We couldn’t be happier to announce that we have opened up the course dates for the much sought after Business of Equine Photography course!
This 3 day intensive course will be held on 11th-13th September 2018 at the Training Barn studio in Burley, Hampshire.
Not heard about this course yet? Want more info? Keep reading…
Do you have these questions running through your head?
“I want to make money from my photography business, but I don’t know how”
“I feel like I have so much un-tapped potential but don’t know where to start”
“I love horses and photography and dream of working with them both every day”
“I need to invest in a business mentor but Im too scared to commit”
“I want to be properly guided, face to face and helped with my equine photography business, not just a course that teaches photography”
Don’t worry- you are not alone! If these questions sound familiar, then you are perfect for this course.
The Business of Equine Photography course has grown so popular over the years, that we have launched these extra dates just for you, in order to fit one last course in this year.
Already interested? Fill out our form and sign up today!
Over the 3 days, we will be covering the business of equine photography and 3 live photo shoots.
Everything will be covered, from creating stunning, saleable images, through to the client experience, marketing, branding, networking, collaborating and much much more…
Let’s break it down…
BUSINESS, MARKETING & PROMOTION
Everything you need to know about running a successful equine portrait business
Business Foundations
Target Market
Profiles
Portfolio
Pricing
Products
The Sales Process
Client Experience
Workflows
Templates
Mindset
The Final Touches
The Extra’s
The Plan Moving Forward
PHOTOGRAPHY / CREATIVITY
The essentials you need to know to photograph humans and horses in a lifestyle environment
3 Creative, Equine Photo Shoots
Beautiful Locations
Understanding the Psychology and Behaviour Of A Horse
Comprehensive Instruction and Guidance On Technique
Lighting & Posing For Both Horse & Owner
Structuring A Shoot – Start To Finish
Finding The Best Backdrops
Tips & Tricks On The Unpredictable
Portfolio Images
Technical Help With Software & Gear
AND IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH, ALSO INCLUDED:
Private Facebook group for help and support while you get yourself set up
A private membership site for helpful PDF’s and Checklists
Bonus Recordings
Online access to course material and templates
Join like minded creatives on this 3 day intense journey to help support and encourage each other
Refreshments and light lunches
All of this for just £1500!
There are only 6 exclusive spaces available- so be sure sign up soon!
We will ensure you are right for the course and are very happy to answer any questions you have before you commit.
If you would like to speak to one of the team, pick up the phone and call 01225 793436 or 07890 738283.
If you know you are ready for this and it’s exactly what you have been waiting for then click the link above, enter your details and lets get your equine photography business to the TOP!
I thought you guys might get a good kick out of seeing an average week for me?
I have left out the numerous phone calls and 10-minute jobs, but this should give you an insight to what a week looks like at Hannah Freeland Photography HQ!
This was the first week of June 2018:-
Monday
8.30am – Call with new client – who booked
9.00am – Facetime with Emily for morning catch up & plan for the week
10am- Pack welcome packs
10.30am – Set up new CRM for Training Barn
11am – Quote to commercial client
11.30am – Call training client and confirm 1:1 training date
12pm – Edit clients’ images
1.30pm – Email rider and all sponsors about a set of images
1.45pm – Post office with Welcome packs
2pm – Order new postcards
2.15pm – Pre-consultation for family shoot on Saturday
3pm – Pre-consultation for equine shoot on Wednesday
3.45pm – Order frames from private viewing on Friday
4.45pm – Update Lightblue
5.30pm – Emails
6.30pm – Finish
Tuesday
8.30am- Call with training client
9am – Call with Emily
9.15- Emails
9.30am- Edit clients images
11.30am- Order new stickers and tags for welcome pack
12.30pm- Strategy session with PA
1.30pm- Create new work flows and check lists
2.30pm- Unpack and quality check delivery going to USA (This took 3hrs as it was 20 frames and 2 albums!)
