Get Your Equestrian Photography Business on Track: Podcasts to Help You Grow

Let’s Talk Equestrian Photography Business Marketing, Workflows, Time Management and More…

Alright, aspiring and established equestrian photographers… Are you on the struggle bus yet?

I mean, you’ve created some killer images, and your product is top-notch, but somehow the marketing strategy took a back seat. Or, worse yet, it’s gone off the rails, creating a life of its own.

Are you with me? No judgment here—we’ve all been there.

It’s tough, right? You started this thing because you love horses and photography, but now you’re juggling 100 things that have nothing to do with actually taking photos.

Equestrian photography business marketing? What the heck is that?

Goal setting? More like, where’s my giant tumbler of ice water, 4 Ibuprofin, and a nap?

Running a business means dealing with all these grown-up things that have nothing to do with your passion for capturing great images of horses and equestrians.

You’re out here offering tremendous services and creating gorgeous portraits, but how the heck do you actually run the business side of this gig?

Well, hello, marketing confusion. Didn’t see you there. *facepalm*

Running an equestrian photography business is not just about taking pictures, it’s about marketing and branding, setting goals, building workflows (seriously, what even is a workflow?), and in-person sales. You know, all the “fun” stuff that actually makes the business successful.

You’re Not Alone in This Chaos

Let’s be real: owning an equestrian photography business can feel like you’re stranded on an island by yourself. Sure, your family and friends cheer you on, but they don’t get the grind. They don’t understand the constant whirlwind of “client emails,” “editing,” “marketing,” and where the heck did I leave that tripod??

Why You Should Listen to My Podcasts (Because, Obviously)

You don’t have time to listen to dry, boring advice from people who don’t actually do what you do. Me? I’ve been there, I’ve done that, and I’ve got the photos (and the experience) to prove it.

I’m no stranger to the hard work of running a photography business, and I know exactly how much time it takes to get things right. So, why not make it easier on yourself and learn from someone who’s been through the trenches?

Now, while I have hundreds of blog posts that you can read, I’ve also got some podcast episodes for those of you who are always on the go.

These podcast episodes will hopefully drop some serious knowledge bombs to help you streamline your equestrian photography business—and maybe even give you a little laugh while you’re at it.

Here are a few that’ll give you the motivation to get your business marketing, goal setting, sales, and workflows under control. You know, the stuff that actually works:

• The Profitable Photographer with Luci Dumas – Time Management for Super Busy Photographers, Episode 251
  Join me and Luci Dumas as we dive into time management tips and tricks to help you run your photography business more efficiently. Learn how to automate, outsource, and balance work and life without burning out.
• The Business Animal Podcast – Understanding Brand Values with Betsy Bird
  Brand building can be a tough but rewarding process. In this episode, I chat with Kim and Cara about how to define your brand values and create a brand that attracts loyal clients and stands out in the equine photography market.
• The Focal Points Podcast with Dorie Howell – Stable Shots with Betsy Bird, Episode 99
  Managing a photography business and raising kids? I share how I balance work and family life with time management, task-blocking, and finding the organizational system that works for me.
• The Business Animal Podcast – Creating a System to Achieve Your Vision, Episode 138
  Systems are the backbone of any successful business, and in this episode, I talk about how to develop systems that will support your horse photography business and keep you on track to reach your goals. Plus, we throw in some fun metaphors!
• The Business Animal Podcast – Reaching Your Goals with Betsy Bird
  Scaling your equine photography business requires strategy and focus. In this episode, I share three actionable techniques that will help you reach your goals, whether you’re just starting out or growing a full-time business.
• Cowgirls with Cameras Podcast – Posing People with Horses: The One Where We Answer Your Questions
  If you’re looking to improve your posing techniques for both horses and humans, this episode is for you. I join Cara and Kim on CWC to discuss the book that Cara and I co-authored, and answer your top posing questions and share tips from our book, Equine & Equestrian Photography Poses that Sell.

Sometimes You Just Need a Little Support

So, yeah, running an equestrian photography business can feel like a disaster some days. I mean, sure, you love your horses and photography—but the business side? Not so much.

And that’s where mentoring comes in.

Because let’s face it, you can only stare at your to-do list for so long before it starts to mock you. If you need someone who’s been through the chaos and lived to tell the tale, mentoring can help you tackle those next steps in marketing, sales, and building the systems that’ll help your business grow—without turning into a full-blown dumpster fire.

At Ride the Sky Equine Photography, I offer one-on-one mentoring services that are designed for photographers like you who are ready to take their business to the next level. Whether you need help with goal setting, workflows, or getting more clients in the door, I’ve got you covered.

If you’ve been wrestling with your business beast and aren’t sure what to do next, why not reach out? We can put out that fire together (and maybe even laugh while we do it).

Not ready to reach out? No worries! Join the Ride the Sky Herd and get all the good stuff sent directly to your inbox.

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. She also tries to spend some time educating and entertaining aspiring photographers by teaching and blogging about whatever catches her fancy at the moment.

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.