How to Take Great Horse Photography
Gather the necessary supplies, as shown below. , Locate the area you would like to shoot in., Observe the location and figure out the best lighting.,Clean and polish any tack that the horse may wear, especially any metal pieces or colored parts, as...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Gather the necessary supplies
Clean up any debris, manure, or other unsightly items.
Also, check for any unsafe things, like nails or broken glass, that the horses could step on., Unless you are equipped with professional photography lights, natural lighting is the best.
Early morning or late evening light is the most flattering, but check that there is enough light to take a picture without the flash.
Watching the world go by. ,, If you want to bathe it, do it the day before, so that the natural oils in the coat will return to give the horse a healthy sheen.,,,, Spray both with a detangler so as to avoid clumped hair in your final shot.,,), take a lunge whip and pop it on the ground to get the horses moving.
Pop it as many times as needed to get the horse at the pace you need.
It helps to have one or two helpers doing this so that you can get a still shot., Have a helper hold a carrot or other treat just out of the camera shot to position the horse's head and make him prick his ears., Many cameras have a portrait setting that is perfect for posed shots, and some also have an action setting that works nicely for action shots., For a portrait, this is not quite as essential, but for a motion shot, try to catch the horse when he is airborne, with legs fully extended, or with legs fully contracted.
Mid-stride shots are usually not very attractive., Shoot at different angles and sides, and shoot a lot.
When the shoot is over, you will have many more photos to choose from when picking out the best ones. , Experiment with different styles.
Make it your own. -
Step 2: as shown below.
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Step 3: Locate the area you would like to shoot in.
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Step 4: Observe the location and figure out the best lighting.
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Step 5: Clean and polish any tack that the horse may wear
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Step 6: especially any metal pieces or colored parts
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Step 7: as these really stand out in a photograph.
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Step 8: Groom the horse well.
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Step 9: Remove all the dust from the horse's coat
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Step 10: and spray the horse with a shining product for the most glamorous photo.
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Step 11: Apply clear hoof polish after cleaning the hooves.
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Step 12: Clip the horse's long facial whiskers
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Step 13: ear hair
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Step 14: bridle path and fetlock hair
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Step 15: and then apply a light coat of equine highlighter to the muzzle
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Step 16: eye area and ears.
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Step 17: Brush out the mane and tail
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Step 18: and braid or band the mane if you wish.
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Step 19: Bring the horse on location and decide on the best background for your photo.
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Step 20: To take an action shot
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Step 21: let the horse loose (in a fenced area
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Step 22: of course!
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Step 23: To take a posed shot
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Step 24: bring your horse to the area where you want the shot to be taken.
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Step 25: Focus your camera appropriately.
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Step 26: Time your shots.
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Step 27: Shoot many
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Step 28: many pictures.
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Step 29: Have fun with it.
Detailed Guide
Clean up any debris, manure, or other unsightly items.
Also, check for any unsafe things, like nails or broken glass, that the horses could step on., Unless you are equipped with professional photography lights, natural lighting is the best.
Early morning or late evening light is the most flattering, but check that there is enough light to take a picture without the flash.
Watching the world go by. ,, If you want to bathe it, do it the day before, so that the natural oils in the coat will return to give the horse a healthy sheen.,,,, Spray both with a detangler so as to avoid clumped hair in your final shot.,,), take a lunge whip and pop it on the ground to get the horses moving.
Pop it as many times as needed to get the horse at the pace you need.
It helps to have one or two helpers doing this so that you can get a still shot., Have a helper hold a carrot or other treat just out of the camera shot to position the horse's head and make him prick his ears., Many cameras have a portrait setting that is perfect for posed shots, and some also have an action setting that works nicely for action shots., For a portrait, this is not quite as essential, but for a motion shot, try to catch the horse when he is airborne, with legs fully extended, or with legs fully contracted.
Mid-stride shots are usually not very attractive., Shoot at different angles and sides, and shoot a lot.
When the shoot is over, you will have many more photos to choose from when picking out the best ones. , Experiment with different styles.
Make it your own.
About the Author
Nicholas Fox
Creates helpful guides on crafts to inspire and educate readers.
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