Equine Photographers Podcast

Scott is one of those fortunate people who has done something they love their entire working career and that is be a photographer. Horses have been the primary subject of his efforts, and he has been able to travel the world capturing their beauty and essence. His style embodies an artists understanding of light and a tactile emotional portrayal of his subjects.

While horses have been the primary subject, his work is not limited to just that area. He also does commercial work including architectural, fashion, portraiture and travel journals. His locations have been worldwide ranging from ghettos to palaces and everything in between!

His services include promotional photography, videography, editorial, lectures and seminars.

Website: http://www.treesmedia.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Scott-Trees-Photography-245113558834563/

Scott Trees is based in Texas

The horse came first, quarter horses and Arabians growing up.

Started with a Minolta SRT 101. Developed black and white in the bathroom.

Started a party picture business for fraternities and Sororities and it paid for his college education.

First foray into equine photography was an “A” Arabian show in Pueblo Colorado. Shooting black and white and processing in a rented trailer with a friend.

Started doing some 16mm film work for a company working with horses.

1983 Did some work for a disbursement sale for a very large Arabian breeding farm. Did some of the first “at liberty” shooting.

Then everything started coming to him as fast as he could handle it. There were only 3-4 photographers doing all the work. Shooting medium format cameras. For every job he accepted there were 3 he had to refuse.

Today is very different. Went through the digital change over. At 65 he is in the last phase of his career. It used to be that he had the best gear at any shoot, but today, there will be several people with equipment better than him. Now people think good-enough is acceptable. Very competitive in a dwindling market as breed registries are seeing fewer and fewer horses.

Does a lot of video now. It’s an area that new photographers need to become competent in.

VHS  then DVDs  then Online Streaming. He has done all of these.

Current project working with Arabian breed with video to tell different stories about this versatile and interesting breed. Telling the good story about Arabians. With video you have to consider how the story is being told.

Scott has gone back and forth between video and still as each goes up and down in demand. There is a different art involved in motion.

Snapshot of his business now

1/3 photography, 1/3 video, 1/3 teaching

80% Horse photography / When he was working in Dubai, it was only 40% horses.

As a new photographer you had better be able to adjust to change over and over. Marketing is constantly changing as well. You must be able to perform on-demand and produce a quality product for your customers if you expect to be paid.

Horses have been the engine that pulled the train of his photography business. Niche’ is very important. You have to KNOW the area that you photograph. Specialty brought me to other work. Example with a story from Dubai.

Goes to horse shows to network. Does not do shows. Be careful that you don’t take on work that you are not prepared to perform well for. Taking on a national “A” horse show as your first project could ruin your entire career in the horse world if you don’t deliver. This includes meeting the expectations of the particular kind of event that you are photographing.

Photography today can be a TIME monster. We used to send off our film and it would come back. Now we spend hours and hours on the computer being the lab for ourselves.

Package online education in photography available at certain times of the year. Also does on-location teaching. Heads up the Sombrero Ranch Equine Photography workshops. Now he is trying out some classroom only teaching events. Two days: Fundamentals of still equine photography and Fundamentals of video for equine photography. Classroom can be as many as want to come. On-location workshops need to be limited in number to be more effective.

Gigi: Workshops are very valuable for her. Hands-on is how she finds the most effective learning.

Scott: THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO LEARN IN PHOTOGRAPHY.

Last question: Tell us about how you are lighting horses these days.

Most people are shooting horses are outdoors. Learn the color and direction of the light. Shoot morning or evening. Lighting and shadow give the picture depth and the look of 3 D look. Open shadow also has direction. Sometimes uses reflectors. Doesn’t use on camera fill flash which creates a flat image. Setting up lighting around horses is difficult because horse MOVE.

We also encourage your to SUBSCRIBE on iTunes so you never miss an episode. This is also where you can leave a RATING or COMMENT about the episode or the podcast. More comments and ratings helps others find our podcast on iTunes. If you enjoyed the podcast consider leaving a rating and review: Subscribe on iTunes Click HERE

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The group is for people wanting to improve their equine images, not a place to share the latest snapshot of your horse. Some people get it, but sometimes people put up images of their horse snapped on a cell phone and become upset when someone explains how the images could be improved. They will say, “why, it’s my horse and I love him and I think it is a great image.”  But, it’s not. The exposure is wrong, the horse has his head in the grass, there are broken fences and garbage piles in the background and so on.

There are of course those who understand the purpose of the group and who follow the rules. They post their image with all the details about the image and ask, “How can I improve this image?”  If you want to improve your equine photography, find this Facebook Group and be teachable as Anette has been with outstanding and fast results.

One day Anette Augestad posted an image. It was wonderful. A young lady with her horse. The light was just right and there was little that could be done to improve the image. Since then Anette has been doing more and IMPROVING FAST, so I invited her to come on the Equine Photographers Podcast to share about what she was doing and where she was heading with her work.

Even now Interest in her images is expanding across the globe.

Website: http://www.hestefotograf.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Hestefotograf?fref=photo

Equine photography is a hobby or side business, but she has a full-time career in another field.

Anette explains that she determines the location of the shoot. Some she shoots with models and borrowed horses.

Started with horses when she was 8 and everything in her life. Took riding lessons, dressage and show jumping.

