Equine Portrait Photography Guide

Equine Portrait Photography Guide LifeExposed: Photos by Lindsey

“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where work. It means to be in the midst of all those th

e there is no noise, trouble or hard hings and still be calm in your heart.� ~Author Unknown

what to find inside ...........................................................................................

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my equine story my approach the session the products the process how to prepare frequently asked questions

my equine story ...........................................................................................

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~Helen Keller

Being from a family of farmers, horses were introduced to me at a very young age. My grandpa on my dad’s side grew up using draft horses to farm with, but by the time I came around, he was using his draft horses for pleasure going to draft horse pulls and fairs. There are many photos- like the one below- that can be found in my baby album. I believe, at age 2, my love for horses began (see below).

{written by my grandma on the back of the image to the left}

Once I reached the end of elementary school, my parents finally addressed my obsession with horses and got me signed up for riding lessons. I played lots of sports, but riding truly became my passion. I started riding at a barn that was a little bit of a drive from my house, but that changed as my mom and I randomly met the owner of an Appaloosa horse farm in the movie section at HyVee grocery store (yes, I still remember that day). Her barn was a few miles from my house and the biggest time saver of my mother’s life, as I wanted to spend every waking moment there. In the beginning it was fun taking lessons, but as I made friends with the girls that had horses and spent more and more time at the barn, taking lessons just wasn’t cutting it for me. I wanted something of my own! I can’t tell you the numerous times I would cry, beg, and plead to my parents that I needed a horse. After awhile I figured it was a lost cause, but one day I got home from the barn and my dad called me up to his office. I honestly thought I was in trouble- I didn’t know for what though, as I was an angel child I remember exactly what my dad said to this day (because it was delivered in typical TLM format (what I call my dad)). ”Lindsey, your mother and I have decided that we want to get you a horse, BUT you will need to get a job to help support the cost of having one.” I wish they had photographed my expression because my eyes were as large saucers and I was grinning from ear to ear. I couldn’t believe it was true.

{My first horse- an Appaloosa gelding named No Mullarky (”Lark”). My parents bought him at the World Appaloosa Horse Show in Ft. Worth, TX. This was the day he arrived at the farm and became mine, all mine! (11.8.1999)}

From that day forward, my life changed tremendously. I learned about hard work (with the job I was required to get and within the riding ring); I learned about passion- there was and still is nothing more I love than being around horses; I learned about competition- winning was great, but losing taught me a lot as well; I learned about love; I met wonderful people and created friends that I still have today; I grew close with my mom, who also shared a passion for horses (she wanted to be Annie Oakley growing up), as she traveled with me to all my shows ; and the lessons go on and on. There are so many skills and qualities I wouldn’t have if horses and the experiences I had with them weren’t a part of my life.

{My horse friends, who I still keep in contact today!}

{Best show mom EVER!!}

While I am currently not a horse owner, I still get my horse fix riding at a barn close to my home. I honestly don’t know what I would do if horses weren’t a part of my life in some way. They are my therapy and at the end of the day, a creature that never ceases to amaze me. I feel fortunate that I have found a career that combines both of my passions- horses and photography. {Instagram photos from my happy place, the barn!}

my approach ...........................................................................................

With the equine background and knowledge that I have, I believe that is the reason I can look through my camera and know at what point I should click the shutter. I know how strong the bond can be between a person and a horse and this is why equine portrait sessions are so special to me.

It is hard to explain in words how important this relationship is, which is why I use photography to help capture this bond. My experience working with horses allows me to create a safe and relaxed environment for my clients and their horses.

If I had to sum up what my Equine Portrait Sessions are about in one sentence, I would say: I focus on creating natural images that capture your horse’s personality and the relationship that you share together.

{Doing what I love}

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” ~Steve Jobs

the session ........................................................................................... {custom equine portrait session} • personalized, on-location, 2 hour photo session* • $200 product credit • online viewing of your photos in a password protected gallery • photographer’s time, travel, & talent cost is $375** *For sessions taking place where the horse is located: If the barn is not owned by the client, is it the client’s responsibility to talk with the barn owner to confirm that I am allowed on the property and that we may use the property for the duration of the session. **Travel fees do apply for sessions more than 30 miles from Raleigh; Price includes NC Sales Tax

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Sessions can be schedule Monday-Sunday. I schedule sessions two hours before sunset, when the lighting is best. A signed contract is required before the session will take place.

A $175 deposit is required to book your session. The remainder, $200, must be paid at the time of the session.

The product credit can be used towards any of the products offered. See the next page for all product options & pricing.

the products ........................................................................................... {print prices} All prints are fully retouched and printed at a professional photo lab. Wall prints are mounted before delivery. gift prints: $15- 4x6 $20- 5x7 $35- 8x10 or 8x12

wall prints: $50- 11x14 $100- 16x20 or 24 $150- 20x24 $225- 24x36 $325- 30x40

{gallery wrap canvases}* These are fine art pieces. The canvas is wrapped on a stretcher bar and they arrive ready to hang or frame. There are 3 options for canvas thickness: .75”, 1.5”, and 2.5”

{gallery wrap cost} Add $150 to wall print pricing

*Note: Not all images will work as a canvas. Some images are cropped so tightly that the photo doesn’t look right when it is wrapped around the sides.

{standouts} Standouts are also fine art pieces that provide more of a contemporary look. The print is mounted on a 1.5” lightweight foam board, edged in black and does not have to be framed.

{standout cost} Add $125 to wall print pricing {digital prints} • $600 USB drive with of all jpeg images & printing rights • $40 Individual jpeg file with printing rights (emailed directly to the client)

{album options} Albums are custom made to order. I cannot guarantee that all images chosen will be included in the design, as some photo choices may not work with the design and certain cropping situations.

