WANTED: Tips on how to shoot horses...

Hi,

I've shot horses before, but usually they were those of friends and I didn't think much of it. Now the stable where my ex-g/f rides wants to hire me to shoot their horses, kids, etc...any tips on how to shoot horses? Angles? what works? what doesn't? Examples?

thanks very much in advance

the title sounded very unappropriate

vinunleaded wrote in post #6049703
the title sounded very unappropriate

+1
ROFL

Vin, you know exactly what he meant. This is a photography forum, not a hunting one. When someone says they want to shoot something, the blatant implication is that they want to shoot it with their camera, not a gun. There's no need to be immature. The title may sound somewhat inappropriate, but there's no need to give him (i'm assuming) grief for it.

Sorry, but I don't think horses are my forte. Also Lowrider, you might want to add your name to your sig.

yes yes yes, we've all done the jokes before (I work at a paper)..."I'm going to shoot the mayor/chief of police/puppies/etc...'​"...I'm looking for some serious answers to a serious question please and thank you

I would like to know this also as we have a horse ranch and I would love some good tips!

I can say from the 1000s of pictures I have looked at of horses, I think they shoot the best from a front angle off to one side or the other. I really like to see the width of the shoulders along with being able to see the rest of the horse.

Of course you never can go wrong with just a headshot from the side (as long as the head is pretty). Front shots always make the horse wildeyed looking to me.

Be careful using a flash also (Im sure you know that).

The only tip I know is to shoot them while moving as they always look boring while stood still unless the rider is the focus.

Check out Matthew Seed's work, he did a friend's horse when I refused due to lack of knowledge of horses coupled with not caring.

Thanks for the link and the info, Hank...very, very useful cheers!

I guess you would have to be a horse person to like pictures of horses lol. Most of the shots to the link you gave I would say do a horse no justice. To each his/her own, but I would say most of those would be how not to shoot a horse (not all of them by the way, some I like).

pprice wrote in post #6051542
I guess you would have to be a horse person to like pictures of horses lol. Most of the shots to the link you gave I would say do a horse no justice. To each his/her own, but I would say most of those would be how not to shoot a horse (not all of them by the way, some I like).

That's why I refused to shoot my friend's horse and friend's dogs. I just don't "get" them. Give me a cat on the other hand

Yeah, my gf doesn't like to get shot. But shooting cats is fun and i have no trouble shooting my friends dogs too, but shooting horses will get you better sausage.

I am sorry.. i just couldn't resist.

johnz wrote in post #6051587
Yeah, my gf doesn't like to get shot. But shooting cats is fun and i have no trouble shooting my friends dogs too, but shooting horses will get you better sausage.

I am sorry.. i just couldn't resist.

dude...it's not funny. It's pathetically lame and overplayed...but I've already alluded to this in a post above. Stop posting useless garbage and derailing this thread.

LowriderS10 wrote in post #6051626
dude...it's not funny. It's pathetically lame and overplayed...but I've already alluded to this in a post above. Stop posting useless garbage and derailing this thread.

Oh, i am so so sorry that i stole space from the OP's thread and Your internet.

You do realize that you just posted some garbage too that really don't help the OP too much and telling others that their comments are lame isn't especially inventive either. IMO.

This is a forum, not an encyclopedia, a little harmless fun shouldn't hurt anyone. If the OP was hurt, i am sorry, if only you were i am not.

you do realize I'm the OP, right?

I'm trying to ask a serious question on a very useful board and don't need stupid comments like yours...ESPECIALLY after some people had already posted and I asked people to stay on topic.

Get a life and go ruin some other message board.

I am not a horse photographer but I have horses and have watched pro horse photoraphers work (on Arabians). It is not a one person activity - you need help. The goal is to make the horse look alive a alert not bored and tired as I have seen in many for sale ads. You can use a rattle can (some small rocks in a bleach bottle works) or a short whip with an empty plastic bag attached to it ( not to whip the horse but to get its attention). I have also seen them use a person with a bear skin draped over them to get the horse's attention. These techniques are use for the "halter pose". For action shots a rattle can works great to get the horse to trot, snort and be frisky. Basically, you want the horse to look alert, alive and somewhat spirited ( my experience is only with Arabians so other breeds may require a different approach).
Like I said, I am not a horse photographer. These are just my observations. Get a copy of Arabian Horse World and look at some of the photos there.
Bob