5.30pm- Emails
Wednesday
6.30am – Emails
7.10am- Leave studio for photo shoot
10am- Equine portrait session
1pm – Back on road to studio
4.30pm- Lightblue update
5pm- Move images from shoot and back up
5.30pm- Re charge kit
Thursday
8.30am- Strategy session for Training Barn with Emily
10am- Skype call with Copywriter
11am- Meeting with work experience teacher
11.30am- Pre-consultation with upcoming client
12pm- Pre-Consultation with upcoming client
12.30pm- Unpack new welcome and USB boxes
1pm- Start edit of shoot
2pm- Skype call
3pm- Back to editing of the images
4.30pm- Export and rename images
5pm- Marketing
6pm – Emails
Friday
8am- New gravel for driveway arrived (had to spread and level it)
10am- Make updates to website
11am- Call client and check she has received her 3 frames
Last week I ran the January Shoot and Shadow Course in Buckinghamshire. I met 5 wonderful photographers and had a blast photographing our TOP MODEL Rob Waine Dressage at his lovely yard.
Thank you to Rob for his excellent modeling (along with Cici and Naz) and for your hospitality. It was a super fresh (some might say chilly) morning, but, luckily we had coffee and biscuits on hand.
We had 5 delegates on this course. We started with a quick getting to know you, and finding out who we are, where we have come from and where we would like to go. Next came the location walk around the yard, where I pointed out the locations and back grounds that we would be picking for this portrait shoot.
As will most of my photo shoot we started in the stable.
We moved onto a some punchy backdrops that we had available on this yard, including a container that brings that extra ‘something different’ to these shots:
We spent an hour and half capturing portraits of Rob with a couple of his dressage horses, Cici and Naz. I set up each pose and talked through the settings I was using on my camera, everyone attending took their own position for capturing the connection between Rob and his horses, so although there were 6 of us photographing him we will all have different images.
TESTIMONIAL:
“I attended the recent Shoot and Shadow course and I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was an fantastic experience from start to finish. I learnt so much and with Hannah’s guidance and support managed to take some amazing photos to be proud of. I would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone.” – Sue
The next Shoot and Shadow Course is on 22nd February, in Wiltshire. There are a couple of spaces left if you would like to add beautiful images to your portfolio and gather experience of creating successful equine portrait shoots.
It’s a brand new year, and it is VITAL that you set yourself goals, so that everything you do actually has a purpose, and doesn’t just happen by chance.
Yes, be sure to you push yourself- but set goals that are achievable!
Your business
Set realistic goals for where you see yourself by the end of 2018. What clients would you like to target? What new locations have been on your mind for the past few months that you’re dying to shoot at. How can you develop your business that makes you stand out from the crowd this year? Perhaps there’s a professional rider in your area who you could work with to boost your portfolio? Get things down on paper- you’re more likely to complete a list than commit to ideas floating round in your head!
Your finances
Although money isn’t everything, you don’t start a business to make a loss! How much money would you like to be taking home each month? How will you get to this point? Do you need to put your prices up for this year? These are all things to consider in order to reach your goals. Remember quality over quantity- so If you can shoot less, but sell more per shoot- you’re laughing!
Your creativity
It’s so easy to get stuck in the little routines you have whilst on location shoots. Have a look through your 2017 archive- notice that you have a LOT of similar shots… just featuring different owners and their horses? Don’t panic- I’ve been there before- it’s so easy to get too comfortable! What can you do to set up and produce more creative shots that really set you apart? Have you been thinking about experimenting with different light? Do you want to alter the way you edit your images? These are all things that can encourage you to get your creative juices flowing and inspire you to push for more work!
Your personal life and activities outside of work
You must be sure to make time for you! A healthy work/life balance is really important to ensure you don’t become overwhelmed or hit a wall with your business. Make time for family, friends and hobbies… it’s these things that keep you grounded in life!
I love the autumn time. The smell and colour of the leaves makes me so happy, and from a photography point of view, you literally can’t beat the bright, golden-yellow back drop of the Autumn woodland for a seasonal equine photo shoot!
I also have a crazy love of chestnut horses. My first pony, Dolly, was a chestnut Welsh Cob cross. She was so beautiful in my eyes, and I think that’s where my love of ginger ponies has stemmed from.
I also find chestnut horses especially wonderful to photograph. The light seems to be really flattering to the tone of their coat, and creates such a rich and vibrant orange colour which turns out beautifully in a final set of images.
Why not try and combine the two? A chestnut horse in the Autumn scenery never ceases to impress your clients- they always fall in love with the final pieces. When you set up your shoot, make sure you think about where the light is coming from, where is best to position your subjects and how to incorporate those gorgeous golden trees into your backdrop. If you perfect all three of those aspects, you’ll be sure to create a cracking set of Autumnal images.