{portrait album} • Layflat, portrait oriented album is 8.75”x11.25” in size • • •

Photo pages are made of a 32pt, superfine, double-thick paper (acid-free, archival, & FSC-certified Album contains at least 16 spreads; each additional spread is $10 Cover options include Leather or Fabric and a photo may be used on the front of the album

{portrait album cost} $325

{square album} • Layflat album is 8.75”x8.75” in size • • •

Photo pages are made of a 32pt, superfine, double-thick paper (acid-free, archival, & FSC-certified Album contains at least 16 spreads; each additional spread is $10 Cover options include Leather or Fabric and a photo may be used on the front of the album

{square album cost} $260

{mini album} • Layflat album is 5.25”x5.25” in size • • •

Photo pages are made of a 32pt, superfine, double-thick paper (acid-free, archival, & FSC-certified Album contains at least 16 spreads; each additional spread is $10 Cover options include Leather or Fabric and a photo may be used on the front of the album

{mini album cost} $215

{accordion album} • Small accordion album is 2.5”x3.5” in size • • •

Photo pages are made of a 130# weight paper (acid free, archival, & FSC-certified) Up to 9 images may be used Cover options include Fabric

{accordion album cost} $75

the process ...........................................................................................

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{Setting the Appointment} After you decide to book your Equine Portrait Session, we will select a location and set a specific meeting time. I have the ability to schedule my sessions on weekdays as well as some weekends. I schedule all sessions two hours before sunset, as this is when the lighting is best.

{Pre-Session Consultation} I believe it is important for me to gather enough information about you and your horse(s) so that I can make sure that your relationship is accurately represented in your photos.

I also want to learn about what your goals are for the session and answer any additional questions you may have.

{The Session} I like to show up early to your session so that I can scout spots for us to use and look for the best lighting. I also like create a plan for our session- when we will use the spots I find- and then get your feedback as well! The session is my favorite part-- I get to do what I love, capturing the bond you share with your horse(s) through my camera!

{Online Gallery} Two weeks after your session, I will email you with the information to access your password protected online gallery. In the gallery you will find all of your edited images.

{Product Ordering} Once you have reviewed your photos in your online gallery, you will need to decide which products you would like to order. Depending on your location you can either come to my home studio or we can setup a phone call to discuss your order. Once we have finalized all the products you would like to order, I will make any final edits and send them off to my professional print lab. Orders are usually processed and delivered within two weeks. If an album is ordered, the turn around time may take longer. Orders will either be dropped shipped or hand delivered depending on how far you live from my home studio.

“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.� ~Sharon Ralls Lemon

how to prepare ...........................................................................................

Below you will find a list of some tips and advice that will help you prepare for your Equine Portrait Session!

{clients} • I recommend clients dress comfortably, stylishly and in clothes that reflect their personality.

How you feel in your clothes comes across in your photos!

• Outfit changes are allowed and encouraged.

• I ask that clients stay away from wearing white and wear colors that do not blend in with their horse(s).

• Some clients choose to wear riding attire for their photos. I suggest combining the attire with casual clothing. (see image below) • Don’t be afraid to ask me for help! If you can’t figure out what to wear, email me some photos or bring several options to the shoot and show me before we start. I am no fashionista, but I will give you my honest opinion.

• Don’t forget to add accessories to your outfit.

• When working with horses, it is always nice to have an extra set of hands so that he/she can help with any needs we might have (examples: wiping horse slobber; assisting in getting the horse’s ears up; fixing tail/mane, etc.). Either a mom, friend, or a person who knows about horses in general would be helpful to have available on the day of your session.

{horses} • Dirt shows up easily in photos, so I ask that your horse{s} be in “show ready” condition (ieclean!)

• For most sessions, the horse will wear some tack (a bridle, show halter, leather halter, etc.). I ask that whatever tack the horse does wear that it be clean.

• I recommend trying not to change the horse’s schedule the day of the session. I like to make sure the horse(s) are relaxed as much as possible the day of.

• If you feel like your horse has a really high energy level, riding your horse the day of your session may help burn off some of their extra energy.

• Don’t be surprised if your horse doesn’t behave or act the way he/she normally does during the session. Horses are animals and their behavior is not always predictable or what we want. If you horse is acting up, the best thing you can do is not get frustrated as it will only escalate the horse’s behavior and will show on your face in the photos! Just go with the flow and don’t forget, Equine Portrait Sessions are FUN!! :) • During the session we will most likely use grassy areas. It is best to not allow your horse to graze. Not only will we have to deal with cleaning slimy grass from their mouth, but we will lose the attention of your horse.

• There will be many situations during the shoot where you and your horse will be stationary.

If your horse moves out of the position, it is best not to circle, but back your horse up to where he/she was once standing.

• For most situations we will want the horse’s ears up and in the forward position. There will be situations where that will not always be the case. I do use 2 primary methods to get the horse’s ears up, but sometimes we will have to resort to other techniques!

frequently asked questions ........................................................................................... {q} What forms of payment do you take? {a} Visa, Mastercard, Check, & Cash {q} How many photos will be in my online gallery? {a} This varies from session to session. I take a lot of photos during your session, but I only share my best work. My online galleries typically contain 50-100 images. {q} Will all of my images be in color and B&W? {a} Not all of your images from yours session will be converted to B&W. I believe that only certain images look best in B&W and during the editing process I will decide which images to convert. {q} Why do wall prints need to be mounted? {a} When working with large prints that are not mounted, it is very easy to bend the print and cause creases. When the large print is mounted, the likelihood of bending or damaging the print is greatly reduced. Also, mounting helps in the framing process.

“Give a horse what he needs and he will give you his heart in return.�

~Author Unknown

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www.lifeexposedphotos.com lindsey@lifeexposedphotos.com