Equestrian Photography - 6 Reasons Why You Should Have Photos Taken with your Horse
You’ve definitely done this.
You look at your horse and say to yourself, “Wow! I can’t believe how far we’ve come!”
You’ve been working hard and putting in the hours training and before you know it, you think - where has the time gone? We should have some photos taken…
Then the next season comes and goes, and then the next, and the next, and the next and...holy moly 2 years have gone by and you STILL haven’t done it.
So in case you are on the fence, here are the 6 reasons I think are the most important to have photos taken with your horse.
1. You get to hang on to life’s sweetest moments.
We are always growing and changing and becoming the best versions of ourselves and our horses are growing and changing too. This is one of the many reasons why I truly love being a photographer. I get the privilege of seeing my clients grow as equestrians by taking their portraits regularly.
Think you need to wait until you’re ‘Grand Prix ready’? I know, I know… you want to wait until you’ve gotten just a little bit better or until you can do ‘xyz’… but if you do, you might never do it.
Don’t take you where you are right now in your journey for granted - it doesn’t take very long for both you and your horse to change and you don’t want to miss out on documenting where you are right now!
A relaxed moment during one of my equestrian photoshoots.
2. My portrait sessions are fun!
Don’t love having your photo taken? I’m with you.
Every time someone whips out their cell phone for an impromptu “selfie” I cringe a bit as a million technical things (exposure/lighting, shadows/highlights, white balance, resolution, composition, angles…eek, I’d better stop...) run through my head.
But having an actual photographer take my portrait? Heck yes!
Here’s the difference: photographers, like me, are there to make you and your horse look your best and we know how to achieve that while giving you an incredibly memorable experience that’s actually a lot of fun. It’s just as much about creating a memorable experience and putting you at ease as it is about getting those incredible shots that I know you want.
With tons of experience providing cues and prompts, you’ll know exactly what to do and can be free to be yourself! I take the time to consult with you prior to your session to discuss things like clothing and poses to make sure that your session goes smoothly.
All sessions are relaxed and fun with plenty of time allowed to guarantee you get exactly what you want. You’ll never be rushed ever because, let’s face it - when it comes to horses we know that it’s tough to run on a super strict schedule. I show up promptly, help you put the finishing touches on, we go over how everything will happen, I scout the most ideal locations and our only timeline is the setting sun.
3. It’s time to get a real photo.
You take a lot of selfies and cell phone pics. And there’s nothing wrong with that!
Cell phone pictures are fine...for what they are.
What they lack is the ability to show a horse in proper proportion (proportion distortion is a real thing) and the ability to capture the small details. It also doesn’t help that you’re usually the one taking the photos so you’re not usually in the images. And if you are, it’s usually a friend who has taken the photos and let’s face it, unless your friend is a professional photographer, it’s probably not the most flattering shot.
There is no comparison between a point-and-shoot camera, your cell phone or even entry level DSLR cameras and my professional gear, technical knowledge and creative eye.
If you book a session with me, you’ll get high quality images that you will love - and that’s worth something.
A sunlit equestrian photography session - I love sunlight - can you tell?!
4. Share your best moments with others.
There is nothing better than sharing a high-quality professional photo. Everyone will appreciate your beautiful smiles and memories of your warm and candid moments more than some blurry phone pics. Even the best camera phone with the latest AI won’t compare.
And it’s not only for your friends and fam - a photo is a piece of who you are today and it’s incredible to be able to freeze that moment in time.
5. Beautifully captured photography makes excellent home decor.
Everything is digital nowadays. Which, is great… for Facebook and Instagram and the rest of the social media platforms… but how many photos do you post once and then never look at again?
Would you even know how to find your photos online if you needed to?
Let your images become artwork in your home.
There is nothing better than decorating your home with images that are important to you. And you can make your images last by having a photographer produce your portraits, as opposed to printing them out at your local drug-store or Walmart. There are a few good reasons for this - I know exactly what color calibration my professional print studio uses and guarantee the final product. It’s really a shot in the dark when you use a generic printing service.
Professional high-quality framed and mounted prints can turn any wall into a gallery and elevate your decor and there’s something extra special about having something that is unique and one-of-a-kind.
6. Portraits are an investment.
Can I be real with you for a second?
Here’s the deal - professional services will always cost more than an amateur.
And, there is a good reason for that - you get what you pay for. If you’re buying five dollar photos, well, I hate to be the one to tell you, but they probably aren’t even worth that.
When you invest in quality photography you are investing in something that will be valuable for a lifetime. It has value the second you create it and it will become more valuable every single year.
Most of us spend so much money on things with little or no value but fail to invest in the things that matter the most. Seriously though, in an emergency what would you choose to save - your photos or your television? Without a doubt for me it would be my photographs and artwork - the images that I’ve carefully selected to display in my home so that my family and I can enjoy the images each and every day. That is what matters to me and I know that it matters to you as well.
So tell me, how can I help you? Send me a note - I’d love to hear your story and help you document it so that you will have the memories for years to come.