2008 Landscape and nature photography

2012 started to build a portfolio of horses

2013 Started to build her portfolio of equine photography

Her full-time job gives her the flexibility to do what she wants

Hand picks the horses, hand picks the horses, without having the worry about the money.

Learning photography was trial and error. Tried and failed and tried again. Understands all the concepts and learned most of it before starting with horses.

Most of her activities come through her Facebook Page.

2013 first large article was published in a magazine called EquiLife. Also published late in Dressage a website in Norway.

You have a really specific hobby, her friends tell her.

Easier to create intimacy in the images with fewer subjects, the connection.

Details about her typical sessions.

Delivers about 15-20 images in low resolution. If they want prints, then they have to order through her. Most of this is through emails.

Stories of some of her sessions.

Loves to photograph the large and powerful breeds.

Setting up model sessions with horses she chooses.

A discussion of capturing the connection between the horse and rider. Discussion about her rates.

We also encourage your to SUBSCRIBE on iTunes so you never miss an episode. This is also where you can leave a RATING or COMMENT about the episode or the podcast. More comments and ratings helps others find our podcast on iTunes. If you enjoyed the podcast consider leaving a rating and review: Subscribe on iTunes Click HERE

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Tracey Elliot-Reep has a truly unique and amazing business model that proves you can create a business that fits your spirit and personality in the equine world. How would you like to live on the edge of a reserve with wild ponies that everyone adores, then take equine trail treks across mountain trails for hundreds of miles in Spain or the Netherlands? How about riding horseback from Mexico to Canada? Then, when you get back share your adventures through books and motivational speaking opportunities throughout the world.

Her story is truly inspirational and amazing. You will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, listening to Tracy.

Show notes are sentences and phrases and words that indicate what is being discussed in the interview along with any websites and links for your further exploration.

How did you get involved with horses and photography?

Lives at Dartmoor in England. Rode the ponies as a child. Tried to get into school for art, but did not qualify.

Joined the traveling circus taking care of the horses. Somewhere along the line I picked up a camera and found that

2011 – across Greece and Italy over the Alps across norther Spain. 5 month trips.

Began her business in photography photographing for several magazines. One went bust so she started selling postcards of Dartmoor ponies. Living off 5 pounds a week for a period of time. That was 23 years ago. Now my business of calendars, greeting cards, books funds my adventures then when I come back I give talks about LIVING YOUR DREAMS. I talk about overcoming obstacles.

People are inspired to live their own dreams after hearing the struggles and overcoming which I talk about.

In the spring she had 20 talks. Working on a children’s book about Rainbow, her pony. Sells greeting cards, novelettes, calendars, children’s books, horseback travel adventure books.

Started one adventure with $100. Faith into action. Took on jobs to fund the adventure. Purchased the horses. Crossing the southern Alps. Flash floods. New Zealand. Raised money for disabled riding programs.

Ride from Mexico to Canada. Drug smugglers, snakes, mountain lions, mountains.

Her European adventure included tunnels, refugees, mountains, mountain goats, dangers of many kinds.

Riding by Faith Across Southern Europe

A gripping journey with two Greek ponies from the arid heat of Greece, across the Alps of southern Europe, to the ancient pilgrim trail of northwest Spain.

Riding by Faith Across America

A stunning photographic account of a dream becoming reality, as Tracey rode all the way from Mexico to Canada following the Rocky Mountains. An inspirational, informative and humorous taste of life in the American West, past and present.

Riding by Faith Through New Zealand

Tracey’s first big adventure started with faith, a friend and only a few pounds in her pocket. They travelled the length of the North and South Islands of New Zealand, across mountains and battled through cyclones, floods and droughts.

We also encourage your to SUBSCRIBE on iTunes so you never miss an episode. This is also where you can leave a RATING or COMMENT about the episode or the podcast. More comments and ratings helps others find our podcast on iTunes. If you enjoyed the podcast consider leaving a rating and review: Subscribe on iTunes Click HERE

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Phyllis has been part owner and manager of Burchett Training Center for over 30 years so it was only natural for her to turn to equine photography. Her knowledge of horses helps her to fulfill her creative vision for the Equine Form as art.  Her passion for beautiful light and candid moments inspires and fuels her to make images that make the viewer want to come along on her journey. Join us now as we talk to Phyllis about her life and journey as an equine photographer and artist.

Website: http://phyllisburchettphoto.net

Workshops: http://phyllisburchettphoto.net/workshops/

Iceland photography tour: http://phyllisburchettphoto.net/iceland-tour-2016/

Winter horse photography tour: http://phyllisburchettphoto.net/winter-horse-photography-tour/

She has a blog which you can sign-up for email subscribe on her website.

Show notes are just rough notes, phrases and sentences to give you some clues about what was discussed during the interview.

She has been in the horse business since her teens.

Late 1990s had 14 stations and did lots of stud service. 45 Acre farm. Had as many as ten people working for them. 2003 started getting burned out on horse breeding business. Went to a workshop and caught the bug. Bought a film camera. Back country Yellowstone tours. Was “possessed with photography”.

Known for wildlife and bird photography. Polar bears in Canada. Now, it’s horses, bears, and birds. Sold the farm, but works at the farm part-time as part of the purchase agreement. Breeding crashed 2008 and has diminished a lot.

