HORSE PHOTOGRAPHY · TENNESSEE
BEFORE YOUR SESSION
3 Mistakes to Avoid Before Your Horse Photoshoot A simple guide to feeling prepared, looking natural, and enjoying your session
Your horse doesn’t have to behave perfectly. You don’t have to know how to pose. And you definitely don’t need to have everything figured out before you arrive. Here’s what can make a horse photoshoot harder — and what to do instead.
Let’s Make Your Horse Photoshoot Easy
A horse photoshoot should be fun. But once you’re standing next to your horse with a camera pointed at you, it’s easy to suddenly wonder what your hands are supposed to do, why your horse has forgotten every bit of training they’ve ever had, or whether your outfit was actually a good idea.
Expecting perfection
Your horse may look around, move their feet, get distracted, or decide the camera is extremely interesting.
Dressing without a plan
Wind, hay, mud, horse slobber and movement all have opinions. Plan for the real world, not just the mirror.
Thinking you must pose
You don’t need to know what to do with your hands. That’s one of the things I’m there to help with.
YOUR HORSE
Expecting Your Horse to Behave Perfectly
Your horse may be calm every other day and then suddenly discover that the rock behind the photographer is extremely interesting.
They may look around, move their feet, sniff the camera, get distracted, or decide they absolutely need to investigate something happening half a mile away.
That’s normal.
Give your horse time to settle in. Let them look around and get comfortable with the location. Bring treats, fly spray, and a helper if you have one. Most importantly, don’t panic when your horse isn’t standing perfectly every second.
YOUR OUTFIT
Choosing an Outfit Without Thinking About Your Horse
An outfit can look fantastic in your bedroom and behave very differently once you’re outside.
Wind happens. Hay happens. Your horse may lean on you. And if you’re wearing exactly the same color as your horse, you may disappear right into the photograph.
You also want to be able to move, walk, hug your horse, adjust your reins, and actually enjoy the session.
Try your outfit outside before your photoshoot. Think about your horse’s color, your location, and how easily you can move in what you’re wearing. And bring a backup. Horses have a way of adding their own finishing touches.
THE GOOD NEWS
You Don’t Have to Know How to Pose
Seriously. That’s my job. I’m not expecting you to arrive knowing where to stand, what to do with your hands, or what you’re supposed to do next. I’ll guide you through the session so you can concentrate on your horse instead of worrying about the camera.
YOUR SESSION
Thinking You Need to Know What to Do With Your Hands
This is one of the most common things people worry about.
You’re standing there. Your horse looks amazing. The camera is pointed at you.
And suddenly: Where do my hands go?
You can scratch your horse, hold the reins, give them a hug, walk with them, lean against them, or simply stand beside them. I’ll guide you through it.
Stop trying to perform for the camera. Interact with your horse the way you normally would. I’ll adjust your position when needed and give you direction throughout the session.
ONE LAST THING
Horses Are Going to Be Horses
Your horse may eat your hat, yawn at exactly the wrong moment, walk away when you need them to stand still, or decide that one particular patch of grass is the most fascinating thing they’ve ever seen.
Don’t let those moments stress you out. Some of them become the photographs you end up loving the most.
READY WHEN YOU ARE
Let’s Plan Your Horse Photoshoot
You bring your horse, your outfit, and yourself. I’ll bring the camera, the direction, and plenty of patience.