How often do you purchase photos at horse shows?

[PipsqueakXy22]

Hi I’m an amateur photographer considering doing a bit more photography on the side for extra income. I’d like to do a bit of research first though to see if business is viable. I have been casually photographing 4 years now but also have worked for a professional photographer at a couple of BS and BD shows so I do have some experience but am very much just starting out.

I have a couple questions I’d be interested to see what people say…

1. how often do you purchase photographs at a horse show?
2. How much are you prepared to pay for a photograph and what do you expect for your money? E.g. a digital copy only for online/ social media use and you would be able to print and frame yourself, or do you prefer to pay more for an already printed and framed photo. )
3. If you don’t buy photographs at shows what is stopping you? Is it price? Or do you have family/ friends taking your photos already?
4. Are certain shows more likely to make you buy photographs? E.g. would you purchase photos at a schooling show/ lesson/ unaffiliated show or affiliated shows only?

I’m just trying to work it out because I would estimate that if I went to a show with say 20 riders, I would need around £100 per day to make it viable in terms of fuel, travel time, actual time working, editing, uploading, admin, distributing photos etc….
This would work out at around £5 per rider, which sounds reasonable to me. This would be for digital copies only (e.g I had in mind 3 photos for £5) But I also know that not every rider will purchase photos. Hence why I’m trying to get a few opinions before I decide whether or not this is something I want to pursue.

 

[Gloi]

If I was at a big show where there was a photographer, I'd look through them and buy a nice one. At local shows it would have to be a better picture than I or friends could take. I rarely bought more than a couple a year though.
I don't compete any more so that rules me out.
I think you should pop over to some arenas and see what the competition are charging for their pictures.
At our local dressage arena, the photographer is in the corner of the arena and another person is on the computer in the cafe where people can see and order the photos. They need to get them ready to see and order pretty quickly before competitors go home.

 

[Peglo]

I usually buy photos from anything I take mine to if I like them (which is usually). Think I pay £3 for a digital copy but I would pay £5.
I tend to buy around 3 of the best ones (maybe more if they are good) but I’m new to taking my horse to things so it is a novelty.

 

[Bobthecob15]

We've tended to get them at most shows we've been to, I sometimes buy the proper print if they are particularly good, otherwise I get a digital one or two. £5 sounds very reasonable to me!

 

[Red-1]

I would buy one pretty much every time at £5 for a digital or 3 for £10.

More than that I would still probably buy, but not every time.

 

[Boulty]

I’m not out & about as often as some people so if you get a nice one I’m highly likely to buy it. If I’m at a special event like a sponsored ride somewhere really nice or at a championship then I’ll almost certainly buy something as long as not totally awful!

Generally I tend to buy low res “facebook photos “ at maybe £5-10 each as it means I can buy more than one & that’s the main thing I do with them & I generally prefer the digital purchase option rather than prints & prefer to have them emailed rather than waiting around for a CD.

 

[emilylou]

I usually purchase every time out, IF they are good quality photos. Sometimes I’ve been disappointed when photographers don’t choose good jumps/poor lighting etc. But if there is a photo I like, I tend to purchase.
I expect to pay about £8 per digital image, more for prints and more for higher res.
last outing I paid £35 for 4 high quality digital images that would be printable up to 12x8. I thought that the photographers pricing was spot on as option for cheaper, lower quality prints too, also huge choice, jumping and non-jumping, lots of variety to choose from. Had to narrow down my order quite a bit as could have ordered more!

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

Most of the time I buy photos, unless their really expensive

 

[MereChristmas]

I would purchase a lot more if 6” x 4” was available. I am usually alone so there is no one to photograph me.
At one event the smallest size offered by the company was 10” x 8”
Far too big. Not every photo gets hung on the wall.

All I need to do is put a couple in my photo album which I do every year.
Last year I bought nothing, too big and too expensive.

There is one local photographer who unfortunately is employed in my opinion by too many events who needs to learn how to take equestrian pictures. I’ve never bought from them.

Sorry to sound miserable and negative. If my criteria were met I would be very happy to buy.
I wish you good luck.

 

[rara007]

I buy digital images probably 75% of the time I have the chance, which is roughly 3 times a month.

 

[fidleyspromise]

I was a photographer at our local shows and know how tough it is.
I always buy at least onebut usually a good few. £6 for a digital. My partner is at events with my camera and is as good as a pro (I taught him so he could join me at bigger shows) but I still buy photos.
I found riding club shows made a good amount of money.
A very small amount of riders purchase as lots of them are out most weekends. I had a select few riders who bought every time.
20 riders you will likely not make much monies.
I had a couple shows where £12 were my sales but then the next show was £150.
It was strange as most of the same riders, same venue and show jumping but only difference was one was organised by Riding Club and the other organised by the venue.
My most popular selling was pay for 4 recieve 5 digital.
Prints are pretty popular but most go for 6x4 over other sizes.

