View and bookmark the *new* and *improved* blog here instead: http://equusluminous.wordpress.com/
Monday, September 8, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sale Horse Photography - Brand New Online Course!
Are you sick of spending hours trying to get decent photos of your sale horses, only to have them turn out nothing like what you had imagined? Does your horse's head always look HUGE? Want to know how the pros set up sale horse shoots in order to accentuate horses' good features and sell them quickly?
If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, our brand new course will be invaluable! Especially in this market, there's an amazing amount of competition just for attention. If your current photos make your horse resemble a yak more than an equine, no matter how many points they have or championships they've won, you won't get the interest you need to sell.
For example, say you're looking for a dressage horse, and have a $12,000 budget. If these two horses came up in the search, judging solely on the photos below, which would you be more serious about?
If you picked the second horse, you're among the majority. But why did you pick that horse over the other? Because the photo shows the mare off to her best, and that she's likely worth the money! Would it surprise you to learn that both images are of the exact same horse? Sure is!
Starting to see what I mean? Image is everything in the equine advertising world.
****************************************************************************
Course Outline
May be changed slightly to best suit the needs of the class
Week 1 - Introductions
Week 2 - Preparations & Beginnings
Week 3 - All About Conformation
Week 4 - Action Shots
Week 5 - Putting It All Together
****************************************************************************
Learn more and register here. You can't afford to miss this course!
For the next 24 hours ONLY, SAVE 33% off the fee!
If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, our brand new course will be invaluable! Especially in this market, there's an amazing amount of competition just for attention. If your current photos make your horse resemble a yak more than an equine, no matter how many points they have or championships they've won, you won't get the interest you need to sell.
For example, say you're looking for a dressage horse, and have a $12,000 budget. If these two horses came up in the search, judging solely on the photos below, which would you be more serious about?
If you picked the second horse, you're among the majority. But why did you pick that horse over the other? Because the photo shows the mare off to her best, and that she's likely worth the money! Would it surprise you to learn that both images are of the exact same horse? Sure is!
Starting to see what I mean? Image is everything in the equine advertising world.
****************************************************************************
Course Outline
May be changed slightly to best suit the needs of the class
Week 1 - Introductions
- Getting to know everyone (and their horses!)
- Basic camera overview - point & shoot and SLR
- Breed/discipline research - homework assignment
Week 2 - Preparations & Beginnings
- Shoot preparations - venue, horse, handler, props
- Choosing pleasant backgrounds and lighting
- Head, neck, and useful detail shots
Week 3 - All About Conformation
- Conformation and type evaluation
- Conformation troubleshooting
- Conformation shoot (most difficult)
Week 4 - Action Shots
- Choosing the correct rider, tack, etc.
- Under saddle - what to shoot and what to look for
- Difficult action (jumping, cutting, etc.) & liberty shots
Week 5 - Putting It All Together
- Choosing your images and mildly enhancing
- Create an actual or fictional ad for your sale horse
- Last tips and tricks, final questions asked
****************************************************************************
Learn more and register here. You can't afford to miss this course!
For the next 24 hours ONLY, SAVE 33% off the fee!
Photo Tip - Silhouettes
Last month I shared how to take great photos in a barn door with a dark background. This month, you can still use a barn door if you'd like, just move inside of the barn instead. If you don't want to shoot inside, sunset is a great time too!
Those shooting with a manual camera (any camera where you can manually set the shutter speed and aperture) will want set the camera to aperture mode and meter the bright sky (or light coming in the doorway). The main goal is to expose for the bright part. Your subjects should be at the edge of the door, but in the shadows.
Put your camera in manual mode, just to be safe, and use the settings you read on aperture mode (i.e. 1/750 at f/4.5). Since digital cameras only have a 7-8 stop latitude, and you're exposing for the highlights in a very contrasty situation, the shadows will turn into a black silhouette.
If you just have a point-and-shoot camera, it will take more effort, but you should be able to pull this off too. Most beginners take silhouettes inadvertently. ;) First, turn your flash off. If you have a manual setting, follow the directions above.
If not, when taking your photo, make sure that most of the frame is filled up with bright light. The camera will naturally meter for this, in return, turning your subjects into a silhouette.