Today in your photography business. She is in two galleries. She does instruction. Portrait work is word of mouth. 50% or more of her portraits are horse and rider or owner and pet portraits. Connects a lot with people through Facebook. Workshops and tours are mainly equine related.

Workshops are one day from dawn to dusk.

Poems Art and World Art represent about 15% of her income.

Enjoys much of what she does. #1 Horses, #2 Nature, If I could do workshops every day, it’s what I love to do.

Doing an Icelandic horse tour and workshop in Iceland.

For new photographers, it’s good to be well rounded. She does architectural photography. Leading to a photographic riding tour with horse pictures. Has a waiting list.

One day workshop around $179.00.

Iceland tour is around $3500.00 excluding airfare.

Riding and photography tour – beta test was too low. This year will be more. Gigi chimes in, “I could be your cook. I used to be a chef.” Gigi says, “Phyllis is a great teacher.”

PPA, ASMP, NAMPA, LOCAL Affiliate Chapters, Equine photographers Network.

Equipment: Nikon from fish eye to 600mm (birds). D4, D810, D7200,  70-200 is favorite lens for horse and a lot of portrait work.

Small studio, not a store front studio, just a room at the farm. Will set up at the Gallery for holiday portraits to promote the gallery also. Sees herself as an artist. Encourage new photographers to get involved locally.

50% Equine photography – Includes horse and rider, tours, teaching, fine art equine sales, farm

15% Portraits including pet photography

15% Fine art nature photography

20% Teaching through the gallery and one-on-one mentor tutoring.

Portrait clients will see 15-25 images completely post processed. Small town. Spends more time in post processing than in the actual session. Prices with other full-time professionals in the area.

Do competitions. PPA judging. To learn.

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When I saw his website and looked around it was reminiscent of the Norman Rockwell covers on the Saturday Evening Post. In our interview we discussed these images and more to discover how an old-time cowboy moved from large format cameras to digital and continues to come up with new ways to grow his business with outstanding personalized service and top quality output for his clients.

The son of a professional photographer, he was introduced to a camera at a fairly early age. He was tutored by his father and his father’s cousin, a Kansas City crime photographer, who was a master of fine art, and black and white photography. Between the two of them, they managed to teach him a thing or two about light and shadow, aperture settings and composition.

A college professor once told Ron, “If you don’t make a living as an artist you will starve to death.” Art has been his livelihood for most of his life. Whether it was as a sculptor, or his main profession as an award-winning marine artist, Ron has made a living doing what he does best: art.

Now with the latest in state of the art digital photography equipment, Ron is sharing his artistic eye with the viewing public. Ron’s photographs can be seen in homes and businesses, and in galleries for resale. Several of his photos have won awards, including Cowboys & Indians Magazine contests, and are used in magazine articles and on book covers.

Show notes are just rough notes, phrases and sentences to give you some clues about what was discussed during the interview.

Website: http://www.ronmcginnis.com

Ron’s Artist Website: http://ron-mcginnis.artistwebsites.com/index.html

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ronmcginnisphotography

Ron’s email: [email protected]

Started at 17

Father was a master photographer. Friend of Ansel Adams.

Still shoots with a the zone system. Started with a 8×10 large format camera.

Cameras are still a box and hole in it.

Raised around horses and cowboys all of his life.

Participated in rodeos.

Also does reproductions of marine life as part of his living (3-d sculptures). For museums and other. 75% of his career is photography.

Shooting kids growing up doing rodeo is rewarding.

His wife does the selling at computer table at the events. He does not print on site. He is very particular about quality of print work. BLACK RIVER Imaging does great work for him. Knows his lab people personally. Does a lot of 40×60 canvas wraps.

Like to shoot action events at low angles. Shoots from inside and outside of the arena depending on safety issues.

Will sometimes use wider lenses and low angles to capture a more dramatic. Mostly shoots with 70-200 f2.8. Have to be able to shoot action and some in evenings. Uses up to 8 speed-lights. Can turn on and off as needed. Sometimes he can just use higher ISO in a good night rodeo arena.

1/500 is the slowest shutter speed that he would use if not using a flash. Faster for some events.

Almost all rodeo events.

Art sales 50%  Average purchase is a 30×40 canvas  and framed images through fine art america. Some art shows. Art dealers. Facebook. A new image might get shared 50 times on Facebook.

Rodeos almost every weekend. Takes some shots from the events to create art images.  The contestants almost always purchase these images that he has created as a gallery wrap. His wife is showing the pictures from previous events which he has worked on during the previous week at the current show that he is shooting. Doesn’t usually sell online to keep people honest and keep them from stealing the images.

Grew up being a fan of Norman Rockwell and is pleased that we saw that in his work.

But, these shots are real life images of friends at a bunk house.

Nick Filters collections. Every image is different. Plays with things until he gets what he wants. Pops details that he wants to see and pushes back other things.

Rockwell looks. Likes back-lit images. Shoot to edit. Shoots only in manual mode.

Lightroom and layers in Photoshop with textures are the things he likes to work with.

Taking a mediocre shot and making it into something very good.

Something I figured out is that women run the horse industry, decorate the home, and buy the horse magazines.

