snafu.

And all the subsequent posts afterward that Facebook apparently felt were so, so, sooooo good, they needed to be shared over, and over, and over again.

*facepalm*

Nothing like having your online presence embarrassing to you.

After all, isn’t your online presence supposed to show the world how amazing you are?

My business is lucky to scrape a few extra bucks each month.

I get you. Not only that, I WAS you.

I mean, I’m totally still with you on that whole Peopling thing. But the rest of it.  Totally me about seven years ago.

Let’s talk about how I can help you with this

Together we will figure out how to create YOUR online presence.

One that reflects your female-powered equestrian brand so uniquely that your ideal clients will have no choice but come at your business the way I come at dark chocolate.

Full speed and with zero regrets.

It’s time to get your visual elements working for you.

Because right now, they aren’t. 

And girl, those images need to work it.

The way I work

You might be surprised to know I wasn’t always the amazing horse photographer you know and love.

For years I ran a marketing business for start-up entrepreneurs and solopreneurs. I worked with businesses to develop their branding and marketing strategies. 

I am all about a female-owned small but mighty business – especially when you throw some horses and dogs in the mix. I just can’t resist! 

Female equestrian business owners, I get you.

After all, I AM you!

It’s quite a lifestyle. 

So, About That Whole Photographer Thing…

So, you might be thinking.

I’m here on Ride the Sky Equine Photography website, so I’ll just hire Betsy.

Problem solved! Decision made.

However, before you pat yourself on the back for this masterful example of decisive decision-making…

It’s important that you book the right photographer for your needs. 

So, let’s figure out if you and I are a good fit.

Let’s talk if …

• You want to work with someone who takes the time to learn about you and your equestrian business. What makes it special? What causes you to want to scream…and everything in-between.

• You understand that horses can lower your blood pressure.  You also understand that they can raise it.

• You understand that a branding photoshoot isn’t just a 2-hour time investment. It’s the blood, sweat, and tears that go into the advance planning that will make it successful. But you like the idea of someone else investing in the outcome and sweating it out by your side.

• You think that spending a few hours with me during our planning session is actually going to be a fun time. It will be! Rumor has it that I’m a delight!

• You kind of dread the idea of being in front of the camera. But, after reading all this, think it will at least be slightly less torturous than being drawn and quartered.

• You find yourself frequently having conversations with your horse or dog. I mean seriously, it’s not like you can ignore him when he asks a question, right?

• Getting help on what to wear, how to prepare, and how to use your images actually sounds really, really helpful.

• You have a good idea of where you see your business heading. (A brand vision maybe…). It’s ok if it’s still in progress.

• You understand the importance of sarcasm and dark chocolate.

Let’s go our separate ways if…

• You want to show up, shoot, and that’s it. Honestly, you don’t need an equine brand photographer for that.

• Your mother is insisting that you update your dating app profile picture. For some reason, she thinks that a blurry snapshot of you at the beach drinking a mai tai when you were in college isn’t ‘the right approach”. For this, you are going to be overpaying if you hire an equestrian brand photographer.

• You don’t have any idea of who your ideal client is, what your equestrian brand represents, or what you want to express. Side note, if this is you, make sure to read all the brand strategy blog posts, and then let’s talk.

• You have no sense of humor. Sorry. It’s a mandatory requirement in my world.

• You don’t have a business that involves horses or dogs.  What kind of weird dull world is that?

Want to Learn More about Building a Brand for Your Horse Business?

If you are interested in learning more about building a brand for your horse business, check out some of these posts:

Building a Brand Identity for a Horse Business

Brand Values for Horse Businesses

Ride the Sky Equine Photography’s Brand Values

Ultimate Guide to Equestrian Brand Photography

How to Create a Vision Statement for a Horse Business

How to Create a Mission Statement for a Horse Business

How to Write a Value Proposition for a Horse Business

Booking an Equestrian Brand Photoshoot (What you Need to Know)

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 works with pet and horse businesses and brands to provide commercial photography for their advertising and marketing needs in both the digital and print spaces. Ride the Sky Equine Photography is based in Chattanooga, TN, and works in Tennessee, North Georgia, and beyond.