I N D U S T R Y
I N S I D E R
An Interview With a Horse Show Photographer
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by Christy Chajon, Contributor
An area horse show photographer shares what she has learned working at the local shows.
aura Elcock has been a professional horse show photographer in the Kansas City area since 2005. She is a life-long horse lover and has been riding horses since she was five. How did you get started as a professional horse show photographer? When I started going to horse shows, I made friends with Maggie VanMeter. Maggie was the photographer for the local shows, and she offered to give me advice and help me get started. She is a very talented photographer and a great friend.
equestrian studies
great, because you can take a picture and then look at it right away to see if it is a good one or not. Do you have some tips on how to take a good picture? When I first started, I would count in time with the horse’s front legs: one, two, one, two. Once you get the beat down you know when to take the picture. You want the horse to have one leg straight on the ground and the other one at the height of its motion. Fulton, Missouri
What is your favorite thing about being a photographer? william woods university First university in the United Statescapturing to offer a four-year What advice would you give someone the bond beI love Equestrian Science degree who wants to be a professional horse tween the person and the horse. Laura Elcock in action. Photo provided. Equestrian Science & Equine Administration majors with equine show photographer? It is great to catch the joy of the journalism, legal studies, art, pre-vet and a therapeutic focus Practice! Go out to the barn and What kind of equipment does some- horse and rider in the ring. You Offers Equestrian Studies degree take pictures. It takes lots of prac- one need to start taking pictures of General can see that the horse loves what it Applied instruction in is dressage, tice to get the timing down. Just horses? doing. I am keeping a history of hunter/jumper, saddle seat get a camera and start shooting, so At first, all you really need is a those memories. n and western you can figure out what you like. basic camera. Digital cameras are Active exhibitor in open USEF, AQHA and USDF-recognized events
equestrian studies ride with us. show with us. grow with us. william woods university
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