Does quite a bit of teaching. Zen and the art of photography. Teaches the creativity aspects of photography (not the technical aspects of photography). People come from a 4-5 state region come in for a day or two. Doesn’t advertise it much. People call and ask.

Portraits, senior portraits 25% of his business. Shoot and edit pricing. Post processing all in about 2 hours.

I’m a pretty good photographer, but not that good of a business man.

Teaching people how to SEE is the hardest part of teaching others.

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Charles Hilton and I got to know each other when he was still in Equine Photographers Network and the world was changing to digital cameras. He dove right in and went digital and started learning Photoshop to enhance his beautiful images of people and horses.

As I mentioned on Facebook, every time that I see an image that Charles shares on his Facebook feed, I think, “Wow, that is better than the ones from last week.” He continues to learn and grow and learn and grow each day in this advection of equine photography.

We had a wonderful discussion with Charles about his passion of horses and people and photography.

Website : http://www.charleshilton.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Charles-Hilton-Photography

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/charles.hiltonca?fref=ts

Podcast Link: Equine Photographers Podcast

Took his daughter up to North Texas for her 16th birthday to explore the horse farms. Got run off many of the farms. One had a sign that said welcome and open any time. He took some pictures of a foal and took them some 11×14 prints with new backgrounds.

Invited back to do more pictures. Traded photography for a 2-year-old appaloosa.

1992 took early retirement and took it.

Debt free. Son killed in an accident.

Built a 15 stall barn over a couple of years with his daughter. Daughter was going through John Lyons certification. Did all his shoots for “the Perfect Horse Magazine.”

Went through a divorce.

Clinton Anderson called and wanted him to do his pictures.

Horse Magazine, Horse and Rider Magazine, and others.

Lots of editorial work after 2002.

More recently moving toward the more emotional captivating horse and rider portraiture. Feels that it is photography with more purpose to it. What horses mean to people.

Facebook feed.

Telling the story behind the people we are photographing. 15-year-old fighting cancer session.

Helping sharing her story and maybe write a her book. My faith is a part of what I do.

Work on my photography EVERY DAY!  We all have so much talent, and the effort we put in will determine how far that talent will take us.

Wants to do more Photoshop mentoring and classes, but I’m a shooter.

Wants to do some larger scale workshops.

Day rate for editorial work. Work for individuals is very different.

$250 minimum for any work for individuals. The $250 goes toward purchases from his price list. They almost always buy a lot more. Shows the client 30-40 images and does a selection session to make their purchases, then once they have purchased the $250 worth, then it is up to them to keep spending more if there are images they must have. Helps them to eliminate images, but the clients usually push back and say I must have this one and I must have that one. Usually $1000 to $2500 spent.

If it’s $250 it’s okay, if it goes to $500 that’s better, if it goes to $1000 or $2000 that’s great. He brings LARGE PRINT canvases gallery wrap. If you show them an 8×10, that’s all they will buy. I bring a 24×36.

Sue Bryce is someone Charles follows. http://www.inbedwithsue.com/blog/

Several other portrait photographers that he also follows. NOT a pressure type person. Does not like pressure sales. I talk with them throughout the session to give them what they want and what they are looking for.

What is the pre consultation like. Dealing with the environment presented to him. Shoots with a 200 to 400mm zoom lens with wide aperture and blurs the background. Finding the light that is right. Not taking a landscape photo, shooting a client and their horse and letting the background just go very soft.

4×7 ft reflector sometimes. Wife Susan helps a lot.

Now starting to use flash metering to balance with ambient light. Tries to darken the background by 3/4 or 1 stop and bring up the subject with the flash. All manual settings. Flash high on the stand. These are studio strobes with battery packs.

Traveling. How does that work?

Trainer client wanted a day shoot. Pay set fee plus travel. She said she had some clients that would want to also participate. Ended up do 20 sessions over a week or two with a $150 minimum for each. Did selection sessions online by sending a PDF file locked so it cannot be printed. It only can be opened on-screen. Order form on each page. They can see the images pretty large on-screen. 25 to 50 or 75 images. Some stealing, but not that much. If they don’t order, he called them up to follow-up. What are your questions?

Before, when he sent small JPGs they would not order. Now they are ordering with hand holding over the phone and with emailing. Trying for over the phone orders looking $500 to less than $1000. Last time he went to that farm he photographed 47 sessions over almost 6 weeks in multiple locations. Uses a Facebook GROUP to invite people to join up for portraits. Tell them how many they need for him to come. Basic prices show. They decide if they want to participate. He collects a deposit of 50% of the base fee. Friends invite and join their friends to the Facebook Group. At the end there is a big part that someone throw and he puts together a big slide show of everyone at this event. Posts a few images on Facebook and the group keeps growing. This last time, he had to tell ten people he had to tell them he could not do them. Keeps the GROUP from year to year, deletes all the old images and starts again. Has THREE Groups that he is managing. Tries to do 3-4 people per day. Has done as many as 10 in one day. Might schedule a weekend at the beach photography sessions at an additional fee.

Funny stories.

Talks to people. Don’t try anything new for the first time.

Best advice to the new person. Learn a foundation of good quality photography. In some Facebook groups. Was in EPnet for many years.

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Portraits of Horses and their people, Farm Calls, Horse Stock Images, Fine Art Horse Prints and Commercial Equine Photography.

