Taking photos of your horse for sales and promotion...
When it comes to selling or promoting your horse, the saying “first impressions matter” is SO true. How often have you looked through sale ads and cringed at the photos used to ‘showcase’ a horse?
Whether you’re selling a seasoned competitor, a family companion or promoting your stud horse, the quality of your photos plays a crucial role in showcasing your horse’s best qualities. And let’s face it, it’s getting harder and harder to ‘stop the scroll’ these days, so great photos are critical to encourage people to stop and take notice!
Here’s a few tips on how you can create great photos of your horse…and If you’re not up for it, the best thing to do is hire a professional photographer who is competent and familiar with horses. But what if you don’t have a quality photographer near you? Or perhaps professional photos are not in your budget at this moment? Here are a few of my tips to help you take good-quality photos of your horse.
The first thing you want to determine is ‘WHY’. Why you are creating these photos will help you decide the rest of the details and plan your shoot. Like anything you expect to have a good outcome from, it takes planning.
Next, you’ll need to prepare your horse, not just physically but emotionally as well. You want your horse to be clean and tidy, but also be able to cope with what you’re going to ask them to do. Do they float load and travel well? Do you need to do some extra training so they load and travel happily for you? Being prepared will get you the best results and keep you safe!
Remember to take snacks with you so you can encourage your horse to look where you want them to look. And as a reward.
Location, Location, Location...
Make sure you put some thought into the location for your photos. It should be suitable for horses and safe. Make sure you check it out first before you rock up with your horse.
And bring a friend to help you…you can’t hold a horse and take a decent photo at the same time! Always consider safety. Yours, your horses and the handlers. As a horse person, you know how quickly things can go from cruisey to chaos in a heartbeat.
Keep a close eye on things in the background of your photos that might be distracting and look for light that is flattering. Soft light is good, but if it’s a sunny day, put your back to the sun, so the sun is falling on the horse.
Use leather tack on your horse as opposed to PVC or nylon. Leather doesn’t date in photos and will compliment rather than detract.
Pose your horse so you can see their features clearly and they look their best, both in the way they stand, and their facial expression. A soft expression showing a kind and gentle eye, with ears up, is always going to look good. 
With the right preparation, a keen eye for detail, and a focus on safety, you can capture images that not only showcase your horse but also tell its story. Quality photos are more than just a selling tool—they’re a way to honor your horse and attract the right kind of person to your sale.
If you think you might need a little more help with capturing your own photos, check out my $39.95 “Help Guide” for horse owners, as seen at Equitana 2024. It’s full of info on everything you need to get the job done, with extra info on camera settings, various posing styles and heaps of other useful info to help you get the best results yourself. Access the download HERE
