Equine Photo Prep: Tips for YOU & your HORSE

Photo by Melanie Elise Photography

You've found the perfect equestrian photographer and you've booked a photo session for you and your horse! You are excited (finally you'll have those perfect pictures of your partnership!) and terrified (Oh no! What if they don't turn out well?) so what do you do? Don't worry! In this post, I'll share tips and tactics for you and your horse as you prepare for your own equine photo shoot! 

How my quest for an equine photographer began ...

When I am not riding a horse, you’ll find me writing about one. Horses are very much a part of my every day life and I am happiest when I am in the saddle. I’ve been lucky enough to own horses most of my life. Horses give me peace whether I’m putting them on paper or I am a guest on their backs. There is nothing more peaceful to me than the quiet bond I share with my horse. 

​"Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

​So I needed someone that could capture my grand passion for horses when I was getting ready to publish my horse book, In The Reins! Every author needs a good bio photo and I knew that mine had to include my horse because she was the inspiration for the lead horse in my horse book series.

Finding the right equestrian photographer ...

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My Author Photo by Melanie Elise Photography

I was in search of the right photographer who could capture the perfect author photo for the "About the Author" page in my newest novel.  

​As an Arizona author who writes love stories involving horses based in modern cowgirl culture it was very important to me to work with a local photographer who knew horses as well as the Arizona landscape

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After some research, I contacted Melanie Elise Photography to schedule a photo session.  I sincerely thank Arizona's Melanie Elise Photography for taking the extra time necessary to do just that.  Melanie captured the perfect shot during our photo session and it is now featured in my novel 'In The Reins' (Available on Amazon in Paperback & eBook!)  ​​

Tips for preparing for an equine photo shoot ...

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Carly Kade poses for Equine Photographer Melanie Elise

So here's my advice on how to prep for a successful equine photo shoot. Before anything else be sure you've found the right photographer for your personality and that you've seen examples of their work.

​Ask for a pre-shoot consultation to discuss what you are looking for in your photos, go over your horse's disposition and location for your horse photography session. I strongly recommend working with an equestrian photographer. They know horses and what it takes to get a shot where both you and your horse look great! 

Here's what Melanie Elise taught me ...

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Two Weeks Before Your Equine Photo Shoot

• Schedule hair and nail appointments.
• Put together your outfits and send for cleaning as necessary. 
• Gather session tack and accessories.
• Scout location! Look for great backdrops and lighting.
• Practice your equine photo shoot hair and makeup.

Three Days Before Your Equestrian Photo Session

• Clean all your tack, even backups. You never know what will inspire you!
• Clean up the equine photo session areas like the area or barn aisles.
• Pull manes and tails, trim legs and faces.
• Make sure all paperwork is signed and necessary payments have been made.

Day Before Your Horse Photo Shoot

• Bathe you horse.
• Double-check and pack your outfits and accessories.
• Prepare and pack all needed tack and props.
• Pack necessary photo session paperwork to give to your equine photographer.

Morning of Your Equine Photo Shoot

• Feed your horse a low-energy meal.
• Give nervous horses a light work out like lunging. Rinse to remove sweat.
• Treat any stains that appeared over night.
• Re-trim muzzle and any stray hairs.
• Groom your horse to show quality. Apply sheen spray, face and  hoof polish, etc.

Before the Start of Your Equine Photography Shoot

• Last wipe to clean any dust off tack. 
• Wipe horse's face and mouth. Reapply spray to polish horse's coat.
• Shine your boots.
• Apply fly spray as necessary.
• Touch up your makeup and hair.
• Clothing check for dust, slobber or stray hay.
• Be sure to hydrate.

Most importantly, Melanie coached me to relax and have fun during my equine photo shoot.  She advised that stiff poses and forced smiles don't look natural.  Then she made me giggle when she told me to picture my horse naked. It does help! Thanks for that tip, Melanie. LOL.

Go behind the scenes of my equine photo shoot ...

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This fun, little featurette goes behind the scenes of my very first author photo session with Melanie Elise Photography for my book, In The Reins.  ​I'd never had my makeup professionally done inside of a horse barn before … ha!  

​On the day of this photo shoot, my horse book was still unpublished and I was an author just begining to fan the flames of a flickering dream.  Today, it jingles my spurs to share that In The Reins is an Amazon Bestseller and has won the EQUUS Film Festival Best Western Fiction Literary award. 

Want to work with Melanie Elise Photography?

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Melanie offers affordable 15 to 30 minute equine photography mini-sessions. For pricing and frequently asked questions visit her website here: http://photos.melanie-elise.com/equine-mini-sessions

Equine Photographer Melanie of Melanie Elise Photography

​I’m lucky enough to be a Melanie Elise Model so Sissy and I occasionally get to participate in creative equine photo shoot ideas that Melanie comes up with! I am proud to be featured on Melanie Elise’s equine photography website too!

To view examples of Melanie's work please visit her website or gallop back to the blog next week where I’ll be revealing my favorites from our most recent Arizona desert equine photo shoot! 

So there you have it! Advice on  how to have a successful equine photo shoot with an equestrian photographer. Do you have any great tips to share? Please let me know in the comments! 

Can’t spring for a professional? This article by Lea Hawkins called "Beginners Guide to Photographing Horses" offers some need to know tips so you can conduct your own spur jingling equine photo shoot! Read it here -----> http://digital-photography-school.com/beginners-guide-photographing-horses/

Want to know more about In The Reins?

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The book is available in paperback and eBook with solid 5 star ratings!  In The Reins is the first in my horse book series! Thank you to my readers from the bottom of my heart. Visit my reviews page to see what readers have been saying about the novel.

In The Reins by Carly Kade

Watch the In The Reins Book Trailer

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