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Shooting horses...
Er... taking pictures of them, I mean! I've seen quite a few portfolios with horse pictures here. Some of them are absolutely beautiful! As with any subject in art, there aren't any hard and fast rules. The image should look the way the artist wants it to look in order to best convey the message or feeling they want to convey. However, with that in mind, I have a few suggestions. - The horse is also a model. Choose the horse as carefully as you would any other model, i.e. choose the most appropriate of the horses that are available and affordable to you. -If you are also shooting with a human model, think about how the horse complements that model. An elegant fashion model and a rough-looking plow horse might not be the best combination, unless you're looking for that kind of contrast. Also think about the color of the horse and the coloring of the model and the clothes (if any). -Find out if the horse is calm, well-trained, and well-behaved. You can ask for references! A high-strung, easily-spooked horse will make the shoot difficult if not dangerous. -Have an experienced person to handle the horse during the shoot. You need to focus (pun intended, sorry!  ) on shooting, and your human model needs to focus on posing. You need someone else to pose your equine model. -If you want a horse that can do something special, ask the owner/trainer ahead of time. Most horses (even show horses) are not trained to do things like rear or lie down on cue. The horses you see in the movies are specially trained to do these things. -Unless you are going for a shot that is particularly relaxed or candid, ask the horse's handler to work with the horse to get good expressions. This is as important for the horse as it is for the human model. I can't tell you how many horse photos I've seen that would be perfect except that the horse is looking the wrong direction, or his ears are all wonky (typically, the ears should be pointed up and in the same direction), or the horse looks half asleep. Crinkling a piece of cellophane in the direction the horse should be looking is a great trick! -Find out how the horse will be prepared ahead of time. Will he be bathed, brushed, combed and clipped? Have his hooves been recently trimmed? If there is tack (saddle, bridle, etc.) provided, will it be polished? These things might not matter if you want a rough cowboy-on-the-range look, but if you're shooting fashion, they might! -Now you've got a beautiful horse and a beautiful model. Don't neglect the background! Is that sandy paddock with the run-down fence really the look you want? Take a walk around the location- chances are there are a few great spots. -You and your human model will probably be asked to sign a liability waiver. Working with horses is inherently dangerous, no matter how well-behaved the animal is. Most states have laws which severely limit the liability of the sponsor of an equine activity. Find out about the laws in your area. That's all I can can think of for now!  Apr 13 08 12:48 pm Link Great points, I've done couple shoots with horses and I always have the trainer near by. Apr 13 08 12:54 pm Link Apr 13 08 12:59 pm Link Also don't forget Animal House, use blanks No wait that didn't work out either LOLApr 13 08 01:00 pm Link GMP Photography - Heinz wrote: That's some nice work! Apr 13 08 01:04 pm Link Bernie Browder wrote: EeeeeeEEEeeeeee! Apr 13 08 01:05 pm Link Then some horses are just natural hams.  Apr 13 08 01:05 pm Link Stephen Fletcher wrote: Oh... I wish I had digital versions of the outtakes from the shoot Joe Tomasone did with my horse! I'm standing there in a beautiful white gown, and my horse makes the silliest face and then blows snot all over me! Apr 13 08 01:12 pm Link Good advice. I would also like to remind people to: - beware of blind spots - never walk directly behind the horse - not make sudden movements or noises around the horse Apr 13 08 02:35 pm Link oh i love photographing horses - they are just so beautiful:    i had to get up and shoot these guys at 5:00a.m. - they seemed to be more interested in me then - although they were busy eating too. Apr 13 08 03:10 pm Link Here's a beauty: .jpg) Apr 13 08 11:40 pm Link These two get to model with a wedding dress in a couple of weeks.  