Endurance, cross country and annual showing shows earned me my biggest sales.
Dressage very little even with special deals, showing brought in a good amount and show jumping was hit or miss.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I usually purchase every time because I don’t tend to have a helper that can take pics for me! I tend to mostly buy digitals now, however will buy a print of a more memorable moment.
I usually try to take advantage of offers (3 for X amount, saving a couple of £) meaning I spend more money than planned but my brain thinks it’s a good deal

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I can count on 1 hand the number of times I have bought pictures from an event. One company up here has the monopoly on event photography and I never like the pictures. They are usually taken at the wrong angle or the wrong leg set. Plus they are expensive. £10 for a small social media digital copy. £15 for the smallest print without postage.

Take more pictures of kids at events. Parents will always buy pics of their kids over ones of themselves.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I usually buy photos from anything I take mine to if I like them (which is usually). Think I pay £3 for a digital copy but I would pay £5.
I tend to buy around 3 of the best ones (maybe more if they are good) but I’m new to taking my horse to things so it is a novelty.

I was the same as you when I raced motorbikes, can never have too many memories

 

[honetpot]

I buy if it's a good photo, I have been to a couple of shows where the photographer was rubbish. Going to events with children means that sometimes the photo of the child, is more important than the animal they are riding or handling, so learn what is a good cute kid shot. I have photos of the same child, same pony, same show, taken yearly and you can really see how they changed, each daughter has a set of their pictures.

 

[JBM]

I only ever bought two for my first show not very helpful sorry
They were for show jumping and I bought 2 where she had caught me half way over the fence action shots

 

[humblepie]

I generally only buy if a particularly nice photo. The digital ones at some of the shows I go to are around £10 but that probably reflects the cost to the photographer of attending. A photographer had a sale on over Christmas time and I looked again at the photos from the show which was back in august and bought d couple - I hadn’t really looked that closely at those particular classes and hadn’t spotted them so think their sale a good idea. I know others who bought who hasn’t before. I’m generally on my own but if other half attends he quite often gets as good photos with his camera.

 

[Squeak]

I never used to buy many photos and now really regret it so buy at most shows if there is a good photo. There are some local photographers who nearly always get a good photo and some who usually get it just slightly wrong and so I rarely buy from them.

I've never got my head round the digital prints, I prefer a printed photo that I can then take a photo of myself to put on to fb and have the proper copy to put up.

 

[irishdraft]

The bloodhound pack that I hunt with generally has one quite often 2 photographers out, placed at strategic jumps, usually big hedges . Most of the field do purchase photos but tend to be Facebook digitals they are about £5.00. Another good one is sponsored/ fun rides, photographers generally do well at those.

 

[Jango]

I buy most of the time when I'm competing but only if there are decent pics. Usually a couple of digital downloads, happy paying £5-8 for those and would typically buy 1-3. For a really big show eg first BE, Championships I'd probably spend £20-30.

What I've realised though from viewing pics of me with friends and vice versa, is what is a 'good' picture is quite subjective. So I really like it when you have loads of images to choose from, all decent angles/lighting etc. Whereas some competitions you only have 3-4 to choose from and that's when I'm less likely to buy as if a couple I'm pulling a daft face, then another the horse has left a leg and in another my position is poor I won't buy. Whereas with 20 options the chances are I'll like some!

Good luck!

 

[Julia0803]

I used to buy a lot at local shows when my son was competing. I’ve bought some at the last fun ride I went to, and would have bought one from the EGB ride I went to in October but there were no good ones .

I’d certainly be more likely to buy if it was an ‘action’ shot than if it was a more mediocre shot- eg at the EGB ride the photographer for the lower distance was at the start and we were taking it steady to start with as I didn’t want to blow his brain, so the shot was just us walking along with a group of others I didn’t know. Whereas the previous event at the fun ride was of us cantering up a hill, I bought that one. I was grinning like something demented, but we were just having such fun, and my pony looks like he’s having a whale of a time.

In a more ‘traditional’ setting, UA DR or Quest it would have to be a good shot at a decent point in the stride, where it was going well… ideally from the side. Personally, I have never bought shots of free walk on a long rein/ or final halt and salute for example.

If the shot is doing something athletic and impressive looking (!) I don’t mind if I’m pulling a daft face! I’ve got a huge print of us jumping the plane at RAF Halton and I look terrified and am mid swear, pony has one ear flicked back listening to me, but I was so pleased and proud of us for doing it, I bought it anyway! And a huge version to boot, I think it was about £40 for the print (it must have been 2014, so more now).

I’ve bought digital copies for about a fiver and actual prints in a cardboard frame for around the £15 mark.

