7 Equestrian Photography Tips

Equestrian photography dates back to 1877 when Leland Stanford commissioned English-born Edward Muggridge to produce time-sequenced photography of his horse to settle the bet “do a horse’s four hooves ever leave the ground at once” among rich San Franciscans. The answer is yes.

Here are 7 tips for Equestrian Photography:

1. Show Relationships. If you are working with two horses (like above) show how they interact with each other. Place the horses next to each other. If you wait long enough, one of the them is bound to nudge their nose against the other or some other affectionate action. Wait and keep your camera ready.

2. Settling down. Sometimes it takes a bit of time before a horse settles and is ready for action. Don’t start photographing the horse the minute you see them. Spend some time petting their nose or giving them some carrots or “cookies” before your start the session.

3. Keep On Eye The Background. Nothing is worse than capturing a beautiful moment together with a pair of horses and a giant red horse trailer in the background. Sometimes it can add to the story of the image but usually it is just a distraction.

4. Tell A Story. Experiment with your depth of field to show a story. An image with a horse in focus and the owner blurred in the background smiling is a great shot. Discover your camera’s “sweet spot”. My 24-70mm lens sweet spot is f/4.5. Share the story of the horse and their life. Your client will love the emotional meaning tied to the artwork.

5. Capture the Little Things. Take shots of the reigns, bridle, hooves, saddle, eyes, ears, and nose. Clients know their horses well and they love the little special things about them that make them unique.

6. Get Down. Pop a squat on the ground and capture some beautiful images looking up at the horse. You can capture some great perspectives with a wide-angle lens.

7. Let The Session Flow Naturally. If you stiffly pose the horse and the owner, then your images will look….well stiff and posed. Relax and let the horses guide you through the session. Horses are intelligent and they will know if you are forcing them or are nervous during the session. Relax and have fun!