Apr 13 08 11:49 pm Link spent a couple of years doing equine photography when my daughter was actively riding and there is another thing that should be pointed out here: shooting a horse and a model with some sort of fashion or portrait outcome in mind is one thing, shooting a horse and a rider in hopes of selling prints to actual horse people is quite another. There are a million details that have to be absolutely correct for a true horse person to like it, ears up, top of the jump, forelegs even, all manner of stuff, it is WAY harder than most people think it is to get a great or even a good shot of a moving horse and rider. fun though...my kid lost interest about the time the jumps got over two feet...I miss going out to the shows on the weekends and Brownland Farms (one of the big event spots here in Nasvhille) has some KILLER hot dogs at the arena concession stand. Apr 13 08 11:51 pm Link Richard Gorremans wrote: That should be beautiful! Come back and show us! Apr 13 08 11:54 pm Link Apr 13 08 11:56 pm Link Shannon Fontaine wrote: Very true! It's a form of sports photography, and to be good at it, you have to know the sport. Apr 13 08 11:56 pm Link Fragile Toxin wrote: Cool! Do you happen to know what breed he is? Apr 13 08 11:58 pm Link Since we're showing off, here's one of me and my boy:  Apr 14 08 12:00 am Link Are you talking about me? I promise I'll do better next time. I was actually trying to find a black horse but didn't find anyone.  Apr 14 08 12:03 am Link Jellokittie wrote: I was told but I forgot. I wish he were mine. He was so beautiful and well mannered even carried the photographers bag for her. Apr 14 08 12:04 am Link [img]and another https://www.modelmayhem.com/pic.php?pic … id=6257018[/img] Apr 14 08 12:06 am Link bijan studio wrote: NO! I think this is a great shot! Apr 14 08 12:08 am Link And I was also impressed by the lack of a bridle! I mean- I'm pretty good, I'm riding with nothing but a decorative halter, but your model's got some skills! Apr 14 08 12:10 am Link Jellokittie wrote: She does I have only done that twice. Apr 14 08 12:11 am Link Jellokittie wrote: Thank you. I think I remember the owner of the horse brushing him. Maybe she missed a few spot. Apr 14 08 12:17 am Link bijan studio wrote: It could just be that his winter coat is really fuzzy. Apr 14 08 08:13 am Link Shannon Fontaine wrote: Cutting horse owners want a shot of the horse nose to nose with the calf they are working. They don't care if they are falling out of the saddle if the horse is doing his job. Apr 14 08 01:12 pm Link bijan studio wrote: LOVE IT !! Awesome action photograph. Apr 14 08 01:15 pm Link I want so badly to do a shoot with a horse. Been riding for 9 years or some such. Just seems like I should combine the 2 interests. Apr 14 08 01:18 pm Link Miss Mouse wrote: Since you've already got access to a horse, post a casting call for a photographer! Apr 14 08 01:22 pm Link I used to be scared of horses because I was thrown in camp when I was 10. Over the years I started shooting them and finally got back on a horse 3 years ago (girlfriend forced me)  Apr 14 08 01:27 pm Link I like when models run fast in packs.... er, um, herds? This shot was for a musician's CD and his cable TV show. (RFD-TV Vanishing Days of a Cowboy http://blink308.com/advertizing/mj0617.jpg You can see the related work here: http://blink308.com/comMJS2.htm Apr 14 08 01:31 pm Link I have pictures of me on my horse, lol, but they aren't appropriate for anything. I WANT to do a shoot with Scout once I get his tail grown out and he's fully trained. That boy is beautiful- almost black, and as pretty as a picture, even with no tail. Luke hams it up nicely when asked. But I have an advantage, I have Arabians (like JK does). They don't know how to be anything BUT hams. Apr 14 08 01:40 pm Link Smedley Whiplash wrote: Some nice cowboy shots there! Apr 14 08 01:44 pm Link The Original Sin wrote: We really do need to get together and go riding! Apr 14 08 01:45 pm Link gwc321 wrote: Is that you up there?!?! Apr 14 08 01:46 pm Link Jellokittie wrote: You like whips?!?! Apr 14 08 01:46 pm Link Smedley Whiplash wrote: Oh c'mon now... don't act surprised! Apr 14 08 01:52 pm Link Smedley Whiplash wrote: Bahahahaha. Apr 14 08 01:52 pm Link Smedley Whiplash wrote: Since I'm your perfect girl Apr 14 08 01:55 pm Link |