In 2000, Carol Walker started her business Living Images by Carol Walker, specializing in horse photography. Carol’s images illuminate the relationship between horses and their people as well as showcase the beauty of horses with her stunning images of horses at liberty. Her commercial work includes catalog covers for leaders in the Equine industry. She has had numerous calendars published featuring her work and she markets her fine art prints from her website as well as in several locations on the Front Range of Colorado.

Living Images offers a wide range of products and services ranging from Portrait and Farm Call Services to offering her Horse Photography through Fine Art Prints and Stock Images.

http://www.livingimagescjw.com

http://www.wildhoofbeats.com/blog

• Influential in the wild horse sector of the equine photography business

• Always loved horses and started taking pictures when she was age 4 focused on nature photography first as an amateur

• Joined Equine Photographers Network

• Started with portraits of owners and their horses

• At nature photography conference someone asked her why she was not photographing wild horses

• Monthly visits to the wild horse herds

• Found out that they were going to be removed and got involved and wrote her first book “Wild Hoof Beats”

• Incomes streams have shifted from year to year / started with portraits / then got into stock / calendars / magazines for editorial / trade shows / fine art sales

• Did everything on her own until she hired an assistant several years ago

• Trade shows and galleries and art shows (local art shows), but has pulled out of most of the trade shows

• Be careful that any show you sign up for has enough people

• Sales at trades shows varied a lot. Difficult to predict what was going to sell from one year to the next. Greeting cards always sold

• Uses http://www.zazzle.com

• Sometimes does better at non-horse shows for selling art prints / decor prints of wild horses or horses at liberty

• What sells in the middle of the country is different from what people will spend on the east or west cost

• Etsy Store is working great. Website orders are going gangbusters – drop ship images as the orders come in.

• First book sold about 8,000 books self published so far

• Horse photography book about 7,000 +

• Galloping to freedom is her next book. The story of the journey of a herd of wild to living in a sanctuary. This book is sponsored.

• Sells best online, galleries where her work is visible. Bookstore sales are slower.

• Primedia sells her books and calendars as well.

• Also photographs horses at liberty “set up” photography for decor images. People are buying more “pretty horses” for large prints for decor.

• She has done workshops all over the world and gathers some of her images through that. Tony Stromburg workshops.

• Did a workshop in Dubai and got some wonderful pictures of arab stallions in the desert. She was the instructor and had 25 students who were people from Dubai. This is her second time.

• 70% fine art sales. Does about two workshops per year.

• Stock photography has gone down since she started. Many people who used to make a living in stock photography are now doing photography tours and workshops.

• She thinks that wild horses should not have names.

• Her wild horse advocacy helps her photography and her photography helps people to appreciate wild horses in nature.

• It works well to have a cause. Advocacy and art is a beautiful marriage. Other photographers may want to make connections through rescues and such.

• Suggestions or ideas for new photographers wanting to go the wild horse way. Getting known for a specialty is really important to getting known. Diverse sources of income, but target niche within horse photography.

• Facebook Page – 850,000 followers, 220,000 on hoofbeats Facebook page, about 50,000 on Living images -tries to post something EVERY DAY. WOW!

• Discussion of Instagram. Pictures of your process get eaten up by people on Instagram. She is not doing much with it yet, but sees that it is important.

• Photoshop or not Photoshop. She likes the images to look more natural and has a minimalist view. Likes black and white. Does not like sepia tones (personal preference). Importance of good photography and good lighting. Having a look to YOUR work is good. Being consistent with your personal style can brand you… That looks like Carol Walkers work.

• Start with a business plan – put your money first in your web site and then go from there. Start locally with art oriented. Still with Equine photographers Network and recommend it to new photographers she encounters.

• Workshop in the Black Hills in September – hopefully annually – Look for the new book Galloping to Freedom.

We also encourage your to SUBSCRIBE on iTunes so you never miss an episode. This is also where you can leave a RATING or COMMENT about the episode or the podcast. More comments and ratings helps others find our podcast on iTunes. If you enjoyed the podcast consider leaving a rating and review: Subscribe on iTunes Click HERE

The post 5 : Carol Walker: Wild Horse Photography, Fine Art, and Building an Online Market appeared first on Equine Photographers Podcast.

In today’s podcast we explore the work of Shelley Paulson and discuss her new website focused only on equine photography. We find out the reasons for the change and the results that are coming. Many know Shelley’s outstanding photography and her love of horses. She knows how to run her business well and recently moved to a farm where she could wake up in the morning and talk to her horse from the back porch. Her blog talks of her love of equines and their people and her joy in photographing both.

If you woke me tomorrow and told me I couldn’t be a photographer or filmmaker anymore, it would be like telling me I was going to be blind for the rest of my life. Being an artist has given me eyes to see beauty in the world and people around me. My heart is to share that beauty and tell heartfelt stories with artistry and excellence.

As a child, I was that horse-crazy girl who would spend hours with her model horses, making up stories about them. Every horse had a name, a personality, a heart. In my youth, I spent my summers on horseback, falling in love over and over with these beautiful creatures. As soon as I was grown-up enough to buy my own horse, I bought Maggie Sue, who is still the equine love of my life. When she was younger, we competed in local shows and even won a few ribbons. Now we enjoy hanging out and going on trail rides with friends.

