For Equine Photographers : Creating the Work you Want!
If you have been getting a lot of inquiries that don’t excite you and have been photographing session that just drain you, you’re probably wondering how to start attracting your ideal clients and shooting sessions that light your heart on fire. The answer lies in your portfolio! You need to be showing off the work you want to be capturing, and (this is the important part) nothing else! But how do you actually get those beautiful images to show off in your portfolio if you aren’t booking it yet? You create it for yourself!
I’m not a big believer in open model calls and free shoots just used to get your name out there but used strategically to capture a specific vision, they are very useful! A creative shoot set up entirely by you has the opportunity to provide you with perfectly curated images that you can show off to clients to inspire them and show them exactly the kind of work you specialize in. There are literally no limits on what you can create! But now you’re probably wondering how, so let’s chat about that!
Have a vision
Step one is knowing what you want to capture! Look on google images, pinterest, at other photographers work and most importantly think about the kind of work you want to capture. Creating a vision board with inspiration images, outfit ideas, location inspiration and a colour scheme can be very helpful and then be used to share with models/vendors to get them excited about your shoot.
Pick your model
I highly recommend against putting out a large, public model call. Instead, carefully choose your model based on what you are looking for and reach out to them privately. Usually I offer them a free session in exchange for their modelling and will provide them with 1 or 2 images, with the option to purchase more. What you offer is entirely up to you but ensure that they are aware that you will have full creative control, over what they wear, their makeup, location, they horses tack etc.
Organize your vendors
Reach out to make up artists, locations, purchase any outfits/props and anything else you will be needing for the session. Though this can feel like a bit of an empty money pit, remind yourself that this work will eventually be used to attract many paying clients. If you let them know that you are organizing a session and will provide them with images to share of their services/products, vendors may be open to giving you a discount as well.
Capture your vision!
This is the fun part, everything gets to come together and you get to capture beautiful images! It can be helpful to have an assistant to help organize, depending how many moving parts you have (makeup, hair, model, horse etc.) and be sure that you have a plan and know what specific shots you want to capture, as you don’t want to look back and think that you missed something!
Share your images!!!
Probably the most important part! These images will do nothing for you if you do not share them! Blog the session, share them often on social media, put them on your website and anywhere you can! Creating the work you want is expensive and the only way to have it pay off is if you show it off and book clients from it!