Equine photographer Leslie Bliss has worked and trained with Emily for a few years now. She has kindly written her top 10 tips on how to get the most from training with Emily, as well as her experiences working in the competitive equine photography industry..
‘1. Watch, listen and learn. Emily’s business expertise is what makes her courses special. There are many talented photographers out there, so you need to know how to run a business and market yourself to be in with a chance of becoming a successful professional photographer.
2. Never be afraid of competition. It is a highly competitive market, so use it to your advantage by being inspired and striving to be the best
3. Never give up. I won’t lie to you, this is not an easy journey and there will be many ups and downs, but it’s so worthwhile and the best job in the world. You need determination and staying power. Don’t expect to be successful overnight
4. Practise makes perfect. Photography is a skill and it takes time and effort to develop, excuse the pun.
5. And then you have to keep working at it! Nothing worthwhile is easy.
6. Don’t undersell yourself. This is so easily done. If you sell your images for a pittance it means you don’t value your work. Doing a photo shoot including a USB with all high-resolution JPEGs for £35 not only devalues your work, but also damages the industry as a whole.
7. Having a mentor like Emily and continuously working on improving your photography and business skills makes all the difference. If it hadn’t been for Emily giving me regular kicks up the preverbial, I wouldn’t be where I am now.
8. Make friends with other photographers. It’s a lonely job in many ways, so having a support network of likeminded friends is wonderful and rewarding in so many ways.
9. Don’t expect Emily or your photographer friends to do the work for you. There are some things you need to work out for yourself. You need to put in the hard graft and use your own initiative and talent to make a success of it.
10. Believe in Emily’s words and it will work. Her system has done so for me!’
Spencer Wilton, Supernova, Miss Babs (lab) and Lola
One of the Training Barn graduates has kindly written a little blog post about her experiences of working with Emily at the Training Barn. The most important thing in life is to actually enjoy what you do! Read Esther’s story below to see how training with Emily changed her outlook on photography…
‘Two years ago I decided to enrol on a 12 month mentoring programme with Emily Hancock to help me push my equine/pet photography business forward.
I had been a self employed social photographer for 12 years. Previously I found myself busy being commissioned for a varied mixture of commissions ranging from weddings to events! This didn’t leave me much time to photograph what I love to photograph, horses and other animals! The years went by and I became more and more despondent about my photography business which almost made me give up!
But thankfully two years ago, after a particularly dull day editing a local council job, I picked up the phone and called Emily! I knew it was the right time to specialise in my niche area. Equine and pets.
I’d followed Emily’s career and admired her work and what she had achieved over the years. Joining Emily’s mentoring programme via The Training Barn was the best investment I have ever done for my business. It has elevated my career in a very short period of time. She has given me the tools to succeed and the drive to pursue my photography dreams.
You have to be prepared to work hard though. Its not always plain sailing, a photography business can come with many challenges but Emily is always there to steer you back on the right path and help you see clearly again.
My mentoring programme was for 12 months but even now I’m still in touch with Emily if I need advice. She has even developed a community of very talented like minded photographers (who have all been mentored by Emily) across the country who all support each other and are available for a chat through our social media group any time.
Two years on I’m being commissioned for equine and pet photography shoots. I’m working with some top business names in the equestrian industry like John Whitaker International providing commercial photography. Im also working with animal charities and giving back through my photography. My fine art photography has been published in magazines and I am now working on my first art book and forthcoming exhibition called “Wild Hearts”.
I’m truly loving what I do! I would recommend The Training Barn to anyone who has a passion for photography, who is willing to work hard and wants to be trained by one of the best equestrian photographers in the industry.’
As a new equine photographer, marketing your photography business may be a hard task- it can become very frustrating since it seems like nobody approaches you. When people think about marketing, they immediately assume they need to have a big budget or a lot of time in order to see any results. This isn’t true; however, you do need to be creative so that potential customers will choose your services over someone else’s.
