Spring is coming, which means two things:

Those wooly coats are going to start shedding soon, and
It’s time to book your equine portrait session!

To help you get the best possible photos of your horse, here is a handy guide to set you up for success!

Get Clear on What You Want

If you have a specific look, style, or pose that you want in your photos, be sure to communicate that clearly to the photographer. If you’re not sure exactly what you want, sometimes it can be helpful to use Pinterest to pin collections of example photos.

Have a Plan for What You are Going to do With the Photos

Do you want an album? A wall art display for your barn or living room? Make sure you’ve thought about this before hiring someone. Some photographers don’t offer prints at all, meaning you’ll be on your own when it comes to designing and ordering prints and products- which can be totally overwhelming, and frankly, not a great experience.

Grooming

Prepare for your photo session as if you are preparing for a horse show. The better your horse looks, the better the photos will look. Make sure your horse is bathed and well-groomed ahead of the session and bring along your grooming tools to wipe off dust, grass, and other debris that may stick to their coat.

Tack

If you plan to have your horse photographed in full tack, ensure your tack is cleaned ahead of your session so it is also looking its best. Clean sweat stains out of your cinch and blankets, clean and condition your saddle and headstalls, and add some shine to your bits. Clean looking tack really makes a big difference in the overall look and feel of photos.

Treats

Bring a bucket of your horse’s favorite treats along to your session. A bucket of yummy treats serves as great motivation to pose for the camera with those perfectly perky ears.

Other Considerations

Your photographer may bring a special halter made specifically for photoshoots that is easily photoshopped to make it look like your horse is not on a lead. If your photographer is not planning on bringing such a halter, be sure that your halters are clean and in good condition.

If you plan on posing in some of the photos, make sure you plan your outfits and hair/makeup accordingly. Just as it is important for your horse to look their best, you’ll want to look your best too!