Tips to Make the Most of Your
Equine Photo Session
Welcome Friend!
This guide contains helpful tips as you prepare for your Equine or Brand Photo Session with Cowgirl Media.
Choose the focus
If you are a business, decide what the focus and intent for the shoot will be – you, the horse(s), the products or services. Do you need head shots, photos of you at work, images showing the use of your products & services, or of your facility?
If you are an individual, you most likely will want to capture the unique bond between you and your horse, but think about if there is any particular focus you’d like to concentrate on beyond that, such as detail/closeup shots, panoramas/scenic, etc. Be sure to articulate that prior to our session, either in an email, text/DM, or phone call, so I am sure to notate this and can capture the images you want.
Choose the style and look
Western Lifestyle, Fantasy, show, high fashion, casual, authentic, discipline specific (western, dressage, jumping, natural, etc), or whatever you can imagine. Choose a style that reflects your personality and your lifestyle, so that you recognize the person in the photos.
Choose your apparel
This is the fun part! If you are not sure, remember trends are temporary, and you can never go wrong with a classy look. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and aren’t worried about Janet-Jackson-style wardrobe malfunctions, or anything of that nature.😂
Consider your horse’s color as well as the scenery. Select clothing colors that will compliment or contrast with your horse. Neutral colors are not always the best and a striking contrasting color can make a powerful statement. If your horse is heavily patterned, stick with solid colors so the pattern in your clothing will not clash with your horse.
Baggy clothing does not photograph well, so tighter fitting outfits are preferred (yes, you read that right!). Your curves, regardless of how many you have, will always look better than a Jabba the Hut outfit.
Don’t go for shabby chic. Even if we’re shooting you at work on the ranch, wear clean clothes that are in good shape. No holes in your Wranglers, no ratty plaid shirts with the cuffs falling off. And please don’t have duct tape on the toe of your boot!
Don’t forget my client closet! While it’s still on the smaller side, I am trying to add pieces regularly, and currently have several dresses and accessories to choose from that might work for you.
To view what’s currently available in my Client Closet CLICK HERE.
Be sure to try your outfits on before the day of your shoot, so you can make any adjustments to your outfits well in advance and there won’t be any surprises when it’s time for photos.
TIP! – If you are a business, keep your brand colors in mind when choosing your outfits, so that your images will give a cohesive feel to your website and social channels.
Pay attention to your undergarments
If you’re wearing a skirt or dress, avoid giving everyone a peep show by wearing spandex shorts underneath! You’ll take better photos when you’re relaxed and not worrying about exposing yourself.
If you’re wearing jeans or tights, consider a thong panty, as Photoshopping out panty lines is EXTREMELY difficult and could add extra charges to your package.
Additionally, a skin-toned colored bra is recommended to avoid any pattern or color showing through light colored tops or blouses.
Don’t forget the details
Since we may be shooting a few closeups here and there, pay attention to details such as chipped fingernail polish, bandaids, dirt under your fingernails, dusty/dirty tack, etc. Take the time to wipe down your tack and change or remove your nail polish, as I promise you, you will not be able to unsee those details in your final images!
Prepare your horse, too!
Can you imagine spending all that time on your clothes, hair, and makeup, and then having to groom a dirty horse? Especially in the spring, you do not want to be wearing half of your horse’s haircoat as your main wardrobe item! Think about the time of day your shoot is, and plan around that. If you can have your horse bathed, in a lycra sleazy, and in a clean stall, do that! Unless you’re going for a completely authentic natural look, I’d still recommend a good grooming and getting rid of any mud, dirt or manure stains. For some reason those stains just jump off the image and it will be the first thing you notice, if you don’t take care of it prior to your session.
Tip: If you do bathe your horse, please allow enough time for him to dry. I cannot Photoshop a wet haircoat and make it miraculously look dry!
If your shoot is in the evening, consider giving your horse a snack before hand, so that he’s not wanting to grab every bite of grass and is distracted by other things going on.