You need to get ideas and implement them so that your equine photography business can be profitable. Below, I have summarised 7 marketing ideas- try and put them into practice with your own business:
#1: Design invitations / custom cards:
When planning ideas for spreading the word about your equine photography business, you need to try and think of ways to make your business stand out. It can be easy to solely showcase the best photos from your portfolio without using anything else to draw in new clients. Your potential customers have so many equine photographers to chose from- so why should they chose you?
You need to show them that you’re not just another standard equine photographer. Create a beautiful invitation or a custom card or letter to send to potential clients which will give you a competitive advantage over other photographers. More often than not, little gestures are what grab your potential customers’ attention and could be what gets you that first sale.
#2: Charity events:
Just look at your local newspaper and check out if there are going to be any equine events with charity purpose. Then, contact the event organizers and ask if you can go and photograph the event for free, in exchange to pass out your business cards. When you’re in there, make sure people notice how professional you are and you can be certain that you’ll make a couple of new contacts!
When you’re further down the line with your business, you can hold your own charity events, auctioning off prints and frames with proceeds going to charity. Be sure to have a local magazine at the event so they can write a great piece about the fab work you do. That little article could be the key to getting the phone ringing!
#3: Your own website:
By having a website, you’re making yourself much more available and it will be easier for people to find you if they’re looking for an equine photographer in their area.
But having a website isn’t enough. Make sure you have some kind of popup to get your potential customers’ email address. In order to do this, you need to offer them something irresistible. It can be a simple brochure of your best photos, where you include your favorite places to shoot, at what time of the day etc. You could also encourage people to sign up to your monthly newsletter so everyone can see what you have been getting up to. Once someone signs up for your email list, you can simply send them an automated message asking if they liked your brochure or even if they’re interested in hiring you- simple!
#4: Photos for testimonials:
Your previous clients can be used as a platform for gaining new clients. Offer them a 6×8 print from their previous shoot in exchange for a testimonial about their experience with you. You can share testimonials and reviews on your blog or Facebook page so that prospective clients can begin to understand what kind of experience they would have when investing in your equine photography services.
A testimonial reinforces the idea that you’re the right person for the job. With one or more happy customers up your sleeve, other people will be much more willing to hire you!
#5: Little things matter:
It’s ten times harder to get a new customer, than it is to re-entice a previous customer. So, you need to play this to your advantage. Use a calendar and note down special occasions for your customers (such as a birthday or anniversary) and send them a personalised email that includes a special discount for them. Often, previous clients just need a little reminder of how great their photo shoot was with you- it’s these little memory-joggers which could create your next big shoot!
Customers love it when you treat them on a personal level- plus everyone loves a discount. It’s the little things!
#6: Go old school:
Many equine photographers gather at equine exhibitions or competitions to try to promote their businesses. But if there are so many, how can you have a chance? You just been to be proactive and be the first one to initiate contact.
Try sending a pre-printed portfolio to the list of contacts you gathered during the equine event. By sending a physical portfolio, your work will stand out- it is literally in the clients’ hands to view. Most photographers hardly use this trick, but it is very attractive to prospective clients.
Make sure to also include a few printed post cards with some of your most beautiful images on, and include a business card and a coupon or discount code for your services. When your potential client sees all the effort it took you as well as the attention to detail, they’ll be more willing to hire you.
#7: Decorate an office:
It’s hard to find someone in the UK who doesn’t like horses. So, if you have a friend that is just opening up a business, ask if you can help them by printing some of your amazing photos to put on the wall, leaving your details in the bottom corner of the frame. You could even take some photographs of their business for them to use on their own website. In exchange, ask if you can leave your business cards or post cards with them, so that your branding is widely dispersed, always catching people’s eyes.
As you can see, there are a lot of different ways to get your equine photography business started. Use these tips as a guide to helping you on your way to marketing success!
Even if you’re already using Social Media, especially Instagram, to show your photos, you may not be seeing the results you were expecting.
Since Instagram is a visual social media network that only allows people to share images or small videos, you might be facing a lot of competition. However, there’s always a solution. Better yet, there are always several solutions that can make your Instagram account shine.
* See the same things in different ways:
When you’re taking photos of the same equine, he isn’t quiet; he moves. And on one of those moves may be a completely different photo that will be able to stand out in Instagram. Just keep clicking and clicking- within a half a second could be the difference between a horse with his ears pricked forwards, to him with his ears flat back against his head! Try and see the hose from different artistic angles too. Don’t keep positioning the horse in the same way- your pictures will become dull and uninteresting to those on social media, especially when there are millions of photos of horse pictures to view!
