How often do you purchase photos at horse shows?

[J&S]

Beware of wet days! We had two photographers booked for our local show last year and they both went home by 10 am! It was a really dreadful day.

 

[Carlosmum]

I would buy if we had done particularly well for us! Or there was a reason I wanted to remember a certain event. Friends photos ( when I have one with me) don't always have the same appeal probably the quality of the camera!

 

[Deleted member 163966]

I'm a keen amateur photographer and, over the last couple of years, have been taking shots at events organised by a local riding club. Whilst people like the images, and I often sell either digital/low res versions, I rarely make £100.00 in a day. I have sold prints, but only ever do 10x8 or 12x8 shots. Smaller (6x4) are hardly worth the effort. Remember that it's a long day too. You have to be at the ring side all day, watch everyone compete and try to get a few decent images of every competitor. As an example, the last show we did (end of last season) we had around 40 competitors, doing a mx of ridden and in hand showing classes - no jumping - and I sold 4 images.

Working alone, I don't have the capacity to set up editing on site, so it has to be done after the event, making one day's work into a very long day.

I now don't do it for the money! If I earn some money, then great. But now I just go along, take some shots, edit them quickly in Lightroom and post them on the club's FB page just for the fun of it. It's a long day and a lot of work for very little return. I don't watermark the images and am happy for people to lift them from FB for their own use. Consider how you are going to let people know that images are available.

However, I will say that I have picked up several quite lucrative portrait commissions from the event work, but I would not call it a secondary income by any means. I cover my costs, enjoy the social side of things and keep it as a hobby.

If you do go down this route, please make sure that the event you attend does not already have a "resident" photographer, (they get very touchy about people trying to muscle their way in!), get permission from the venue owners/organisers to take pictures and remember that some people don't actually want to be photographed. It's fun but not easy. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[PoniesRock]

I have to confess, we have a photographer out with us trial hunting a couple of times a month. I buy digital images everytime she’s out. I swear she sees me coming and makes sure she takes photos, she knows I’m a sure customer! Never enough pony photos in my life.

 

[fidleyspromise]

Beware of wet days! We had two photographers booked for our local show last year and they both went home by 10 am! It was a really dreadful day.

That's crap. I got rain covers for my camera and stayed out on wet days.
One day it was snowing hard for a short time and I still got photos of the horses show jumping.

 

[Hallo2012]

i will spend £20-30 per show on digital shots for FB etc per show if the shots are good.

 

[claracanter]

If the shots are great and I’m happy with my position, I will buy. However, I have so many now of me jumping, I prefer the less conventional shots, close up of horses head etc.

 

[miscat]

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.

It's hit and miss. I think you have to enjoy what you do for a start. You can certainly sell photos as digital photos like here https://www.arethere.photos/event?id=21 It'smostly been used for running events but it can be used for anything. There's no charge to use it. Just upload you pics and if they sell you get money and if you don't nothing to pay.

 

[Widgeon]

Endurance, cross country and annual showing shows earned me my biggest sales.

That's interesting. I don't show, we hack a lot and do the odd EGB / charity ride. There's usually a photographer at those rides (the same few local ones, they're good) and I usually buy a few digital lo res images and a print. I spent about £30 the other day on photos as it was a great ride and we were having a lovely time! That photographer uploads all his images onto his website the next day, the event organizer shares the link on social media, then you can scroll through and online order whatever you want. I like the system, it means I can have a proper look through and even request a cropped photo if I want one with just me in it.

So fun rides / charity rides / EGB might be a better shout than shows.

 

[MagicMelon]

If Im really honest, Id say you'd make more money specialising in something else. I used to have a baby and wedding photography business - they make far more money Baby photography especially I think can be great, new parents always want to spend a good amount on photos/products after. The one thing I didnt even think about was equestrian event photography as I didnt want to stand around potentially in the rain all day for the risk of very few sales. I think you have to do a lot to impress people these days - generally I only tend to buy XC photos and even then I want the jump to be impressive (not a bog standard one which often photographers are at). I have bought a couple of SJ ones this year - digitals for £5 each. I also dont need printed versions, I have the odd printed framed one in my house but it has to be a special event or amazing class Ive won or something with an emotional attachment to it. Id also suggest strongly ensuring you know the best time to photograph a horse, Ive seen quite a few "pro" photos where they havent caught the right moment of take off, or even a nice cantering one. They capture that awkward moment which never looks good and nobody will buy. You'd also probably get more money when covering kids / pony club type shows as theres more of a sentimental aspect for the parents.