If possible, I’d rather buy on the day rather than view online at home and have to pay a further £3 postage.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I have a couple questions I’d be interested to see what people say…

1. how often do you purchase photographs at a horse show?
   I don’t really do showing shows, but usually purchase at least one photo from every ‘event’ such as dressage, funrides, cross country.
2. How much are you prepared to pay for a photograph and what do you expect for your money? E.g. a digital copy only for online/ social media use and you would be able to print and frame yourself, or do you prefer to pay more for an already printed and framed photo. )
   I usually always buy a digital copy, but a high resolution so I can get prints. Most I’ve spent is £15-20 per digital image. I have bought a few printed copies. We recently did a dog photoshoot and bought a package including a canvas, photo book, 15 digital copies. I think horse photographers should offer this as sometimes if you want a few it works out a good price.
3. Are certain shows more likely to make you buy photographs? E.g. would you purchase photos at a schooling show/ lesson/ unaffiliated show or affiliated shows only?
   Doesn’t make any difference to me if it’s unaffiliated or affiliated, if I like the picture.
   I love funride photos as they’re mainly action shots with pretty scenery.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I can’t believe some can get digitals for £5 per picture, blimey. That sounds to cheap. Every event I’ve ever bought a photo has been at least £12 per digital copy. I don’t usually get more than 3 though.

 

[fidleyspromise]

I have a couple questions I’d be interested to see what people say…

1. how often do you purchase photographs at a horse show?
   I don’t really do showing shows, but usually purchase at least one photo from every ‘event’ such as dressage, funrides, cross country.
2. How much are you prepared to pay for a photograph and what do you expect for your money? E.g. a digital copy only for online/ social media use and you would be able to print and frame yourself, or do you prefer to pay more for an already printed and framed photo. )
   I usually always buy a digital copy, but a high resolution so I can get prints. Most I’ve spent is £15-20 per digital image. I have bought a few printed copies. We recently did a dog photoshoot and bought a package including a canvas, photo book, 15 digital copies. I think horse photographers should offer this as sometimes if you want a few it works out a good price.
3. Are certain shows more likely to make you buy photographs? E.g. would you purchase photos at a schooling show/ lesson/ unaffiliated show or affiliated shows only?
   Doesn’t make any difference to me if it’s unaffiliated or affiliated, if I like the picture.
   I love funride photos as they’re mainly action shots with pretty scenery.

At a show/event there aren't enough images of a rider to offer that type of package but plenty of photographers do yard photoshoots so you can get yourself/your horse glammed up and have lots of great images or go to beach /,woods and they'll get cracking images of you cantering/in water etc.

I can’t believe some can get digitals for £5 per picture, blimey. That sounds to cheap. Every event I’ve ever bought a photo has been at least £12 per digital copy. I don’t usually get more than 3 though.

During covid I dropped my prices to £4 to help riders out.

 

[canteron]

Our local photographer says the best is any horsey ‘camps’ where most people purchase a lot!! Especially friends having fun together, individual horse shoots, candid moments.
Local regular showjumping - lucky to get any sales as lots do most weeks.
If you want to boost your earnings, do wedding photography, hard work but lots of weekend work!

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I buy them at most events I go to, usually digital copies and only one or two. But won’t buy unless they’re good shots.

I always wish I’d bought more photos of my late mare, so maybe that’s why I buy so many, or maybe just because I’m obsessed with my horse

Price does come into it, if someone was charging £15 for a social media quality digital download I would be far less likely to buy it than if £8-10. I might if it was a particularly good photo or an event I especially wanted to remember, but even then I’d begrudge that price tag. One photographer round here does a “2 for £12” deal on social media downloads, which I think is good value and her photos are fab, so I usually go for it!

 

[Chuffy99]

At BE last week there were 35 photos of our pony, 1 of them was OK, not good enough to buy and the rest were awful, photographer obviously wasn’t horsey and the angles/take offs were dreadful or they were just galloping shots.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

I can count on 1 hand the number of times I have bought pictures from an event. One company up here has the monopoly on event photography and I never like the pictures. They are usually taken at the wrong angle or the wrong leg set. Plus they are expensive. £10 for a small social media digital copy. £15 for the smallest print without postage.

Take more pictures of kids at events. Parents will always buy pics of their kids over ones of themselves.

This.
I never buy because of this.

photographers then complain that no one buys. But rather make them less expensive and more people will buy which means you would make money.

 

[ponynutz]

Almost never.
I used to scroll through the ones they posted on Facebook and if I liked one of myself enough I'd buy it to remove the watermark.
I also bought the pictures of me from Pony Club Camp every year because most people my age at the time had a 'horsey' Instagram and wanted to share them.
I'd say that Pony Club Camp and the like is where the money is.

 

[Nevin's Run]

I like an event photo, but I've never bought one on the spot, always digital copies where I can take my time and have a good look and choose one from home. I also don't need printed copies - I don't keep them anywhere, and on the rare occasions I do, I'd still prefer to get that sorted myself from the digital copy.
And with that in mind, what does bother me though is when photographers don't or won't specify the resolution of the images you're buying. Fair enough, I guess not everyone asks, but if it means something to your customer then they're going to want to know!