If you’re wondering what you need to do to prepare you and your horse for your horse portrait session, you’ve come to the right place for answers!
As a New Jersey photographer, typically, I take horse portrait sessions throughout the state, but recently, I had the chance to capture a horse portrait session between Kelly and Indy (her horse) in Scottsdale. Kelly happens to be a previous wedding client of mine, and she brought me out to Arizona to a location called Bar A Ranch to take some photos of her and Indy, and I absolutely loved it!
I always love the deep meaning these sessions hold – the bond, the trust, the story between you and your horse. Your horse is such an important part of your life, and your relationship deserves to be artistically and authentically captured.
Read on to learn more about how to prepare for your horse portrait session!
All Your FAQ’s About Your Horse Portrait Session Answered
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions I get about horse portrait sessions:
What is a horse portrait session?
A horse portrait session is so much more than just an image of you and your horse together. Rather, it’s about documenting your loyal and loving partnership with your horse and your equestrian passion.
Each frame should tell the story of you and your horse, capturing the genuine moments you share and resonating with authenticity. Horse and rider photos convey the deep bond between you, your commitment to your horse, and how you spend your time together.
How each equine photographer designs their horse portrait sessions will look different, but if we work together, I offer you the option to capture both statement portrait pieces or receive a gallery of images.
How long does a horse portrait session take?
The honest answer is —it depends! Your horse’s mood and behavior on the day of the session will dictate the session’s length. As your photographer, I completely understand that horses have good days and bad days—days when they act like divas and others when they are loving and gentle sweethearts.
Your horse might be ready to go as soon as I arrive, or they might take some time to warm up in front of the camera. If they do need some time to warm up, we can work with your horse to get them ready with some gentle coaxing and bribery with their favorite treats.
I don’t want you to fret about your horse’s behavior. We will do everything we can (and take as much time as we need to) to get your horse to relax and build trust with the camera so that you and your horse can have an amazing session!
What should you wear to your equine photoshoot?
If you want to wear something that photographs well, I would suggest choosing an outfit that fits you well. During your session, remember I’ll be working from all angles. Also, when it comes to posing with horses, it’s much better to choose clothing that you can easily move around in, as in some images you’ll be sitting on your horse, walking next to them, etc.
Next, let’s talk about color – color can drastically change where your attention is directed in an image. For example, if you wear a bright and bold color, you’re immediately going to capture attention, whereas a neutral color will blend more naturally with your surroundings.
Before deciding what color you want to wear, my advice is to consider the color of your horse and what color would look good with it. A little secret: white goes great with any horse and is a classic choice.
Also, you don’t have to wear just one color and one outfit to your session! You can switch up your style with texture, layers, tones, and colors to add variety to your images.
What questions should you ask an equine photographer before booking?
Before you jump into booking an equine photographer, here are some questions I would strongly encourage you to ask first to make sure that you’ve found the perfect fit for you and your horse:
- Do you have a contract?
- What happens if there is bad weather? Or if my horse is ill or injured?
- How many hours of coverage do I get during my session?
- Do you have insurance?
- How long have you been in business and photographing horses?
- Do you have references or reviews?
- What happens if my horse won’t stand still?
- Where will my shoot take place?
It’s absolutely worth your time to have a conversation with the photographer you’re considering to ensure that you will get everything you want from your session, and that you’ve found a photographer you trust and are excited to work with.
How should you prepare your horse for your session?
There are a few different ways you can get your horse ready! First, I suggest you work your horse, especially if you know your horse needs to release some extra energy. You can go lunging or riding on the morning of the shoot, before you move into the next phase of getting your horse ready.
After you’ve worked your horse, the next thing you’ll want to do is make sure they are bathed, groomed, and brushed. When it comes to brushing your horse, don’t forget to comb their mane and tail. Additionally, use a soft, wet cloth to wipe their face, and be sure to clean their hooves too! Furthermore, you can clean their halter, saddle, and bridle.
What should you bring to your horse portrait session?
For your horse, you should bring:
- A brush
- Their favorite treats
- Fly spray
- Their saddle
- Their bridal
- A lead line
- A leather halter
For yourself, bring:
- A couple of different outfits
- Water
- Snacks
- A touch-up kit with hairspray and makeup (if you’re planning on using any)
Ready to Plan Your Horse Portrait Session?
I hope I answered all of your questions about preparing for your horse portrait session. If you do have any additional questions that I didn’t answer in this guide, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here and ask!
And…if you’re in New Jersey and looking for a photographer for your horse portrait session, I’d love to connect. You can get in contact with me here, and we can discuss your vision and get started planning your session!
Read these next:
The Susan Stripling Photography Experience
The Art of Personal and Emotional Couple Portraits