Quick note, silhouettes look best when there is a clear definition between legs, arms, and such, otherwise it just looks like one big dark jumbled mess.
Some more examples:
Those shooting with a manual camera (any camera where you can manually set the shutter speed and aperture) will want set the camera to aperture mode and meter the bright sky (or light coming in the doorway). The main goal is to expose for the bright part. Your subjects should be at the edge of the door, but in the shadows.
Put your camera in manual mode, just to be safe, and use the settings you read on aperture mode (i.e. 1/750 at f/4.5). Since digital cameras only have a 7-8 stop latitude, and you're exposing for the highlights in a very contrasty situation, the shadows will turn into a black silhouette.
If you just have a point-and-shoot camera, it will take more effort, but you should be able to pull this off too. Most beginners take silhouettes inadvertently. ;) First, turn your flash off. If you have a manual setting, follow the directions above.
If not, when taking your photo, make sure that most of the frame is filled up with bright light. The camera will naturally meter for this, in return, turning your subjects into a silhouette.
Quick note, silhouettes look best when there is a clear definition between legs, arms, and such, otherwise it just looks like one big dark jumbled mess.
Some more examples:
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Working Equitation Speed Test
From Beja, Portugal, 2008. Like a trail class, just in fast forward. :)
The man riding has some of the best natural horsemanship I've seen. Great, now I really want a Lusitano too.
The man riding has some of the best natural horsemanship I've seen. Great, now I really want a Lusitano too.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
7 Common Advertising Mistakes
...Stallion & Sale Horse Owners Make
Looking through the typical equine magazines, it's amazing at how many ads are literally a waste of space. Considering that a full page color ad in Horse Illustrated will take over $10,000 out of your bank account and a small ¼ page grayscale ad is $1500+ in American Cowboy Magazine, you'd think advertisers would spend their money wisely. That certainly isn't the case some of the time!
Below I've listed some common themes in poor ads. If you're planning to run any size ad in the future, be sure to read up.
1. Not Having a Plan or a Goal
Before spending a bunch of money, there needs to be some sort of plan or a goal in mind. Because advertising without a goal is like walking aimlessly in the desert without a compass. There's no point... You need to ask yourself these questions: Who are my ideal clients? Where do they live, work, play? What interests them? How much money do they have to spend? Then decide how to make a series of ads or a marketing campaign suited for the answers.
Next, ask yourself what you want the ad to accomplish. Do you just want people to learn your farm / stallion / horse name? Do you wish for more people to book their mares to your stud? Want to sell your top weanling or show horse? Figure out what you want the ad to do, then combine that with the knowledge about your preferred clients, and you've formed a solid foundation on which to base your ad.
2. Only Running One Ad
So many of my clients have told me that advertising just doesn't work - everything they've tried in the past has just been a waste of money. I say it must, otherwise they couldn't get away with charging thousands for magazine ads and millions for TV spots. Advertising works when it's done correctly, but does take some knowledge beforehand and a little trial-and-error.
Research has proven an ad needs to be seen at least 7-10 times or more before consumers really take notice. Direct mail marketing needs to be seen at least 3 times. So that's why postcard campaigns work, but one mailing won't really do a thing. And why you're better off running a small grayscale ad or business card monthly then blowing your whole advertising budget on one 4-page spread. You need to be there when people want to find you.
3. Not Using a Professional Graphic Designer
As a horse owner, you wouldn't hire any guy off the street to provide veterinary care for them. Or as a home owner, hire your friend's cousin who knows a bit about plumbing to finish piping your new house. Or let Uncle Lou take out your gallbladder... While using poor design in your ads may not be a life and death matter, it could be for your business or farm.
It doesn't take much for people to build up a negative image, but takes a LOT of effort to erase that. Think about any food scares at your favorite restaurants. It was awhile before you went back, huh? Anything really horrific is hard to forget. Don't let your ads be one of those!
Most designers are much more affordable than one might think. If you need references to fantastic designers that won't demand your first born or right arm as payment, contact me.
4. Using Poor Quality Photographs
Just like the design, great images are just as important, if not more important to your ad's success, and your business. Even if you have the most lovely stallion (weanling, show horse for sale, etc.), if your images don't show them off at their best, you'll likely be disappointed in the results. And horrible photos will ruin your horse's and farm's reputation faster than you could imagine.
