It is that time of year again. Time for the annual Shoot & Share photo contest. I have been asked time and time again from photographer friends for advice when photographing horses, and after seeing so many horses being used in wedding pictures, senior pictures, and everything in between in the photo contest I wanted to share a few of my tips for creating beautiful portraits of horses.
Lens Choice. Choosing the perfect lens for photographing horses can truly make or break an image. It is so important to stay away from those wide angle lenses such as the 35mm or 50mm lenses that portrait photographers often times flock to. I recommend shooting no wider than 85mm, and my go to lens is the 70-200 2.8. Wide angle lenses tend to make horses heads and ears look HUGE.
Ears. Get those ears up. Ears can really make a big difference in a portrait with horse. If a horse’s ears are not up they look uninterested and distracted. You can use various noises to get their ears up from shaking a bucket full of feed, to peppermint wrappers. There are even apps you can download for your phone that make horse noises, but please use caution with these as often times they can make horses a little crazy. You can also try tossing or rolling things on the ground and typically they will look at whatever you throw, but again use caution as you have to ensure that you are not going to spook the horse and endanger your client.
Angles. There are a few angles that are safe for horses. The safe shots are straight on, turned at a 45 degree angle, and straight sideways. Always make sure that if a horse is straight sideways their hip is slightly further away from the camera that their shoulder or you can have a horse that appears to have a big butt, and small shoulders…you are typically better off of their hips are slightly further away from the camera, and regardless of the type of horse or their confirmation they will look best.
Feet. Make sure that their feet are square under their bodies, and they don’t have one leg out to the side or are standing with their feet too close together. Ideally if you are taking a picture from the side you should be able to see all four feet. 
Safety. If you have not been around horses please use extreme caution when photographing horses. They can be extremely dangerous and often times when photographing them, clients can get tense or nervous..this can be a bad combination. Your clients nervous feelings can quickly rub off on their horse so it is so important to keep them calm, remind them to breathe, and tell them they are doing a great job…even if things are not going as planned. If you notice the horse you are photographing acting anxious or continually moving, take a few minutes to stop shooting and just talk with your client and take the pressure off of them. Remind them to love on their horse and tell them that everything is ok.
As a photographer it is our job to ensure our clients are safe at all times, so if the situation makes you uncomfortable or you are worried for your clients safety it is best to stop shooting and put the horse away. If you are not comfortable and confident around horses, and a client asks you to photograph them, please remember that it is ok to decline or refer them to someone that is comfortable photographing horses.
Don’t forget to check with your attorney to ensure that you are properly protected through your contract with your client, and make sure you carry liability insurance that will protect you in the case of an accident.
Do you have more questions about photographing horses? Feel free to leave a comment on this post and I will answer all of your questions!
PS. I also offer mentoring if you are interested in learning more about photographing horses or shooting black background portraits. Send me an email at equine@karindak.com if you want more information.
Great article! Good job nicely written!