How to Rock Your Horse Photography Business Work from Home Setup

How to Rock Your Horse Photography Business Work from Home Life

Why, hello, National Work from Home Day! Saw you coming, and my work-from-home heart did a happy dance. Because if there’s one thing I love almost as much as photographing all the horses, it’s talking about building a business, home office setups, productivity hacks, and, let’s be honest, the joy of not commuting.

As horse photographers, many of us run our businesses from home. Whether that’s editing from a dedicated office space, answering emails at the kitchen table, or squeezing in social media posts between laundry loads (because why not multitask?), we juggle a lot.

The beauty of working from home is flexibility. The challenge? Staying productive without getting sucked into distractions like, oh, I don’t know, reorganizing your entire pantry instead of editing client galleries.

So, in honor of National Work from Home Day, let’s talk about how to make your horse photography business work from home life smoother, more productive, and, dare I say, enjoyable.

The Not-So-Glamorous Side of a Horse Photography Business Work from Home Life

Working from home sounds like a dream—until real life barges in, sometimes literally. Sure, you get to skip the commute and wear sweatpants 24/7, but let’s be real: working from home comes with its own set of challenges. And no, I’m not just talking about resisting the siren call of Netflix.

Here are just a few of the daily battles that come with living the horse photography business work from home life:

1. The “Built-In” Announcement System (a.k.a. Barking Dogs)

Every time a package arrives, which can be often when you are an in-person sales photographer who is constantly having client deliveries arrive, the front door becomes a concert hall for your personal security team—aka your dogs.

It’s a great warning system for potential intruders but not so great when you’re on a client call and suddenly sound like you’re broadcasting live from a kennel.

2. The Never-Ending Chores That Magically Call Your Name

While working from home sounds dreamy (pajamas all day!), it also comes with its own set of struggles. Working from home means you’re constantly surrounded by all the things that need to get done. The dishwasher is waiting to be emptied. The laundry isn’t going to fold itself. And, for some reason, this is the day you notice just how much dust has collected on the bookshelf. Spoiler alert: your inbox doesn’t care if your floors are spotless.

Just because you work from home does not mean you’re available for every errand, coffee date, or impromptu dog walk request. Set boundaries. Your business deserves the same respect as a 9-to-5 office job.

3. The “Mom! Mom! Mom!” (Or Spouse, Roommate, Neighbor) Effect

When you work from home, people assume you’re always available – spouses, neighbors, kids.. Years ago, my 4-year-old son woke me up at 3am to tell me that his pillow fell off his bed. Yes, the same pillow he just walked past to come wake me up.

Now, the work from home version of this is kids burst into the room while you’re deep in editing mode or running through your zoom background covered in mud.

4. The Work-From-Home Isolation Vortex

There’s something about working alone all day that can make you forget what actual human interaction feels like. Being a solopreneur can mean days with minimal contact with the outside world. When the highlight of your day is chatting with the UPS driver, it might be time to schedule a coffee date with an actual person, or join an organization, club, or group.  Schedule co-working hours with fellow photographers, hop on Zoom chats, or join online communities to stay connected.

5. The “Just One More Task” Problem

When your office is also your home, it’s easy to blur the lines between work and personal life. Spoiler: this is how burnout happens.  Unlike many jobs, there’s no built-in end to the workday. It’s tempting to send “just one more email” or edit “just one more image” until suddenly it’s midnight and you realize you never actually ate dinner. Oops.

Working from home isn’t all bad (hello, flexibility!), but it does require some serious discipline, boundaries, and maybe a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Don’t worry—I’ve got some solutions coming up. Keep reading!

The Seasonal Reality of a Horse Photography Business Work from Home Life

Here’s the thing: most horse photographers don’t have a fancy studio. Instead, we run everything from our homes—booking clients, scheduling sessions, managing marketing, editing, and selling artwork. That’s a lot of hats to wear in a space that also has family…and, you know, life. But, there are also some seasonal challenges that come with a horse photography business.

But let’s get real about the seasonal challenges that come with this life:

• If you’re in a super southern state, like Florida, you might be photographing all winter and taking a much-needed break from heat stroke in the summer.
• If you’re in southeast Tennessee (raises hand), January and February mean fuzzy horses, mud, gray skies, mud, dead trees, and, oh, did I mention the mud? Unlike those who live in the lands that have beautiful snow, that’s just not my reality. So those months? Perfect for blogging, marketing, and planning the year ahead.
• Seasons can also run in your business based off your life – for example, in the summer when kids are home from school.

Running a horse photography business work from home life means also adjusting to seasonal cycles. Sometimes, you’re out in the field photographing nonstop. Other times, you’re knee-deep in the backend of your business or your life, catching up on everything you ignored during busy season (hello, untouched blog drafts…). The key? Knowing when to shift gears and make the most of your time at home.

How to Actually Get Work Done at Home (Without Falling into the Netflix Trap)

Creating a Functional Work-from-Home Space (Even if It’s Just a Corner of Your Living Room)

Let’s be real—not everyone has a Pinterest-perfect office. And that’s okay. The key is having a space where you can actually get work done.

1. If You Have an Office or Dedicated Space:

• Make it official. Your workspace should feel like an office, even if it’s in your home. It creates a mental separation between work and personal life.
• Invest in comfort. A good desk, ergonomic chair, and solid lighting are lifesavers when you’re editing for hours.
• Declutter your space. A messy workspace = a messy brain. Keep what you need, ditch what you don’t, and for the love of organization, find a home for those loose SD cards.
• Set office hours. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you should be working all the time. Establish clear office hours and stick to them.

2. If You Don’t Have an Office (Because Your “Office” Moves Around the House):

• Find a consistent spot. Whether it’s a kitchen table, a cozy nook, or a rolling desk setup, having a go-to workspace makes a difference.
• Use portable storage. A rolling cart or storage bin keeps your essentials organized and easy to move.
• Noise-canceling headphones. Because family members, dogs, and whinnying horses outside don’t always respect work hours.
• Create boundaries. Even if your “office” is just part of the dining table, let people know when you’re working.

Balancing Work & Life as a Home-Based Horse Photographer

• Create a shutdown routine. Set a hard stop at the end of the day. Close the laptop, turn off notifications, and step away.
• Take actual breaks. Eat lunch away from your desk. Go outside. Move your body. Your work (and sanity) will be better for it.
• Schedule personal time. Working from home can make it feel like you’re always “on the clock.” Block out time for hobbies, socializing, and, you know, having a life.

Wrapping It Up: Make Work-from-Home Work for You

Working from home can be productive, organized, and even enjoyable—if you set yourself up for success. Whether you have a dedicated office, a kitchen-table setup, or a rolling cart, the key is having a system in place that keeps you efficient without burning out.

National Work from Home Day is the perfect excuse to refine your horse photography business work from home setup, create better habits, and (finally) establish those work-life boundaries.

Not quite ready? Join the Ride the Sky Herd and get exclusive business tips, marketing strategies, and work-from-home hacks delivered straight to your inbox. Because your business deserves some TLC, too.

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.