* Look out for symmetry:
Most people love symmetry. You just need to position yourself as well as the equine so you can take the perfect photo. Symmetry hasn’t got to be mirror-perfect, however. An image of a horse’s head side-on with his owner standing opposite him can elicit beautiful shots with depth and meaning- photos like this are so intimate and you can really capture the bond between the pair.
* Treat photography as a form of exercise:
A great photo doesn’t always happen when you’re expecting it, or when you have a arranged session. It just happens- it can be the most spontaneous photographs which are the most beautiful as they are un-staged and totally natural. Keep your camera with you when you are out and about- if you see a horse, make sure to stop and photograph it. Keep photographing until you capture the most perfect photos- it will help build your portfolio too!
* Take multiple shots:
As an equine photographer, you never know how the horse will react to being photographed. You need to take multiple shots of the same horse in the same location in order to ensure you get the perfect shot. In fact, shoot as much as you can.
As you know, not all photos are perfect or turn up well the first time round. So, if you have a larger selection to chose from, you’re bound to find something that catches your eye and looks great. This may just be the one that gets you the most likes on your Instagram account!
* Watermark your photos:
Whenever you upload one of your photos to Instagram, make sure to add a watermark. Something like your name and website address do just fine. This is exactly what many professional photographers do, and it not only looks professional, it stops people stealing your long, hard work!
* Advertising sales:
If you decided to offer a discount on your equine photography business, you have to share it on Instagram. Make sure you get a great photo to use to attract the most interest, and include a link to your website where people can get more info, or sign up to your email list!
* Post on other social media networks:
When you’re posting a photo on Instagram, there’s a feature in the app that allows you to share your images with another account you have on other social media networks, such as Facebook or Twitter. Do this to increase your visibility and will ensure your photos are as wide-spread as they can be!
* Follow other users:
When you open your UK equine photographer business account on Instagram, start by following other people. You can start by following your own family and friends, but then you need to focus your audience. Follow other photographers, horse enthusiasts and artists and comment on their work- this will get you noticed and generally speaking, people will follow you back.
There’s one thing you need to keep in mind: even if you feel like you’re doing everything well, there’s always something new to test in order to help your business grow more and more- try everything out until you get the perfect recipe to marketing success!
If you’re just starting to build your career as an equine photographer, you may find things don’t go to plan and that you make a few mistakes- it’s just the way things are with all small businesses, so don’t panic! I have compiled a list of top tips that can help you develop your successful equine photography business.
#1: Learn to shoot in manual mode as soon as you can:
If you know how to use your camera in manual mode, you allow yourself to have better control over the photographs you take. Learning how to adjust your camera when shooting in difficult light or at high speed gives you the upper hand when the auto settings don’t quite cut it. This will not only allow you to shoot quicker and take better shots, but you’ll save a lot of time editing your photos too.
#2: You’re not just a photographer:
You need to remember that your job roles stretch much further than simply taking gorgeous images. You are also the customer service representative, the marketing director, the book keeper, the branding responsible, the SEO, the CFO- but to name a few! I think you’ve got the idea…. But it is important to nurture these roles and pay as much attention to them as you do to taking great photos- the images won’t sell themselves!
#3: Be patient:
You may think that you’ll have lots of success in your first year without much effort- but you have to remember that nurturing the perfect, successful business takes a lot of time and effort! Its not all plain sailing, and when you feel as though you’re really struggling, you need to be proactive and analyse where you’re going wrong and what you need to focus on and improve- then wait for the results!
As the old saying goes, patience really is a virtue, but as long as you persevere and work hard at it, you’ll get there- I promise!
#4: People skills are vitally important:
Photography is a people business- no matter what field of photography you’re in. You need to know how to liaise with people, be it your clients; business partners; associates; suppliers (I could go on)… Once you understand how best to interact with these different groups of people, the more people will remember you and associate doing business with you as a positive experience.
