Photos of horses

[blitznbobs]

How do people get nice conformation shots of their horses… i was playing about with my 3 year olds this afternoon (giving them a groom, a bit if desensitisation and in hand play/ work and i thought id take some photos just for fun but try as i might i couldnt get them to pose. They either want to look at me or that interesting leaf on the ground but never exactly where i put them. They stand where they are tied, dont pull back but they are nosey madams and will look at anything but what i want them too. ANy tips?

 

[Abacus]

I think you need someone else on the ground to hold them out of shot… and ideally they or a third person to rustle a polo wrapper to make them look alert. It would help if they are well handled and calm to just stand there with someone holding a rope at a bit of distance.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Welcome to the world of doing things by yourself ? it just doesn't work!

 

[Snow Falcon]

No, no, no. What you need is 3 people! One to hold the horse/pony, one to take the photo and the other to jump around, wave/shake something and generally look a complete fool!!

 

[humblepie]

No, no, no. What you need is 3 people! One to hold the horse/pony, one to take the photo and the other to jump around, wave/shake something and generally look a complete fool!!

I had a professional photographer do some photos of mine at the yard - and that was us. My friend holding the end of the rope (though to be fair he would not have gone anywhere and we did take headcollar off for some pics) and me leaping out from the side of the barn going boo, rattling stones, throwing stones, to no effect. Photographer had a recording on her phone of farmyard animals. Horse was just looking at us as if to say - what are you doing now. Did get some lovely photos in the end. If I take field photos of mine, I always tell him to "assume the position" which is standing as a show horse, so nearside legs slightly in front and slightly behind the offside (nearside being which ever side I am on for that purpose)!

 

[blitznbobs]

I Definitely wont give up the day job …

 

[teapot]

It used to take at least three of us to get proper stood up shots - person with camera, person holding horse, person waving treat tub

 

[Barton Bounty]

Yip thats my boy too. Usually with the tongue hanging out ?

 

[GrassChop]

Play neighing sounds on YouTube. Works a treat!

 

[ihatework]

It’s impossible alone!!

Also what I want to know is why when you see your horse every day you kind of become immune to their conformation faults. Then when you look closely at them on paper it’s a bit OMG!! Or is that just me?! ?

 

[Widgeon]

I Definitely wont give up the day job …

Actually I rather like the first one

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I find if you teach them to show in hand properly you can get them to stand square at least, both of my Arab's did a lot of in hand showing so they both will stand squarely and do a neck stretch out, I taught them with treats and I use a whip and teach them to touch the whip with there nose so I can control where I want the neck and head to be without them moving there feet.

It ain't easy though it's a bit of a skill and it doesn't come easy to me?

Luckily an Arab show producer taught Arabi as a foal so he understood from a very young age so was a bit easier for me!

 

[KJ94]

As a pet photographer- a lot of patience is needed! It’s quite difficult to take pictures of any pet while also being the one in control of the pet, I struggle with it myself! A few tips I’ve found!

If taking on a phone taking a video instead of a photo often works well as phone shutter speeds aren’t the best and horses are a pain for blinking/ears back etc all in seconds so a video does mean you can pause and screenshot, so you have a bigger chance of capturing what you want!

If possible taking photos when they’re in the field, I know personally I struggle with my nosey pony to get her far enough away from the camera when I’m handling her so I can get all of her in the photo rather than a blurry nose pic! So if possible I’ve found when on your own taking pictures when they’re turned out it’s a lot easier if possible and safe to do so.

Practise! Take so many photos prepare to get a lot of ones you aren’t happy with but eventually you will get it!

A lunge line/long lead rope is great help if you are holding them.

Crisp packets for crinkling are good if the horse is tied up. Find if I use treats or crinkly things when I’m holding the lead rope they get too curious too close to the camera and blurred nose photos are all I get.

A few tips personally I’ve found help me but play about, if you do get any you like but would like a lead rope edited out/poo stain taken off/ give me a pm happy to help!

 

[Auslander]

I used one of the mares as a fluffer to get Alf to look suitably spectacular for a saddle modelling job!