My husband, Tracy. I am blessed to be married to a great man. He is my business partner, personal comedian, and best friend.

My dogs, Toby and Arthur. Toby is my baby and constant companion. I’m trying to raise him right, but he’s a bit spoiled. Arthur came to us as a foster dog, and decided to live out his days in our loving home. His gentle soul and passion for squeaker toys gives us a reason to smile every day.

My horse, Maggie Sue. I bought her when she was two and she’s now 22. She’s sweet, gentle, has a carrot addiction, and holds a dear place in my heart.

My Jesus. He’s the most kind, captivating person I know.

Shelley’s website: http://www.shelleypaulson.com

Shelley’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/shelleypaulsonphotography

Mentoring: http://www.shelleypaulson.com/mentoring/

Shelley does some spend on Facebook ads with very specific target audience

Born with an affinity for horses

Horse back riding lessons at age 10

Purchased a horse as soon as she could earn the money — 20 years ago. Still has her horse.

She had a graphic design and web design business

Hired by a construction company – started taking photos of construction sites

Struggled with the film camera learning curve

Purchased a digital rebel and kit lens and started learning fast

Started up photography business inside her other business

Undercharged for a short period and quickly realized that she needed to charge more because of the time involved.

Mostly self-taught.

2006 Cheryl Jacobs workshop was a huge thing. Until that point Shelley was shooting everything and everybody. The workshop released her to being artist driven and less client driven. She cried at the workshop. Does critique and portfolio reviews with her to this day.

The ONE IMAGE that has given her the direction and focus for her work to this day was pointed out by Cheryl Jacobs during a portfolio review at the workshop.

The personal portrait showing a connection between the horse and rider is something that was gaining some steam. Prior to this it was just “show portraits” and win shots.

How to get people to show their connection. How to pose people without making it stiff.

If it bends bend it. Minimal instructions. How to help them relax and enjoy their time with their horse. Shelley explains “when the horse is inviting you into a moment” to the client. She tries not to interrupt that moment when it occurs.

Pre-consultation. Does not do a lot of phone pre consultation, but does send out a pdf with lots of detail and explaining pricing and frequently asked questions. What kind of clothing to wear. Fly spray.

Because of her experience, she knows when to call things off, when a horse might get agitated and about to blow-up because of flies or whatever. The question of safety at a session came up.

New website and blog post about quitting weddings. A couple of years ago she bumped her head on a fall causing a brain injury and created some brain fog and a great deal of pain. Struggled with pain and stress. Her primary source of stress was weddings. She was stressed at the wedding day and in her lifestyle because of weddings on the calendar.

Shelley was a presenter at WPPI and yet decided to change direction, Welcome Horse LOVERS is her new focus.

She does mentoring. She is working on an ebook about posing horse and rider. Her bread and butter is equine photo sessions with people. She blogs about her client’s stories. Mostly high school seniors.

Full service customized experience for her clients. Minimum starting point is in the $650 range.  In person ordering session in her living room. She has 10 hours into a session by the time she is finished. Her average sale is in the $1200+ range. I am not the right photographer for everyone. But, if they want what I offer, then they will be willing to invest in the session. Remember Sessions are not very often.

Uses Pro-Select in the selection session. Does some over email to narrow some before the actual in-person ordering. She can help them, she can show them and they can touch and feel the products and if she wants she can put together something special for that client.

She does not like hype or high pressure sales. She lets them see their pictures beforehand. Then the selection session is just an hour instead of 3 hours. Some of the work is done before the selection session begins. Clients have all the pricing and packages in a pdf that explains all their options so they know what they are getting into when they come to their selection session.

Because of the steady growth over the years, she had the confidence to go to all equine. She did not just start from scratch with her entire focus on equine.

We also encourage your to SUBSCRIBE on iTunes so you never miss an episode. This is also where you can leave a RATING or COMMENT about the episode or the podcast. More comments and ratings helps others find our podcast on iTunes. If you enjoyed the podcast consider leaving a rating and review: Subscribe on iTunes Click HERE

The post 4 : Shelley Paulson: Developing Personal Style and Vision in Equine Photography appeared first on Equine Photographers Podcast.

My name is Sophie. I’m an equine photographer, a horse addict and a story-teller and I’m incredibly lucky to be able to tell the stories of horses owners throughout the UK and call it a job. I’m 27, based in Chelmsford, in Essex and travel all over, photographing horses and their humans. Join us to as we talk with Sophie about her work and her blogging which generates lots of engagement and a constant flow of people requesting her services as an equine photographer and lover of horses of all kinds.

I love milky tea (one sugar), Instagram, music that makes you want to dance, my UGGs, diet Coke, sunsets, reading smutty romance novels on my Kindle whilst pretending to read something intellectual, anything navy-blue, things that sparkle and my Cocker Spaniel, Barney. Welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to look around.

I’ve ridden and had horses since I was three years old and actually have an Equine Studies and Stud Management degree, from Writtle College. My parents aren’t at all horsey, although, every year, my dad tells me he could win the Puissance, at Olympia, with his eyes closed. Because, you just sit and kick, right? My first pony was a moody Shetland mare, called Gemma, who thought it was fun to terrorise my mum. Since then I’ve owned, loaned and ridden Thoroughbreds, M&Ms, cobs, Arabs and everything in between.