Like hiring a professional designer, a pro equine photographer's pricing is usually quite the deal when looking at the big picture (no pun intended). This is especially true if you have a barn full of horses to sell or otherwise promote. Considering how much revenue a superb image of your stallion or top show horse can bring in, it's amazing how many people skip this hugely important step.
5. Typos or Misinformation
People don't want to admit it, but many of us are turned off by grammar and spelling errors, type-o's, the excessive use of CAPS LOCK or !!! exclamation points!, Randomly capitalizing Words In your Sentence, or long-winded monologues that have absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand. If you're really looking to impress, copywriters are relatively inexpensive to hire. Otherwise, just have as many people proofread your text as possible.
Another thing that will kill an ad is misinformation. Saying the horse is over 17h tall when it's obvious the thing is 15.3 standing on its tip-toes will never serve one well. Or using cover-up spray to *fix* that blemish you don't want anyone to see. Retouching of conformation, action, or markings is also a huge no-no. Adding a mile long fake tail to your Appy stallion doesn't go over well either. Sooner or later the truth always come out.
We're all human, and all make mistakes. But it's when they add up that things get ugly. :)
6. Not Enough Information or Details
On the other side of excess, as above, there's always those who don't share nearly enough information. Looking at Equine.com ads, it amazes me how many people leave the comments section blank. Sure, a picture speaks a thousand words, but c'mon now, give us something!
If the training level is green, does that mean it's been sat on once, or is walk, trot, canter each direction? Is the horse OK for the farrier, vet, etc.? Does it trailer and tie? Any vices, blemishes, or unsoundness we should know about now? Like misinformation, simply not mentioning something will come back to bite you in the bum.
Don't tell us about every cute thing Buster ever did, or award he's ever won, but at least give us the basics we care about. Same goes for stallions. And of course, don't forget your contact info, such as your email, cell and home phone, fax, website address, etc.
7. No Call to Action
Tell your readers and potential clients what you want them to do. Call to book your stallion? Request an information packet? See more images or videos of your sale horses? Come out and take a test ride? See the '08 babies? Back when you were planning your ad campaign, you had one or two goals in mind. Keep it simple and just steer them in the direction you want them to take.
I come across so many ads that don't do this, it's just astounding. Yeah, yeah, you have a handsome stallion or gorgeous show horse, woo hoo... Don't just waste the space, make your ad DO something! Without a call to action, that's not likely to happen.
Looking through the typical equine magazines, it's amazing at how many ads are literally a waste of space. Considering that a full page color ad in Horse Illustrated will take over $10,000 out of your bank account and a small ¼ page grayscale ad is $1500+ in American Cowboy Magazine, you'd think advertisers would spend their money wisely. That certainly isn't the case some of the time!
Below I've listed some common themes in poor ads. If you're planning to run any size ad in the future, be sure to read up.
1. Not Having a Plan or a Goal
Before spending a bunch of money, there needs to be some sort of plan or a goal in mind. Because advertising without a goal is like walking aimlessly in the desert without a compass. There's no point... You need to ask yourself these questions: Who are my ideal clients? Where do they live, work, play? What interests them? How much money do they have to spend? Then decide how to make a series of ads or a marketing campaign suited for the answers.
Next, ask yourself what you want the ad to accomplish. Do you just want people to learn your farm / stallion / horse name? Do you wish for more people to book their mares to your stud? Want to sell your top weanling or show horse? Figure out what you want the ad to do, then combine that with the knowledge about your preferred clients, and you've formed a solid foundation on which to base your ad.
2. Only Running One Ad
So many of my clients have told me that advertising just doesn't work - everything they've tried in the past has just been a waste of money. I say it must, otherwise they couldn't get away with charging thousands for magazine ads and millions for TV spots. Advertising works when it's done correctly, but does take some knowledge beforehand and a little trial-and-error.
Research has proven an ad needs to be seen at least 7-10 times or more before consumers really take notice. Direct mail marketing needs to be seen at least 3 times. So that's why postcard campaigns work, but one mailing won't really do a thing. And why you're better off running a small grayscale ad or business card monthly then blowing your whole advertising budget on one 4-page spread. You need to be there when people want to find you.
3. Not Using a Professional Graphic Designer
As a horse owner, you wouldn't hire any guy off the street to provide veterinary care for them. Or as a home owner, hire your friend's cousin who knows a bit about plumbing to finish piping your new house. Or let Uncle Lou take out your gallbladder... While using poor design in your ads may not be a life and death matter, it could be for your business or farm.
It doesn't take much for people to build up a negative image, but takes a LOT of effort to erase that. Think about any food scares at your favorite restaurants. It was awhile before you went back, huh? Anything really horrific is hard to forget. Don't let your ads be one of those!
Most designers are much more affordable than one might think. If you need references to fantastic designers that won't demand your first born or right arm as payment, contact me.
4. Using Poor Quality Photographs
Just like the design, great images are just as important, if not more important to your ad's success, and your business. Even if you have the most lovely stallion (weanling, show horse for sale, etc.), if your images don't show them off at their best, you'll likely be disappointed in the results. And horrible photos will ruin your horse's and farm's reputation faster than you could imagine.
Like hiring a professional designer, a pro equine photographer's pricing is usually quite the deal when looking at the big picture (no pun intended). This is especially true if you have a barn full of horses to sell or otherwise promote. Considering how much revenue a superb image of your stallion or top show horse can bring in, it's amazing how many people skip this hugely important step.
5. Typos or Misinformation
People don't want to admit it, but many of us are turned off by grammar and spelling errors, type-o's, the excessive use of CAPS LOCK or !!! exclamation points!, Randomly capitalizing Words In your Sentence, or long-winded monologues that have absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand. If you're really looking to impress, copywriters are relatively inexpensive to hire. Otherwise, just have as many people proofread your text as possible.
Another thing that will kill an ad is misinformation. Saying the horse is over 17h tall when it's obvious the thing is 15.3 standing on its tip-toes will never serve one well. Or using cover-up spray to *fix* that blemish you don't want anyone to see. Retouching of conformation, action, or markings is also a huge no-no. Adding a mile long fake tail to your Appy stallion doesn't go over well either. Sooner or later the truth always come out.
We're all human, and all make mistakes. But it's when they add up that things get ugly. :)
6. Not Enough Information or Details
On the other side of excess, as above, there's always those who don't share nearly enough information. Looking at Equine.com ads, it amazes me how many people leave the comments section blank. Sure, a picture speaks a thousand words, but c'mon now, give us something!
If the training level is green, does that mean it's been sat on once, or is walk, trot, canter each direction? Is the horse OK for the farrier, vet, etc.? Does it trailer and tie? Any vices, blemishes, or unsoundness we should know about now? Like misinformation, simply not mentioning something will come back to bite you in the bum.
Don't tell us about every cute thing Buster ever did, or award he's ever won, but at least give us the basics we care about. Same goes for stallions. And of course, don't forget your contact info, such as your email, cell and home phone, fax, website address, etc.
7. No Call to Action
Tell your readers and potential clients what you want them to do. Call to book your stallion? Request an information packet? See more images or videos of your sale horses? Come out and take a test ride? See the '08 babies? Back when you were planning your ad campaign, you had one or two goals in mind. Keep it simple and just steer them in the direction you want them to take.
I come across so many ads that don't do this, it's just astounding. Yeah, yeah, you have a handsome stallion or gorgeous show horse, woo hoo... Don't just waste the space, make your ad DO something! Without a call to action, that's not likely to happen.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Christmas in July Specials
Happy Holidays! :)
For a limited time, I'm giving away gorgeous custom photo gifts with your order! From now until midnight on Friday, July 25th, you'll receive a great bonus with a minimum order of $75 ... and it just gets better from there.
Here are the details:
Overs over $75 receive either:
• A custom photo mouse pad ($15 value) OR
• A custom photo coffee mug ($15 value)
Orders over $150 receive either:
• A custom keepsake box ($35 value) OR
• 100% cotton canvas tote (2 photos)* ($35 value)
Orders over $250 receive either:
• 11x14 or 11x17 matted fine art print ($125 value) OR
• 5x30 mounted panel - regular or metallic finish* ^ ($125 value)
Orders over $500 receive either:
• 11x14, 12x12, OR 5x30 gallery wrap canvas* ^($255 value)
* Special for this sale only; these products are not normally part of our line
^ 5x30 panels and gallery wraps may feature up to five images
Ordering instructions
Simply place your order as usual, but in the comments section, list the gift you want and the image number(s) of the photos you would like placed on the item.
Should you have any questions, need help choosing the perfect gift or images, or if the ordering system is giving you trouble, please don't hesitate to contact us at (480) 227-0339 or email us here.
Remember, the sale only lasts for a week, so don't delay!
For a limited time, I'm giving away gorgeous custom photo gifts with your order! From now until midnight on Friday, July 25th, you'll receive a great bonus with a minimum order of $75 ... and it just gets better from there.
Here are the details:
Overs over $75 receive either:
• A custom photo mouse pad ($15 value) OR
• A custom photo coffee mug ($15 value)
Orders over $150 receive either:
• A custom keepsake box ($35 value) OR
• 100% cotton canvas tote (2 photos)* ($35 value)
Orders over $250 receive either:
• 11x14 or 11x17 matted fine art print ($125 value) OR
• 5x30 mounted panel - regular or metallic finish* ^ ($125 value)
Orders over $500 receive either:
• 11x14, 12x12, OR 5x30 gallery wrap canvas* ^($255 value)
* Special for this sale only; these products are not normally part of our line
^ 5x30 panels and gallery wraps may feature up to five images
Ordering instructions
Simply place your order as usual, but in the comments section, list the gift you want and the image number(s) of the photos you would like placed on the item.
Should you have any questions, need help choosing the perfect gift or images, or if the ordering system is giving you trouble, please don't hesitate to contact us at (480) 227-0339 or email us here.
Remember, the sale only lasts for a week, so don't delay!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Painted Diamond Show Horses
I meant to post some photos of the lovely Murray girls quite some time ago, but this Spring turned out to be so busy!
This farm shoot was specifically for a Paint Horse Journal ad before the World Show, but I also grabbed some individual shots of the gals and their horses while we were at it.
Here are a few of my favorites and the result, a gorgeous ad made by Westwynde.
(Awesome PDSH ad ©2008 Westwynde)
This farm shoot was specifically for a Paint Horse Journal ad before the World Show, but I also grabbed some individual shots of the gals and their horses while we were at it.
Here are a few of my favorites and the result, a gorgeous ad made by Westwynde.
(Awesome PDSH ad ©2008 Westwynde)
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Flying Fleur
From the other evening, the first time little Flurry was let out to play in the arena. She had a blast!
We had an amazing sunset, just wish it was a bit lighter when she decided to zip around, bucking and playing. So these are somewhat dark and a bit blurred, but still very cute nonetheless.
No retouching work, even the "Flying Fleur" shot. That was just snapped mid-buck, as she defied gravity for a moment. :)
Both her and mom are standing funny in this shot, but look at that neck & shoulder!
Canter pirouettes anyone?
Loong walk stride...
Flying Flurry
Showing off those long legs.
Hell bent for leather
Crappy shot, HUGE canter! And it was bigger, as I was a hair late...
Refueling
Mom's pretty face
"Uncle" Apache. :) Still lookin' good at 19!
That's all I had time to work on this week, but more to come soon.
We had an amazing sunset, just wish it was a bit lighter when she decided to zip around, bucking and playing. So these are somewhat dark and a bit blurred, but still very cute nonetheless.
No retouching work, even the "Flying Fleur" shot. That was just snapped mid-buck, as she defied gravity for a moment. :)
Both her and mom are standing funny in this shot, but look at that neck & shoulder!
Canter pirouettes anyone?
Loong walk stride...
Flying Flurry
Showing off those long legs.
Hell bent for leather
Crappy shot, HUGE canter! And it was bigger, as I was a hair late...
Refueling
Mom's pretty face
"Uncle" Apache. :) Still lookin' good at 19!
That's all I had time to work on this week, but more to come soon.
Friday, June 27, 2008
7 Mistakes Horse Owners Make
When it Comes to Hiring an Equine Photographer
As both a horse owner and professional photographer, I see a lot of mistakes made which could have easily been avoided. It pays to do everything properly the first time, as mistakes can be quite costly.
1. Choosing Solely on Price
Obviously pricing is somewhat of a consideration, but if that's all the decision is based on, I can almost guarantee you won't be happy with the final result. The saying "you get what you pay for" usually holds true.
Full page color ads run $1K or more per page in the standard equine magazines, i.e., Horse Illustrated. Don't waste the ad fee by using poor quality images, taken by non-pro photographers. More on that below...
2. Photographer's Style Doesn't Match
If you show hunter/jumpers on the "A" circuit, a 4H event photographer just isn't going to meet your needs. If you're looking for fine art type imagery, don't hire a photojournalist.
I'm not saying that these photographers would necessarily take poor images, but your chances of being extremely happy with the final product greatly increases when the photographer's style meshes with your own.
Do research potential photographers beforehand.
3. Photographer's Equipment Isn't Suited for Horses
One can't go out, buy any camera/lens combo, and expect the gear to show off the horses at their best. So don't hire a pro unless you've seen their portfolio or images from friends, which prove they have the right gear.
A few clues to look for - the bigger the lens, the better, usually. Long lenses are expensive, but needed to capture horses without distortion. Do they have a powerful flash for indoor photography? Does the camera look heavy-duty and ready to stand up to a day's worth of hard shooting?
4. Rushing the Photographer
If you want the job to be completed correctly the first time, it's essential to not rush your photographer. Most pros have at least 100 clients or more.
I won't even begin to tell you about some of my own clients that call the day an ad is due and tell me they *need* eight images ready in two hours. Or farm owners that need a shoot within the next three days because of a certain deadline. Sometimes it's just not possible to accomadate all requests!
Always contact the photographer about an order, ad, shoot, or event as far in advance as possible. I've been booked for shows literally a year or more in advance! If you don't want to be disappointed, plan ahead.
5. Hiring a Family Member, Friend, or Amateur
This may seem like a good way to cut expenses, but it will end up causing more frustration and time spent in the long run. New clients would tell me horror stories of the arguments caused by a simple photo session, just trying to get photos for their website, holiday card, etc.
Another old adage, "Time is money" is also very true here. Not only will the shoot take much longer than anticipated, it usually doesn't go smoothly, and hate to say it, but rarely do the resulting images make it even worth the time spent.
6. Not Checking References
Does the photographer have an accolades or testimonial section on their site? Read these and see if the past clients seem happy. If you can't find such a thing, ask around. Chances are your friends or family will know of the person and be more than willing to share their experiences.
When my good friend Erica was searching for a wedding photographer, they decided to visit a local photog for an engagement shoot. In the short time they were waiting in the studio, at least three people came in with complaints. They hightailed it out of there as quickly as possible.
Make sure past clients were happy! Ask for referrals if necessary. After all, equine photography isn't a small investment.
7. Using a Pro That Doesn't Have a Clue About Horses
There are many pros out there that are NOT equine photographers in the slightest. While they may have a good portfolio, ask to see their equine work. Many fashion, commercial, and editorial photographers shoot with short lenses. Even if it's the best short lens in the world, it will distort the horse and ruin the images, unless you're going for that cartoon-y look. :)
They'll also have no clue how to get ears up, exactly where the legs go for conformation shots, what disciplines and breeds are looking for specifically, how to time trot shots for hunters and saddleseat horses (or what the difference is). If you don't hire an equine pro, the final product will show it.
As both a horse owner and professional photographer, I see a lot of mistakes made which could have easily been avoided. It pays to do everything properly the first time, as mistakes can be quite costly.
1. Choosing Solely on Price
Obviously pricing is somewhat of a consideration, but if that's all the decision is based on, I can almost guarantee you won't be happy with the final result. The saying "you get what you pay for" usually holds true.
Full page color ads run $1K or more per page in the standard equine magazines, i.e., Horse Illustrated. Don't waste the ad fee by using poor quality images, taken by non-pro photographers. More on that below...
2. Photographer's Style Doesn't Match
If you show hunter/jumpers on the "A" circuit, a 4H event photographer just isn't going to meet your needs. If you're looking for fine art type imagery, don't hire a photojournalist.
I'm not saying that these photographers would necessarily take poor images, but your chances of being extremely happy with the final product greatly increases when the photographer's style meshes with your own.
Do research potential photographers beforehand.
3. Photographer's Equipment Isn't Suited for Horses
One can't go out, buy any camera/lens combo, and expect the gear to show off the horses at their best. So don't hire a pro unless you've seen their portfolio or images from friends, which prove they have the right gear.
A few clues to look for - the bigger the lens, the better, usually. Long lenses are expensive, but needed to capture horses without distortion. Do they have a powerful flash for indoor photography? Does the camera look heavy-duty and ready to stand up to a day's worth of hard shooting?
4. Rushing the Photographer
If you want the job to be completed correctly the first time, it's essential to not rush your photographer. Most pros have at least 100 clients or more.
I won't even begin to tell you about some of my own clients that call the day an ad is due and tell me they *need* eight images ready in two hours. Or farm owners that need a shoot within the next three days because of a certain deadline. Sometimes it's just not possible to accomadate all requests!
Always contact the photographer about an order, ad, shoot, or event as far in advance as possible. I've been booked for shows literally a year or more in advance! If you don't want to be disappointed, plan ahead.
5. Hiring a Family Member, Friend, or Amateur
This may seem like a good way to cut expenses, but it will end up causing more frustration and time spent in the long run. New clients would tell me horror stories of the arguments caused by a simple photo session, just trying to get photos for their website, holiday card, etc.
Another old adage, "Time is money" is also very true here. Not only will the shoot take much longer than anticipated, it usually doesn't go smoothly, and hate to say it, but rarely do the resulting images make it even worth the time spent.
6. Not Checking References
Does the photographer have an accolades or testimonial section on their site? Read these and see if the past clients seem happy. If you can't find such a thing, ask around. Chances are your friends or family will know of the person and be more than willing to share their experiences.
When my good friend Erica was searching for a wedding photographer, they decided to visit a local photog for an engagement shoot. In the short time they were waiting in the studio, at least three people came in with complaints. They hightailed it out of there as quickly as possible.
Make sure past clients were happy! Ask for referrals if necessary. After all, equine photography isn't a small investment.
7. Using a Pro That Doesn't Have a Clue About Horses
There are many pros out there that are NOT equine photographers in the slightest. While they may have a good portfolio, ask to see their equine work. Many fashion, commercial, and editorial photographers shoot with short lenses. Even if it's the best short lens in the world, it will distort the horse and ruin the images, unless you're going for that cartoon-y look. :)
They'll also have no clue how to get ears up, exactly where the legs go for conformation shots, what disciplines and breeds are looking for specifically, how to time trot shots for hunters and saddleseat horses (or what the difference is). If you don't hire an equine pro, the final product will show it.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Fleur Update - Growing Fast!
Just returned after a very busy 8 days in Chicago, but of course I headed straight to the barn for some quality Fleur time. :)
I'm playing catch up on email and work, so this post will be short & sweet, filled with lots of photos. Many more from Illinois to come soon!
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Flurry after her first quick shower. She was great and stood by while mom was hosed, then let herself be lightly sprayed for a second, just to get used to the idea.
Ever since birth, Fleur been sticking her tongue out to the side and sucking on it. Kind of weird, as her half sister (same dad) does that too, but their sire doesn't. Another horse at the barn does it as well, and they're not related in the slightest. Odd, huh? But very cute indeed!
Trying for high key - didn't quite work as I'd planned, but still love the shot.
Itching the last bit of water on her side.
Cat nap in the sun...
I'm playing catch up on email and work, so this post will be short & sweet, filled with lots of photos. Many more from Illinois to come soon!
---
Flurry after her first quick shower. She was great and stood by while mom was hosed, then let herself be lightly sprayed for a second, just to get used to the idea.
Ever since birth, Fleur been sticking her tongue out to the side and sucking on it. Kind of weird, as her half sister (same dad) does that too, but their sire doesn't. Another horse at the barn does it as well, and they're not related in the slightest. Odd, huh? But very cute indeed!
Trying for high key - didn't quite work as I'd planned, but still love the shot.
Itching the last bit of water on her side.
Cat nap in the sun...
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