Horse & Rider Prep Guide

Welcome to your complimentary prep guide for your Horse & Rider Session! The personal tips and tricks below are ones I have learned over many years of photographing horses, and following this guide will ensure your photoshoot will be an enjoyable success, resulting in stunning artwork created from your own horse’s beauty.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND…

I can work limited magic in post production, but any additional touch ups you request may be accompanied by a charge per image. For best results, please follow the recommendations provided in this guide.

The set up

Horse & Rider sessions are scheduled for sunrise or sunset and are completed throughout the farm’s property. If there are specific areas on property you would like to use during your session, spend time with your horse in those areas so they are comfortable in the chosen setting. 

Please ensure you are wearing seasonal clothing with proper footwear, and that your horse’s tack is properly fitted. This will allow both you and your horse to be comfortable and safe throughout the session. For best wardrobe tips, refer to the WHAT TO WEAR GUIDE.

What’s included

Horse & Rider Sessions have the flexibility to include photographs of you and your horse(s) candidly through portraits on the ground, action under saddle, or photographs of just your horse through portraits, full body conformation shots, or your horse at liberty.  The larger your package, the more variety of images we will have time to capture. Please think ahead and choose which option is most important to you!

What is “at liberty?”

This is when we allow the horse to move freely throughout an outdoor arena or pasture, photographing the horse trotting and cantering in both directions. These photographs can also be achieved by lunging a horse, with the lunge line removed in post production.

Have a second hand

It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to have a second hand available! It is a HUGE help to have a horse knowledgeable friend, family member or your trainer available to assist in handling your horses, coaching you through under saddle movement, or retrieving additional items needed (tack/clothing changes, fly spray, etc.). This allows me to continually photograph and capture the ideal images that I will not be able to capture if I am the one assisting.

If you are including 2+ horses and/or dogs into your photoshoot, please plan to have an additional hand there to assist with your animals. This ensures we keep YOU + your animals all safe and presenting positive body language throughout the session.

Grooming and clean tack

The better your horse looks, the better the images will be!

BATHE (and DRY) your horse prior to your session. A dirty, dusty, or wet coat will show in the images and can not be recovered in post production.
CLIP your horse (if needed) should be done no sooner than 7 days prior to your session. This allows your horse’s coat to grow out, and the clipping lines to fade together.
TRIM up the ear fuzz, clip bridal paths, spray down any crinkled tails from being bagged, and apply hoof polish after hooves have been picked and bell boots removed.
TOUCH UP your horse’s eyes, dust or dirt out of their nose with a spare rag, and keep a rag handy to use for slobber from treats enjoyed during the session.
BRAIDED or BANDED manes are highly recommended if you are looking for an elevated look or additional patterns to your images. If you horse has a long mane or they are enjoying the retirement years, feel free to leave it natural.
CLIPPING - If you plan to have your horse clipped for their photoshoot, please do 7+ days in advance. This allows your horse’s hair to grow in slightly and the clipper lines to disappear. If you clip your horse the day prior, or day of your photoshoot, do know that your horse will have clipper lines in all of their photos. Retouching of these lines will be an additional fee.

CLEAN & OIL TACK the night before your session (this includes saddle pads, bits, polo wraps, and bell boots.). Leather bridles or halters are required for portraits, but if you do not own leather halter or bridle, my “Naked Halter” can be used in it’s place - granted the horse is presenting safe behaviors the day of your session. (See below for explanation.)

Please have on hand a clean lead rope without a chain. Chains will distract and clutter a photograph and will not be removed in post production.

FLY SPRAY your horse prior to your session and please have an extra fly spray handy incase we need to reapply. This will keep the horse settled and the bugs at bay!

The Naked Halter

The “Naked Halter” is a fan favorite! This tool is available to every client upon request. It is a thin photography halter that helps us move and pose the horse with easy and safety, while still achieving the desired “Naked” look and feel to your images! The halter is later removed in post production.

Treats

Know what your horse loves a head of time, and have additional treats available for your session.

Treats are used as motivation to help direct the horse’s movement as well as rewards for being patient and cooperative while photographing. Your horse is more likely to enjoy this adventure if we provide well deserved snacks along the way! *If you choose to use apples or carrots, please have them pre-cut into small pieces to prevent your horse from producing an abundance of spit and slime.

MEAL TIME: If your photoshoot is scheduled around the barn’s feeding schedule, please ensure your horse is fed it’s grain prior to the beginning of our session. Horses are happier if they are fed early or on time, and a happy horse is a good horse!

Exercise & Patience

If your horse tends to run HOT ... lunge or ride them an hour prior to your session. Allow enough time for your horse to cool down, have any sweat marks removed, and a 10 minute mental break in it’s stall before we begin.

If they are typically ANTSY on the ground ... during the weeks that lead up to your session brush up on ground manners and being able to stand quietly next to you. An antsy horse will restrict the variety of poses we can capture, as safety is my #1 priority.

If they are bomb proof and RELAXED ... avoid exercising them and know what motivates them to show expression and personality.

Lots of love

Be prepared to spoil your horse with lots of love!The most treasured photographs are ones where you are able to be yourself and the love you have for your horse can shine through. Horses react to you body language, often times mirroring the same emotion back to you. Show them love, they give love.

Equine Portrait Requirements

If your package includes an Equine Portrait session, please be sure to read the specialized Equine Portrait Prep Guide for this style of photography. Preparations will vary.

Click here for the EQUINE PORTRAIT GUIDE.

Unfavorable weather and rain dates

Please know, I can not control the weather. I do keep an eye on the weather throughout the week and will be in touch within 24 hours of your session if weather does not look promising. Weather dates will be provided with no additional charge within 7-14 days of your original dates. This applies to Equine Portrait Sessions as well.

Fine Art

Fine Art, captured and created from your beloved horse’s beauty, designed for the equestrian at home. The finished images will be your statement pieces of your home, office, and/or barn. Your friends and family will be awestruck with your horse’s beauty, filling your own heart with pride, when they see these fine art pieces displayed. So let’s begin decorating!

Custom mock ups of fine art in your own home are complimentary for every client. Have the confidence in your choice of fine art by seeing what true to life sizes and fine art arrangements will look like prior to purchase!

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Don’t hesitate to reach out! I am looking forward to our upcoming photoshoot and can not wait to make create fine art photos from your beloved memories!