The Most Overlooked Step in Preparing for Your Equine Photography Session
Booking a photoshoot with your horse is an exciting experience, and you’ve likely received a prep guide from your photographer. This guide probably includes tips on coordinating colors with your horse, styling your hair and makeup, and other useful advice. You might even fill out a questionnaire about features you wish to emphasize or create a Pinterest board with your favorite poses to help your photographer capture your vision.
While all this guidance is invaluable and boosts your confidence for the session, it’s easy to overlook preparing the other star of the show—your horse. And no, I’m not talking about an extensive grooming session or hiring a professional braider. I’m referring to essential groundwork. This is even more critical for equine studio black background sessions.
Even though my camera can capture 20 frames per second, our photoshoot will be much smoother if your horse can stand still in an open field or barn aisle for at least 15 seconds. This means no pulling towards the nearest blade of grass or attempting to head back to the stall.
Constantly repositioning your horse can lead to frustration, which often shows on your face in photos. In the summer heat, this can quickly ruin the effort you put into your makeup and hair. A restless horse also limits the variety of poses we can achieve. That sweet moment of you resting your head on his shoulder won’t happen if he’s constantly trying to help himself to a snack. Want a beautiful sunset shot while kneeling beside your horse? I need to be confident that you wont get run over to suggest it. And those naked black background photos? Just forget them completely.
To get the most out of your session, I recommend practicing basic groundwork with your horse. You don’t need to become an expert in Clinton Anderson or Parelli techniques. Simple exercises can make a significant difference. Practice ground tying while you tack or untack, take your horse into a field without letting them graze, and ensure they can stand still while you hold the end of the lead and rummage through your grooming bag. These few steps will enhance your photography session and likely make your daily barn time more enjoyable.
If you want to go further, teaching your horse to yield to pressure for easier posing or to square up with a simple flick of the lead can be very beneficial.
The key to a successful and enjoyable equine photoshoot lies in the groundwork you put in with your horse. A well-prepared horse not only makes the session smoother but also allows for a wider variety of poses and candid moments. By focusing on these foundational exercises, you can ensure a stress-free experience and create beautiful memories that you’ll cherish for years to come. Happy practicing, and I look forward to photographing you and your horse!
For more resources on groundwork exercises, you can explore these free materials:
