Preparing for Your Equine Photo Session: Part 1

There’s a lot of work that goes into a photo session with your horse. But once it’s all said and done, the photos will show that all your hard work was worth it. In order to have amazing images of you and your horse, it helps to get ready in a certain order and to not procrastinate.

Not only will you need to prepare the day before, but also a couple weeks before your session. Like every horse needs a good foundation of ground work, you will need to build up some ground work for your photo shoot. Think about where you will be for the photos, maybe you live near some woods and would love an enchanted feel under the canopy of trees and amongst the ferns. A couple weeks before your time in front of the camera would be perfect to get your horse used to calmly standing in the woods with you on their back and snuggled up beside them. And if you’re dreaming of photos in a creek and a long flowing dress, make sure your horse is comfortable in the water and with you in a dress draped over their haunches. Saddled or bareback, make sure you practice all the gaits from walk to canter and especially standing patiently.

You will also be getting ready a week or so ahead of your session by choosing your outfits. This is the time to mix and max your earrings with a flowing dress, your bling belt with your jeans, or your show chaps with your favorite hat. Make sure to try on everything to double check that it all fits and flatters you on and off your horse. That way if something doesn’t fit right, you still have time to fix it or find something new.

This would be also the perfect time to hone in your hairstyle and makeup. I highly recommend hiring a professional makeup (and hair) artist for your session. Especially if you’re not comfortable creating the look you envision. And if you have the opportunity to wear false lashes, you should do it. Why? Because they will help make your eyes look bigger and will help draw out the colors of your eyes.

Your photo session isn’t the time to try a new hair cut or style. It’s time to be you and true to yourself. Don’t forget to dye your roots and have your nails done because your hands and hair will be in almost all of the photos. If you plan to have your toes seen at all, make sure to have your toenails done, too. ​​And if you need anything waxed, make sure to do it with plenty of time (like a couple days before the session) so that the redness is gone. The same goes for using tanning beds or spray tans, make sure you have some recovery time just incase you get burned or look a little too orange. 😉

Make sure to read my next post Preparing for Your Equine Session: Part 2. It’s all about preparing the day before your session and the morning of!