Lastly, if he’s a high energy horse, you might take a short ride or lunge him for a bit, to get all his nervous energy out. Just be careful of sweat marks if you do ride him.
A word about bits...
If you will be riding your horse for any of your photos, please take care to bring not only a bit he is used to, but also a bit he will not fight. Nothing is worse than gorgeous images of you and your horse, only to find he is constantly playing with or chewing on the bit, or even worse, gaping his mouth while you’re riding. Those images cannot be easily fixed (if they can be fixed at all) and you will not be happy!
Bring a friend or trainer to help out
While we don’t want too many people around (sometimes this can cause distractions and delays that will cause the session to run over on time), it is nice to have a horsey friend or family member along that might notice things you could otherwise overlook. The last thing you want is to get your pictures back to see that your saddle pad is crooked, your breast collar is too low or you could drive a pick-up through your flank cinch (pet peeve!). While we do everything possible to make you look good, it never hurts to have another set of eyes to help you look sharp. Secondly and most important, it can be helpful to have an additional person to help handle horses while you are looking stunning for the camera.
Fly spray & Rags
If you’re getting your images taken during fly season, make sure you get generous with the fly spray! This way, your horse will be less irritated and more likely to stand still. Also it’s nice to have some rags around to wipe off any nose boogers, eye crusties, sand, or grass off their pretty little soft noses.
Be yourself
If you’re a carefree/wild at heart cowgirl, let that show! If you’re a polished and proper equestrian, let THAT show! This photoshoot is about YOU and what you do with your horse, so let your personalities be evident!
Set up a Pinterest Inspiration Board
These boards are great for outfit inspiration as well as posing and style ideas. Be sure to share it with me (@cowgirlmedia) so I can follow along, and I will add Pins as well, if I see something worth noting. We can refer to this during the shoot, so we can be sure we’re not missing any of the important poses or situations you want to capture.
For businesses, I will also provide you with a shot list check-off sheet, so we can be sure to capture you in the settings you need, as well as plan for any props that might be needed.
Hair, Makeup, Shoot!
I like to see people use their normal every day hair and makeup for their session, as opposed to going over-the-top with this (unless you’re doing more of a fashion shoot). Don’t forget details such as earrings, removing old fingernail polish and those hair ties that are always around your wrist! Photoshopping out hair ties or watches on your wrist that you didn’t intend to be in your photos is time consuming and often doesn’t produce the greatest result (and will cost you additional fees), so removing them is the best option here.
Posing Tips
Strike a pose. 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.
Avoid that double chin. This can happen in photos, even to those that don’t really have a double chin. We have a tendency to pull our head back when posing for the camera, which is very unflattering. Instead, think “chicken chin” and stick your chin out and forward just a bit, tilting slightly downward. It might feel funny at first, but practice in the mirror before your session. This adjustment can really slim down your neck and chin in your photos.
Be confident and playful. Your attitude & personality will come across in your photos, so let the world see what makes you unique.
Master the Squinch. For all you cowboys out there, this look was dubbed by headshot photographer to the stars, Peter Hurley. To pull it off, look intensely at the camera, chin down slightly, put a little downward pressure on your brows while you look straight at the camera. It sounds confusing, but you’ll look all sorts of mysterious and sexy if you can master this!
If it bends, bend it. Creating movement and depth is the best way to look good in photographs. Think about bending your joints…. wrists, elbows, knees and ankles. Think triangles, to create more separation from your body and your limbs.
Fake laughs are okay! Just before the camera clicks, look away, think of something funny and then break out into a big laugh. Just as your smile is coming down, look back at the camera and you’ll have the money shot.
What to do with those hands? 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.
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.
Whatever the situation, I will do my best to guide you so that your hand position looks natural and flattering.
Thank you!
Thank you SO much for reading this guide, I hope you found it useful for preparing you a bit more for your upcoming photo shoot!
Please feel free to reach out with any other questions you may have.
Be in touch very soon!
