Why you need an equine photographer to photograph your horse

I get asked so often to photograph so many different types of sessions, from boudoir to engagements and while I hate to turn people away, unless it includes a horse or a dog, I will refer any inquires to other photographers who specialize in those types of photography. I made the choice very early on to specialize in equine photography and to really develop my niche and I don’t think it is necessary for me to expand into other photographers niches. I also think that clients should understand why it is so important to get an equine photographer to photograph your horse! I know that you might have a family friend who is a portrait photographer or maybe a family photographer and it can be so tempting to want to support them, and maybe they are giving you a special discount but when it comes to horses, I think it is so crucial to stick to the people who know horses and here is why!

1. Horse people know how to handle horses
Let’s face it, your horse is not always an angel! Horses’ worst behaviours can often come out when they are being asked to stand still and put their ears forward for hours on end and when this is the case, you want someone who has horse experience and is going to know exactly how to handle your unhappy pony. I’ve dealt with rearing and bucking horses, horses taking off, horses so restless they won’t stand still for even a second, you name it, somewhere in my 15 years of horse experience I’ve dealt with it. I’ve learned the tricks to keep your horse happy and calm and am comfortable enough around horses to deal with them when they are being naughty. Unfamiliar horse people won’t know how to handle these tricky situations and can easily become overwhelmed, making the situation more dangerous and likely limiting how the photos come out.

2. Equine Photographers know how to make your horse look their best
I’m sure I’m not the only one out there who sees the high fashion magazine photos with horses where the horse has their ears back and the tack is all wrong and just can’t help but cringe! A portrait photographer might understand fashion better than me and know more about studio lighting but they are not going to understand all the intricacies in making a horse look good, from getting their ears forwards to making sure they are standing square for a black background. Years of experience and investing in education specifically centred around posing horses has equipped me with the knowledge on how to not only make you look your best but how to show off your horse so that they can look their best.

3. As a horse-crazy girl myself, I understand the bond between horse and rider and how important your horse is to you!
Maybe your aunt or family friend can capture killer photos of you in the show ring, but I think when it comes to capturing that very special bond between you and your horse, it takes one to know one. I’ve had that connection with a horse and I understand that shared partnership, a partnership that I think is difficult to understand unless you’ve experienced it. I have lived similar memories and emotions to the ones that you want to capture and this knowledge allows me to create art in your images in a way that someone less familiar and with less shared understanding may not be able to.

I truly believe that as a horse lover, with a deep connection with your equine, you deserve another horse lover to capture the relationship you share. The same way that you wouldn’t want someone photographing your wedding who didn’t believe in love or marriage. As an equine lover and photographer, I will not only appreciate the beauty of your horse but grow to love them during our session and shower them with treats (their favourite kind of course) and pats! I will see their goofy side, their cuddly side, their sassy side, the parts of them that you see and love the most and preserve them in memories that you can treasure forever! I have never regretted specializing in equine photography and there is nothing in the world I would rather do than capture the extraordinary connection that can only be shared with a girl and her horse!