For photographers : My Top 3 Poses!
Stand at the shoulder and face their bum
My first favourite pose is just as the header describes. I’ll ask my model to stand at the horses shoulder and turn towards the horses bum, and usually me. This pose can be quite versatile as you see with the images below, depending on what body language you ask for and how you compose the image with your lens. It can create beautiful headshots of just the rider or create a beautiful image filled with connection. If I have a shorter horse and a tall rider, I will even switch to the opposite side of the horse and get them looking over the horses withers, another very fun pose! This is one of my most common poses in my session, since there is so much variation in images that I can capture using just one simple pose.
Kiss your pony
This is a classic pose, and one that I will be sure to capture every.single.session. There is no sweeter moment than kissing that oh so soft pony nose and I usually make sure to capture it a few times in a session so that I get that perfect moment. I don’t over direct my clients with this pose, unless I am trying to get a wide-angle landscape shot, in which case I will have them stand in front of the horse, and lean forward to kiss them on the nose. Though there is less variety with this pose, it is always a winner with my clients and produces some of my most beloved images. This pose always looks best if they bring their hands up to the horse’s face.
Walk it out
When it doubt, walk it out. This is my go to pose at the beginning of a session and whenever something is going awry or I need a second to compose myself. Having the horse and rider walk at the beginning of the session allows everyone to get comfortable, not feel too posed and loosens everyone up a little. I will then use the walking pose whenever the horse is acting up, or if I need a second to figure out my next pose or if we are moving between locations. I will generally try to capture walking shots from in front of them, as they walk towards me, from the side and from behind. I will always direct the client to walk their horse on a loose rein, to smile and look at me or the horse and to pet the horse as they are walking.
Did this blog leave you wanting more? Well I have a full posing guide available! The guide features 25+ pages of poses, tips and tricks, composition information and more!
This guide features 25+ spreads that will cover 10 poses, the basics of equine photography, how to pose multiple horses, dealing with difficult horses and basic tricks to improve your posing flow at a session.
As an established equine photographer I have captured hundreds of horse and rider sessions in the last few years and through this hands on experience I have gained a true understanding of how to pose and prompt horse and rider pairs to achieve effortless images that capture connection and beauty. Whether you are exclusively an equine photographer or are a portrait photographer who wants to be prepared for when you might have a session with a horse, I promise this guide will give you the tools and tricks you need to have a successful session with an equine and create memorable images time and time again, that feel effortless for both you and your client.
This guide will be delivered as a PDF and you will have 24 hours to download.
