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 ...![]() 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 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 ...
Here's what Melanie Elise taught me ...Two Weeks Before Your Equine Photo Shoot
Three Days Before Your Equestrian Photo Session
Day Before Your Horse Photo Shoot
Morning of Your Equine Photo Shoot
Before the Start of Your Equine Photography Shoot
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 ...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?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 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?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. Watch the In The Reins Book TrailerI love sharing updates with In The Reins readers! Feeling Social? Join the herd and connect with Carly Kade Creative on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter.
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Books by Carly KadeBook TrailerAuthor InfoCarly Kade writes for anyone who loves horses, handsome cowboys and a great romance. Creative writing about horses makes her spurs jingle! Archives
September 2023
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