Tips for Making your Horse Portraits A Success

by | Feb 7, 2019 | Freebies, Horse Photography | 0 comments

Tips for making your equine photography session a success
Are you looking for tips to make your horse portraits a success? If so, you’ve ended up in the right place.
 
Here’s the thing.
 
If you want your horse portrait session to be a success, it requires prep work. A LOT of prep work.
 
A horse photography session isn’t something you invest in every day so make sure you do it right.
 
 
 

What Not to Do for a Horse Photography Session

 

 
There really is one big DON’T.
 
Don’t be this person.
 
The one who grabs the horse out of the muddy field, and tosses a dirty halter on him.
 
And, then wonders why your images don’t come back looking like that gorgeous horse image that the exact same photographer posted on social media last week.
 
Here’s an example of something that happened to me. I had a client pull a horse out of the field and the horse had laid in mud – one side was completely covered. Her head, neck, side, legs and hip. 100% dirt and mud.
 
The client looked me in the eye and said, “Well, you can just photoshop that out, right?”
 
If you are going to invest in a horse portrait session, then make sure that your investment pays off. Put in the planning and the work to succeed.
 
 
Horse neck with hunter button braids
 

The Camera Sees All…

 

 
When it comes to preparing for an equine photography session, you need to remember that the camera sees everything.
 
Dirt Spots? Check.
 
Grass Stains? Check.
 
Nose Boogies? Check.
 
Mud on the halter? Check.
 
Grassy-colored drool on his bit? Check.
 
Depending on the skills of the photographer you hire it is possible to clean up a lot of these things in editing programs.
 
However…
 
It can be expensive. Professional photographers will charge for doing excessive editing work. And, they should.
 
It can sometimes take hours out of a photographer’s day to correct many issues in 20, 30, or 40+ images.
 
And, how sure are you that your chosen photographer is up to the task of making the needed edits to the images?
 
Need an example of what I am talking about?
 
A few years ago, a Facebook post went viral after the family shared the images they received from their photographer. Talk about a major photoshop fail.
 
So, if your photographer isn’t skilled in editing and retouching, where will you be?
 
Most likely, out a lot of cash and disappointed with your images.
 
 
 
 

 

So, what’s a horse-loving girl to do?

 

 
The amount of effort that you invest in horse photography session prep is completely up to you.
 
But, remember this…
 
If you are going to invest in a custom photography experience, isn’t it worth it to make sure that your horse looks his or her best?
 
Ride the Sky Equine Photography has created a quick checklist for you. The checklist is chock full of tips for making your equine photography session a success.
 
Send me the Checklist
Portrait of woman and her horse
 
 
 

And One Last Thing to Think About:

 

 
Here’s a tip!
 
Don’t have the time to do all the session prep yourself? Or want to be in the images with your horse and can’t figure out how to get you both prepped and ready?
 
Consider hiring a horse-crazy girl to help!
 
Throw a little cash her way and you will end up with a sparkling clean horse looking like he’s ready for the show ring.
 
And, you can spend your day getting yourself pampered.
 
Nothing better than knowing you and your horse will be relaxed and gorgeous in your images!
 
Don’t know who to ask for helping prep your horse? I do!
 
Need help with grooming, braiding, hair, or makeup? You name it, we’ve got you covered.

Need some help knowing what to do to prep for your session?

Send Me the Checklist!

Betsy Bird of Ride the Sky Equine Photography spends her days doing insane things to make horses look at her. Clearly, she’s desperate for attention. When she’s not celebrating the stories of the amazing horses in her clients’ lives, she invests time and energy into perfecting her equine photography skills and growing her business, hanging with her favorite rescue dog, Nitro, and planning her next big adventure. She also tries to spend some time educating and entertaining her fans and potential clients by blogging and posting on social media about whatever catches her fancy at the moment. 

Betsy is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) with the organization Professional Photographers of America (PPA). The CPP designation is held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and is a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry, and professionalism. Ride the Sky specializes in on-location photography for equines. Ride the Sky also has the option of bringing the studio to the stable. Based in Chattanooga, TN, Ride the Sky Equine Photography works on location in Tennessee, North Georgia, and beyond.

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