photographs, what do you look for ?

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wildoat

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www.tophotos.co.uk
Hi everyone
I am a freelance photographer who attends many events and am very curious
and interested to know what you guys look for in a photo.
This is not an advertisement, it is a very genuine enquiry to try to learn what sort of images you like!

Do you prefer the standard jump shot which includes the whole jump and maybe some scenery or is it important to be able to identify the venue from the photo?
Or do you perhaps prefer something a bit arty, maybe with a bit of movement in the horses legs and a slightly blurred background, perhaps you like a close-up of you and your horse showing all the dynamic with little regard for the venue.
Any opinions would be much appreciated, as I said this is a general question and is in no way aimed at procuring or soliciting business.

Best regards
Tony
 
i think that the most selable photo is probably the standard where you see the whole jump, scenery etc...

But, personally, i would love to buy a different sort- like the blurred background you were talking about... So, probably, i would go for a bit of everything- but something different is always pretty cool!!

Good Luck!!
 
I like to see close up action of horse, the face concentrating on what going on, even pictures of rearers, buckers, twists and turns as long as close up, saliva and sweat flying off in movement or is that from the rider? dont want much do I.
 
I don't really mind as long as the horse and I look like we are working together and both enjoying ourselves! (Unless it is a photo for comic effect :P)
 
Personally, when I am chosing which picture to buy of myself, I look for the one where both my horse and I are looking our best. The horse will look like he's moving fabulously and I wont be pulling any stupid faces or be in any dodgy positions. Background is also very important, If I am going to have it in my house the background needs to be pleasing to the eye too, without anything untidy in there.


I quite like those arty ones where the background is blurred and the horse is in focus, but I would always buy the one/s which makes me and my horse look like we're doing something amazing. :D
 
I think there'll always be a market for good action shots showing the horse and rider at their best, i.e. the whole jump, good take off spot and position etc, or a horse in a nice shape, moving well, rider sitting nicely and all that.

But I love good portrait shots too, even though I have a lot myself, and photos of the horses being naughty/cheeky are always fun, especially if you can get the sequence..so are close up ones of say..the horse's neck, face and feet and the top pole of a jump, along with part of the rider. Something that looks a little more up close and personal, that shows them as a team..

I dunno :D
 
Being difficult I think it depends upon the venue and location.

If it is a particularly prestigeous or imposing venue then having it identifiable in some way is a good selling point. So pictures with the house in the background at events like burghley or chatsworth and events with the name of the competition visible on a banner or fence for championships etc.

If you manage to find a very attractive background or fence then having all the scenery and background will make a nice image - so maybe a woodland fence or a water jump like queen mary's bower at chatsworth.

On the otherhand if the background is a bit boring or messy, a big crowd, or carpark, or tradestands then blurring it for effect normally improves the image.

So I think you have to get to the event and see what you have to work with before deciding.

Having said that some arty effects can be added afterwards and can be offered as a choice to increase the liklihood of someone buying. I'm thinking about focal colour etc.
 
I would echo Misinterpreted, I like my horse to look tidy, myself to be in a good position and a tidy background without cars, lorries, etc. And pref over the most impressive fence on the course!
 
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