Senior Photos - Cat and Sam

Catherine and Sam...

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And Catherine...

And.. Sam...

C&C encouraged and appreciated.

What is Catherine carrying in that second image of her?

disneydork06 wrote in post #17727144
What is Catherine carrying in that second image of her?

It appears to be a headstall and reins or sometimes referred to as a bridle.

Yes, a western bridle as Silver Mesa said.

What is your experience with horses and strobes/flashes? Do they spook? Does it depend on the horse?

golfecho wrote in post #17733824
What is your experience with horses and strobes/flashes? Do they spook? Does it depend on the horse?

I'm very interested in this as well. I'd love to shoot some horses, with a camera............but I have been wondering about how they might react to a strobe.

golfecho wrote in post #17733824
What is your experience with horses and strobes/flashes? Do they spook? Does it depend on the horse?

I used to shoot quite a few equestrian events and flashes were not allowed at most of the English events, but were allowed at most Western events.
I think it does depend on the horse. Thoroughbreds are often used in English events and seem to be more skittish than many of the breeds used in Western events.
American Quarter Horses are popular horses used in Western events, but many of them have a lot of thoroughbred in them, so it really depends on the horse.
I used to own an American Quarter Horse with a lot of thoroughbred and he was ridden in both English and Western events and wasn't bothered by a flash, but we still didn't use it when he was jumping.

bob_r wrote in post #17734437
I used to shoot quite a few equestrian events and flashes were not allowed at most of the English events, but were allowed at most Western events.
I think it does depend on the horse. Thoroughbreds are often used in English events and seem to be more skittish than many of the breeds used in Western events.
American Quarter Horses are popular horses used in Western events, but many of them have a lot of thoroughbred in them, so it really depends on the horse.
I used to own an American Quarter Horse with a lot of thoroughbred and he was ridden in both English and Western events and wasn't bothered by a flash, but we still didn't use it when he was jumping.

Thanks, good info. I'm mostly interested in the everyday teenager who rides horses a few times a week locally getting a senior portrait taken with their favorite horse. I think it will really depend on the horse. In those kinds of shots, it may be safer to shoot on a bright day and use a reflector for fill, and not do the flash at all, unless the subject is very skilled with the animal and/or someone can confirm flashes are not an issue.

saea501 wrote in post #17734030
I'm very interested in this as well. I'd love to shoot some horses, with a camera............but I have been wondering about how they might react to a strobe.

Yes, the answer is.. it depends on the horse.

Some are just fine, some spook at the first one and are fine... some butt-clench every single time, and some leave the country after the first flash.. you have to get it in one take.

knowing what makes a horse look good to horse people... well... particularly for western, it isn't what a non horse person thinks is a good look.

Have to understand, I started riding horses when I was 8 yrs old, had horses in the back yard since I was 10, been a breeder for almost 20 years... trained them, shown them..etc.. I know how to pose them, how to get ears up, and most importantly, how to read what one is thinking.

The biggest mistake most non-horse people make is thinking they are big dogs, and will act like one. They don't.

Be sure to always leave the horse an 'out'. they are flight animals, and if they get scared, they will leave.. and run thru anything in their path if they are scared enough.. including lights/umbrellas/gear and the photographer. A lot of things I do I bet I'm not even aware of, because I just automatically do it the 'safe' way. So far, no one and no gear has ever been hurt, *knock on wood*.

But there is huge potential for a big wreck if you don't know horses... particularly if you mixed someone who didn't know horses but ownes them with a photographer who didn't know horses with big scary lights and umbrellas... ***cringes*** and yes, there are horse owners out there you wonder when the *big one* is going to happen as you can tell they aren't a match to the horse they have.

Start off with natural light and learn how to read them, first, outside, before trying to take them inside, confine them, and put huge scary flashing eating horse monsters next to them. Arenas are a good start as they can't run too far.

But, for example, there is seriously NO WAY I would ever use flash on a Jumping horse unless I had first hand knowledge of horse and rider. Period. I wouldn't even flash one on the owners 'oh, he'll be fine' word. I'd have to observe the horse with a flash first, and the horse at the show in general before I'd even attempt it. Not worth getting someone killed.

Sorry to get on the soap box, this is just one of those things that knowledge and experience keep you out of trouble, and horses should come with all sorts of warning stickers for newbees, but they don't.

These are fantastic!

ksbal wrote in post #17734980
Yes, the answer is.. it depends on the horse. .

Sorry to get on the soap box, this is just one of those things that knowledge and experience keep you out of trouble, and horses should come with all sorts of warning stickers for newbees, but they don't.

This whole post is great advice for anyone wanting to shoot horses with little experience (or anything really, i could say the same about motorsport, take it easy and stay safe, eventually you can see stuff happening before it happens and take a slightly greater risk)

I dont photograph horses much at all, and when i do they are either race or trotting horses, and are worth quite a bit of money, so i am very very careful, and normally have a jockey/trainer/stableh​and around to help me out (basically someone who knows the horse)


Great series of pics too - i really like the first one and the last two