Some of my most frequently asked questions I receive as an equestrian portrait photographer are probably questions that you might think of asking before you book a portrait session with your horse... so here are the answers answered in more depth than on my FAQ page on my website.
How far in advance should I book a session?
As soon as you know you want photos!!! It's of course important to think it over and make sure you contact the right photographer. But once you know which photographer you want to hire, hire them right away. I book up pretty far in advance. For example, I'm writing this post in January and I have sessions booked as far as September. The longer you wait, the less of a chance you have to get your ideal date. Now, I'm definitely the type to accommodate immediate needs- so it never hurts to ask even if it's just a week or so notice.
How will I choose a location and time?
What I personally like to do is gather information about the horse, then decide on the location. If a horse is a bit more timid, it's safest to just stick to the horse's home for the session location. If the horse is a seasoned trail horse, let's take them some place cool and unique! I always say: the more unique the location, the better... but safety first. With a photographer who can find the best lighting, they can make any location look spectacular so don't worry if your horse isn't able to leave home.
For the time of day, I always shoot during the couple hours around sunrise or sunset. The lighting is best during these times. To decide on sunrise or sunset, an easy way is to know if you are a morning or evening person. If you're an evening person and schedule for sunrise.... it will probably not be as enjoyable! If your specific location would work best during sunrise, read this post for some sunrise session tips.
What season should I schedule my session for?
Well. This is completely personal preference! What types of clothes do you like to wear? You like summer clothes? Schedule your session for summer. Do you like snow? Schedule your session for winter (read this post for winter session tips). Do you like wildflowers? Schedule for spring! If you love fall colors & warm fall layers and boots: schedule for the fall.
What should I wear for my session?
I'm pretty sure this is the most popular question that people ask themselves before a photoshoot. I like to make things as stress-free as possible. So I send out an online planning guide that covers everything anyone will ever need to know about what to wear, how to get ready, what to expect from a session, and more! Want to get a head start on planning your outfits for your session? Download my free shopping guide here!
Can you edit _____ out?
It's almost always a "yep!" Things I will automatically edit out: acne, scratches, stray wild hairs, distracting things from the background, anything that takes away from the photo.
Things I will leave in unless I'm asked to remove them: scars (on you or your horse), hair discoloration on your horse, anything that is naturally occurring and always there on you or your horse, something in the background that I personally don't find to take away from the photo.
Some things I can not edit out: dirt and a hairy winter coat. If your horse is dirty, I'm afraid I can't edit them to be clean! And if your horse is hairy, I can't edit them to look like they have their summer coat.
Have any other questions? Send me an email to ask me anything!