What is an Equine Portrait Session?

1) What's an Equine Portrait Session

2) Who's it for?

3) The Set up

4) What to expect

5) How to Prepare

6) What's a "Naked Halter?"

What is it?

Equine portrait sessions are a combination of well posed photos, and photoshop. The final images feature your horse against a black background

creating a bold, and dramatic look. During the session, your horse is photographed in a barn aisle, or well shaded area. We focus on conformation, detail shots, and movement. There’s no backdrop involved, as the magic happens in photoshop. Through the editing process the

background is removed and the horse is edited to bring out their best features. The result is a refined, artistic portrait that will last a lifetime.

"Who is This Type of Photoshoot for?"

I recommend an equine session for:

• Conformation photos.
• Custom printed fine art.
• The riders who treat their horse like family, and what to capture their personality of their equine family member.
• The competitor with a goal. Barrel racers, eventers, dressage riders, hunter jumpers, etc. The ones who want to show off their partner in high resolution.
• The horse owner with history. Those who've had their hope for years and want keepsake photos.
• The breeder/sales owner, with stallions, foals, and mares.
• The trainer/barn owner, with fancy horses and their owners.
• The owner of a special horse, those with unique markings and personalities.

The Set Up:

These photos are taken in a barn doorway using only natural light. By placing the horse in the doorway the light from outside naturally illuminates them. Using only natural lighting removes the stress of gear and flashing strobe lights.

What to Expect:

These sessions are calm and unrushed. Each session lasts about 15–20 minutes and is spent letting your horse relax, get curious, and have fun. My assistant and I work together to engage your horse naturally. We use treats, toys, and gentle noises to keep your horse interested and excited about what’s happening next. There’s no forcing involved! We use positive reinforcement and simple groundwork to encourage your horse to stand confidently and comfortably, allowing their natural expression and personality to shine through in the final images. You can include any tack you want, bridles, fancy halters, saddles, or a naked halter (provided, see page below)

How to Prepare:

FOOD: Make sure your horse has had access to grass/hay for at least 2 hours before their shoot. Having a "hangry " horse isn't fun when you start to offer them treats and they become a Cookie Monster!

GROOM: We cannot forgot the importance of grooming and bathing! These photos are something you want to look back on in years to come! Spend the extra time making your horse look “show ready.” Clean, well-oiled tack is encouraged, and a freshly groomed, and braided mane helps create a polished look. If your horse is typically clipped, trimming areas like the bridle

path, ears, and jawline can help everything look tidy and refined in the final images. I recommend using baby oil on hooves to help them shine! I love baby oil way more than hoof oil because grass, pebbles and hair are less likely to stick to baby oil than they would to hoof oil.

Pro tip: a tiny amount of baby oil on your horses nose, and eyes helps them standout! Just be cautious about leaving it on in the sun as it can cause sunburn.

LUNGE: If your horse has been up in the stall all day, or tends to be on the spookier side then PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE lunge them! This helps to get their brain working before their shoot. Don't ask them for much, as we don't want for them to sweat, but we do want them to have a chance to get their wiggles out before we ask them to stand and pose.

"What the Heck is a Naked Halter?"

A naked halter is a thin rope used during the photoshoot in place of a bridle or leather halter. It helps an equine photographer during post production to edit out the halter to make it look like there was never a halter involved in the first place.

Get Excited!!

I am pumped to be your equine photographer. I absolutely love what I get to do and you make it possible! Get ready for some incredible photos you’ll want to print and look at for years to come!

www.stirrupsandstyles.com

stirrupsandstyles@gmail.com