Getting Your Horse Ready For a Photoshoot

You did it! You booked a photoshoot with your horse. This will be such a special experience that you’ll treasure for years to come. I remember when I scheduled my first photoshoot for my heart horse. I wanted pictures of him while he was young-ish. Because time has this way of not slowing down. I remember the anticipation for the big day and being even more excited to receive those photos later on!

To get the most out of your equine photoshoot, I’ve compiled my list of dos and don’ts for your big day. Starting with planning all the way to the drive home.

Planning your photoshoot

Planning your photoshoot. This is where the fun begins. Everyone is different and I want to do my best to make YOUR vision come true. Plan a call with me and we’ll chat about what you want from your photoshoot. You have so much freedom to choose the location, your outfit, tack vs. no tack, etc.

Most people choose a location on or near their barn, but some people have a specific destination in mind. Having a destination shoot can be so fun! But make sure your horse is familiar with this setting.

Don’t have an outfit planned? Wear something comfortable! It’s pretty hard to walk around handling your horse in a pair of heels. Opt for a casual bootie or a leather western boot instead. If you wear a long dress, you can even wear tennis shoes.

Color plays a big role in the overall feel of your image. Think about how you want to feel when looking at your photos. Happy, romantic, dramatic? Also consider how colors look with your horse. Check out this color wheel for a little horse color theory.

You can even rent a parachute dress here! They’ll ship it to you to wear for shoot day! If you plan on wearing a dress, make sure your horse is familiar with it before the day of the photoshoot. The last thing we want is you to have a beautiful dress that you can’t wear.

Grooming

If you can, bathe your horse the day before and stall overnight. Clean horses photograph much sharper than dirty horses.

Can’t bathe your horse? Don’t worry! I have a great trick for you. I learned this through years of showing. Simply get a couple damp microfiber cloths (they must be microfiber). Run them all over your horse’s body the night before and right before the shoot. It won’t be perfect, but it’s a close second. I promise.

Another top tip. You can even oil your horse’s face for an extra pop. Focus on the black areas of the face like around the eyes, nose and ears. Be sure you don’t overdo it though. The point is to accentuate not saturate.

Also consider the overall picture of your horse. Do you want the mane braided, pulled, or natural? Make sure you brush their mane and tail too. I always recommend using a detangler to prevent tangles and add a little shine.

If you want your horse tacked up in the shoot, make sure your tack is cleaned and oiled beforehand. Pretend you’re cleaning for a show and your photos will look amazing. A nice halter always cleans up the picture. Here are some ideas to consider: a black or brown leather halter, a clean black rope halter, or a photography halter. This is a special halter for photoshoots that is edited out for a natural, wild, mystical feel. It functions a bit like a rope halter but you’ll have a little less control of the horse. This can only be used on a calm horse.

Behavior

You know your horse better than anyone! Some horses do better when they’re lightly lunged beforehand, some don’t need it. If you choose to lunge, don’t overdo it! We don’t want a sweaty horse for your photoshoot.

As a natural light photographer, our photoshoot will likely be scheduled for early morning or late afternoon. This is when the sunlight is perfect for making you and your horse look amazing. If your horse gets grouchy when he/she is hungry, consider feeding them a portion of their meal before the shoot. This way, everyone is happy and will walk away from the experience feeling good.

The Big Day

You’ve done all the prep work! Congrats! Your job now is to let me take over. You get to relax and hang out with your horse, while I do all the work.

Want company? Please feel free to bring a friend or two. I may even put them to work catching your horse’s attention for a great shot.

I do my best to create a relaxed and supportive environment. Even if you’re not comfortable in front of the camera (like me…), I promise I will capture you and your horse looking your best. There is nothing to stress about and your only job is to have fun with your horse.

Sarah and Dallas for his 21st birthday, in Clovis California

A Note about Black Background Portraits

This can only be done if we have access to a barn stall or aisle with the back door closed. Before the photoshoot, clear out any debris or objects in the way.