I’m obsessed with traditional and native, coloured ponies and I really love photographing horses with unusual colouring or breeding. I love showing and think you eventing and show jumping lot are a little nuts. 😉 If you see me at a show, I’ll usually be following behind a coloured pony with very white feathers and have chalk powder up to my elbows.

I’m currently horseless (for the first time ever) and seriously sulking about it, but will hopefully be in a position to go hairy-patchy-pony shopping next year! Phew!

I love the feeling you can’t get from anything other than a good gallop, I love the smell when you bury your face in your horse’s neck and I love that heart-melt when your pony recognises the sound of your boots walking across the yard.

I consider myself incredibly lucky to have what I think is the best job in the world! I have taken my two passions and combined them, allowing me to do something I truly love. I live and breathe this job every day. Our memories; of moments, of feelings, of emotions; are the most precious thing we could ever own and are so personal to each of us. And my job is to literally parcel up my clients’ memories and hand them to them in a tangible form; in a gift box, on a canvas or in a frame. I’m so honoured to be trusted with this responsibility.

Hopefully my love for what I do comes across in my work. I began my photography career working in event photography for five years, moving on to studio photography and then finally into equine photography. And I have finally found what I feel like I was born to do. I am truly passionate about making art through photographing you and your horses!

I’m quite an untraditional photographer, in that I’m not so much into the technical side of my job as much as I am the creative and equestrian sides. I’m entirely self-taught and I don’t carry my camera everywhere I go because I love photographing pretty scenery. I photograph horses because I’m passionate about the animals themselves, the impact they have on our lives, and about creating something beautiful from this. I love colour, I love evening light, I love when my clients go all out with their outfit and put as much into their images as I promise to, and I always try to photograph what I feel rather than what I see.

I simply adore telling your stories! If you’ve read through my blog or ventured onto my Facebook, you may have already noticed that. I try to get to know my clients and their horses as well as I can in the limited time I have with them, and I’m committed to telling their tale with as much accuracy and empathy as possible. I’m always inspired by the fact that every partnership I meet has their own story to tell and this is one of my favourite parts of the job.

I think the most important thing about my job, is to capture the horse that the owner knows. My clients don’t just want the horse to look ‘pretty’ and posed, they want their personality to shine through and they want to see the character, the best friend, that they know so well, and love. I like to keep things natural and relaxed in order to achieve this. Above all else I want my clients to feel that unique bond when they see their images. The bond that gives us that warm feeling that only a horsey person will understand, and this is what I strive to achieve through my work.

I’d like to thank each and every one of you that I’ve worked with so far on this journey. Everybody who has booked me, and of course their equine partners, for being such fantastic models and making my job the best job I could have ever hoped for. I have the most fabulous clients!

And lastly, once again, thank you for taking the time to check out my blog and considering trusting me with the responsibility of making memories of you and your horses that will last you a lifetime. I look forward to meeting you, and having the chance to tell your story!

Sophie’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SophieCallahanPhotos

Sophie’s Website http://www.sophiecallahanphotography.com

Sophie’s Blog https://sophiecallahan.wordpress.com

We also encourage your to SUBSCRIBE on iTunes so you never miss an episode. This is also where you can leave a RATING or COMMENT about the episode or the podcast. More comments and ratings helps others find our podcast on iTunes. If you enjoyed the podcast consider leaving a rating and review: Subscribe on iTunes Click HERE

The post 3 : Sophie Callahan: Blogging as a Tool for Building Connection and Audience Trust appeared first on Equine Photographers Podcast.

Today’s podcast is about equine photography workshops and photography tours. The round table is taking place at the Colorado Horse Roundup which is a photo opportunity and for those who choose to participate it can also be a workshop.

Imagine a place where the wild west still lives . . . hundreds of horses running with power and freedom, beautiful light and dust, real working cowboys and cowgirls, big open spaces and wood corrals. Beautiful open blue skies and long days to live it and photograph it . . . if this sounds like heaven to you then join us in a special part of western America where the real west is still alive and EPNet members have special access to document it with our cameras and share it with a group of like-minded photographers and horse lovers. There is no other place or event like it on earth!

This event will begin with a Photoshop Class session led by Sherron Sheppard, followed by two days of exclusive access to the Sombrero Ranch horses, cowboys and cowgirls with sessions led by Scott Trees and Carien Schippers and Nikon gear available to try for all participants with Nikon Rep Mark Kettenhofen present. The workshop session will wind up with a second Photoshop session with Sherron Sheppard, photo and portfolio reviews and a wrap up slide show party with all out Sombrero friends.

Part two of the event will start with a trip into the vast Sombrero Ranch outback followed by two days of the Great American Horse Drive, an event like no other.

Today our round table discussion is about the differences between workshops and photo tours and things to consider when choosing an event to attend. Listed below are each of the people participating in the discussion from the presenters at the Colorado Horse Round-Up:

Carien runs The Equine Photographers Network online which helps people who love horses and photography to take better photographs of these beautiful animals. The network is set up with both amateur areas and professional areas for those who are in the business of equine photography. In addition her photography takes her far and wide in a variety of directions within the equine world.

