- Equine Web Design & Photography – Lewiston & Moscow, Idaho
There is a unique magic that happens when a horse and rider move in perfect sync, but capturing that “magic” on camera often feels like a daunting task. For many owners, the excitement of booking a professional session is quickly met with a common wave of anxiety: “What do I do with my hands?” or “How do I get my horse to stand still?”
The truth is, stunning horse and rider photography isn’t about being perfect; it’s about prompted body language that highlights your natural connection and gives the world a glimpse into the lifestyle you love.
In this guide, I’m sharing a handful of my favorite poses, and tips that will help you feel confident, look effortless, and ensure you and your horse shine as the magnificent team you are.
We’ll begin with the two most common worries, which I mentioned above.
Horses are rarely perfect, and that’s okay! If you think your horse isn’t going to stand quietly for photos, the first thing to do is change your mindset, and realize that he doesn’t have to for you to get AMAZING images.
You know your horse best, so if he’s the type that a quick ride or lunge session will help him quiet his mind a bit, do that. If he’s the type that will just get hotter without a huge gallop through the woods, then just let him be.
It’s always a good idea to arrive about 15 minutes early so your horse can stand tied to the trailer for a bit and see his new surroundings, especially if he’s never been to that location before.
When I begin a session, I rarely start by asking a horse to just stand there, I realize he’ll need some time to settle in, so I might start you off with walking with him first. This can lead to some beautiful images of you just enjoying time with your horse. Coming and going, back and forth a few times will do a lot to help a horse settle.
Also, if there’s grass and you can’t keep him from pulling his head down every 5 seconds, just let him graze. You can lean against him and gaze down at him, look off in the distance, throw your arms over his back… we can capture a lot of amazing moments while you’re just hanging out with your bestie.
By this point, we’ll probably change up the location a bit and try again. You’d be amazed at how much we can get done and you won’t even realize that he was so fidgety.
In the off chance that we can’t even get a nano-second out of him, we’ll switch it up and I promise you, your session will still memorable… in a good way!
It can be awkward trying to figure out exactly where to put your hands during a photo shoot. Hands hanging down at your side almost never looks flattering, so the goal is to let your hands help tell the story.
Things to avoid would include completely flat or straight hands, which looks stiff and uncomfortable, as well as tight fists, which just looks tense and a little on the angry side. Instead, curve your fingers (remember the “If it bends, bend it” rule?).
Hands can also tell us where to look first in your photo. You can guide the viewer towards your eyes by gently tucking your hair behind your ear. You can emphasize your waistline by placing your hand on your waist.
A great casual look for women is to play with a tendril of your hair, which can make hands look soft and feminine. Another option is to tuck your fingers (or just your thumbs) into your front pocket(s), or turn slightly sideways and slide a hand into a back pocket.
If you are shooting with your horse, hand poses will come more naturally, as you may have a lead rope or reins in one hand, and another hand touching your horse in some manner.
Props like a rope, sunglasses or even a hat can also help make you feel more comfortable about what your hands are doing in your photos.
Whatever the situation, I will do my best to guide you so that your hand position looks natural and flattering.
Stand up straight and tall, lift your head (imagine a hook attached to the top of your head pulling you upwards). Belly in, chest out and relax your shoulders. Create an “L” shape with your feet and shift your weight to the back foot, letting your front leg come forward slightly, bending at the knee. Pop your hip out just a bit to add some curve. It’s good to see some space between your elbows and your body (for a slimming effect), so you can put one or both hands on your hips, in a back pocket, or one hand on a hip… you get the idea. If you let an arm hang at your side, keep your fingers together and curve them slightly.
Below are several different examples of standing poses with your horse. I will always try to move around you as much as I can to capture different angles and looks, given the terrain and where the light is coming from. Sometimes I will ask you to look back towards me or off into the distance. It’s possible to get numerous different shots from just a few simple poses.
Of course no equine photo session would be complete without photos of you in the saddle. Whether you’re quietly sitting and enjoying the moment or galloping across a field, this is a great opportunity to let your personality shine even more. And of course, if you really want to adventure it up, let’s elevate the session into something truly unique and give you images that not just anyone can hang on their wall.
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