I am one of those fortunate people who has done something they love their entire working career and that is be a photographer. Horses have been the primary subject of my efforts, and I have traveled the world capturing their beauty and essence. My style embodies an artists understanding of light and a tactile emotional portrayal of my subjects.

While horses have been the primary subject, my work is not limited to just that area. I also do commercial work including architectural, fashion, portraiture and travel journals. My locations have been worldwide ranging from ghettos to palaces and everything in between!

My services include promotional photography, videography, editorial, lectures and seminars.

Mark Kettenhofen has been an award-wining photographer for more than thirty years.  He has been a staff photographer with Nikon Professional Services for more than 9 years. During his time with Nikon he has been on assignments that include NASA Shuttle Launches, expeditions to Base Camp of Mount Everest, Galapagos Ecuador and river trips down the Colorado River. He has covered Presidential inauguration ceremonies, World Cup Soccer, Hurricane coverage, and six Olympics. Mark is a graduate from Syracuse University’s Military Photojournalism program. He was US Navy photographer for 20-years of covering the world as a combat cameraman in more than 40 different countries. He is the recipient of more photojournalistic awards than he feels he deserves, including the prestigious National Press Photographer’s Military Photographer of the Year.  After more than 25 years as a photojournalist, he now does his best to mentor to those who are willing to listen to him speak about his passion – making pictures. He believes passion is a way of life– not a choice– and he applies that to his photography. He has been recognized as an Industry Leader by Double Exposure magazine and PDN magazine. Mark works with photographers from Newsweek, US News & World Report, Sports Illustrated, and National Geographic and numerous papers across the country. He just recently published a book with fellow photographer Bill Fortney, America From 500 Feet II.

Sherron Sheppard began transitioned into photography 13 years ago after many years as a traditional artist. As an artist, Sherron taught watercolor techniques for fifteen years and was a seasonal instructor for eight years teaching watercolor painting at Yosemite National Park.

Her photographic career began photographing weddings with her husband, Ron. Seven years ago, Sherron transitioned out of wedding into other areas, including presenting programs and workshops to amateur and professional photographers. She teaches Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter classes at the California Professional Photographers West Coast School, conducts private workshops, and co-instructs an annual Equine Photoshop/Photography Workshop with April Visel. 

In 2003 the Professional Photographers of California (PPC) awarded Sherron “Photographer of the Year” in the Journalistic Wedding Category. Again in 2005, PPC awarded Sherron “Photographer of the Year”, in a second category, the Illustrative. Once again in 2006, Sherron earned her third “Photographer of the Year” in the Illustrative category. Plus, she was awarded PPC’s 2006 overall “Photographer of the Year” with the highest print case total, Best of Show and also the “Peoples Choice Award”.

In January 2006 at the (PPA) Professional Photographers of America convention, Sherron was awarded “Platinum Photographer of the Year” with 3 Loan Collection Images and was invited to join the American Society of Photographers (ASP).

In January 2008 Sherron’s image “A Passage of Time” scored a perfect score of 100 at the PPC Print Competitions and was awarded Best of Show. Her second print “Lonely Days, Lonely Nights” scored 96. PPC also awarded Sherron her fourth California “Photographer of the Year” in Illustrative, and overall “Photographer of the Year” with the highest print case total. In addition, Sherron was awarded the Canon Par Excellence Award and ASP State and Regional Awards, plus the PPA Certified Photographers High Score award. In March 2008, “A Passage of Time” scored another 100 at PPA’s Electronic Imaging competition. At the 2008 PPA print competition Sherron received PPA 3 Loan Collection images and was awarded a PPA Platinum Photographer of the Year in January 2009. 

In February, 2010, Sherron was again awarded, for the 5th time, PPC’s Photographer of the Year with the highest scoring case and also Photographer of the Year for the Illustrative Category. In addition, Sherron was awarded a Kodak Gallery Award for her image “A Gift from Heaven” and a Judges Award for “School Days Gone By”.

Sherron has earned 4 Fuji Masterpiece awards, 3 Kodak Gallery Awards, 7 Judges Awards, and numerous PPA Loan Collection prints. In addition, she is a PPA Certified Photographer and holds her Master of Photography, Master of Electronic Imaging and Photographic Craftsman degrees. 

In addition to Photography, creates custom fine art jewelry and paints with traditional medium. In addition to local art show, Sherron displays her work in her gallery, Sherron Sheppard Studio Arts, located at Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART) located in Camarillo, California. 

Sherron is a member of the Pastel Society of the Gold Coast, SCAPE (Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment, the Ojai Preservation Artists (TOPA) Group, the Channel Islands Professional Photographers Association, the Professional Photographers of California, the Professional Photographers of America, the Wedding/Portraits International, and the National Association of Photoshop Users.

Sherron has exhibited her photographs, jewelry and paintings at Yosemite National Park, Bell Arts, SCIART and and PPA, PPC and WPPI conventions.

We also encourage your to SUBSCRIBE on iTunes so you never miss an episode. This is also where you can leave a RATING or COMMENT about the episode or the podcast. More comments and ratings helps others find our podcast on iTunes. If you enjoyed the podcast consider leaving a rating and review: Subscribe on iTunes Click HERE

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