#5: Purchasing unnecessary gear won’t solve your problems:
When you’re an equine photographer, it’s easy to convince yourself that new kit is the answer to improving your business. At the end of the day, a new lens for your camera is not going to earn you a six figure salary. Photographers are known for convincing themselves that fancy kit and the most expensive supplies are the answer to making your business run more smoothly. The key is to improve your skills with the kit you already have- chances are, its perfectly good enough, you just need to learn how to make the most out of it.
If you are about to invest in new kit, make sure it has a purpose. It needs to improve your photos sin some way, or it won’t be worth the investment.
#6: Branding is very important:
The branding you create for your business is vital for getting people’s attention and for getting people remember you. It is important to remember that during the early stages of your business, people don’t know who you are or what you have to offer. Good branding can give you an advantage over other equine photographers as it is a great way to really sell yourself and make yourself known.
Make it personal, bespoke and relevant- don’t design a brand that looks similar to another successful equine photographer’s- if it’s already been done, then stay clear and create something unique and personal to you that makes your business stand out.
A mistake many people make is to buy large amounts of packaging, brochures and business cards in bulk. This can be a mistake because you’ll hardly use it and you’ll be wasting a lot of money at the same time. It will only get used if you have got yourself a solid brand which you can be proud to market.
When starting your own career as an equine photographer, things can be tough. However, just put your business head on and stick to your plan. I hope you can take away some useful tips from this!
With all the technology that is around us, you can see most people taking photographs, editing and uploading them via social media. So, people tend to assume being an equine photographer should be easy. However, making a living from being an equine photographer is completely different. You don’t just take a photo, add a filter and make an instant profit!
Here’s some info and tips you should know about how to effectively retrain as a successful UK equine photographer:
#1: What an equine photographer needs to do:
You’ll need to take pictures- and lots of them. But you need to plan the ideal locations to place your subjects, find the perfect lighting AND make sure your timing is impeccable- missing that one shot by half a second could be the difference between a horse with his ears forward and his ears flat back! But it doesn’t end there.
An equine photographer will also spend hours editing photos to ensure they are attractive to the client in order to make the sale.
And if you’re going it alone, you’ll also need to make some time to take care of the marketing of your business. This could include the upkeep of your facebook/twitter/instagram page, as well as press releases and making new connections to really get you business known and your name out there!
#2: The skills you need to have:
There are some skills that are vital to being a great equine photographer:
– Computer software skills: Using a great photo editing software is a MUST. The better you are able to use it, the better your photos will be. If you feel your skills in this department are a little shabby, take the time to watch tutorials or invest in some training- it could be the difference in a successful or unsuccessful viewing!
– Familiarity with the equipment: Make sure you know your camera well. You need to understand everything that it is capable of doing. So practice practice practice at every spare moment you have- photograph your family and friends to experiment with light and location as well as your camera settings- and it always helps if they have a horse or two handy!
– Advertising and marketing: When you’re putting all your energy into your equine photography business, you need to take the time to market it. Showing some of your best shots or highlighting your photography style may be a good choice- social media is perfect for this as you can gauge the popularity of your shots through the feedback you receive from your followers- this is invaluable to you and will certainly help improve your photography!
#3: The qualities you need to have:
– Persistence: There’s always something new to learn and I can say, from experience, that you NEVER stop learning- both about yourself and your capabilities as a photographer. Develop your personal business skills and improve your photography skills- this is what will allow you to be the best equine photographer
– Confidence: You’ll come across a vast range of clients, all with different personalities and views on your work and how you ‘should’ run your business. You need to stay grounded, stay true to what you believe, and find a way to best deal with your clients in order to keep them happy whilst always looking professional and maximising your profits. Remember- NEVER give a product away because someone asks you to- be proud of your work and know you’ve earnt your worth!
– Creativity and Adaptability: Try to put your own creative spin on your photos. Give them a special “look”- This is how you can stand out. Be on the ball so that you can quickly change a location or a shot as hassle-free as possible. This will show your clients you are versatile and can think on the spot.
#4: Special education:
There is no need to take a bachelor or a masters’ degree in photography- if you have the talent, then run with it! However, it can be useful to study in an area related to business, since you’ll be running your own. Online courses are available as well as free tutorials across the internet which should be used to their full advantage!
If you want to keep developing your photography skills (as you should), similarly, there are online courses and workshops you can attend, including the ones run by myself which can be found on the training barn website. Courses like these are aimed at improving specific areas for photographers of all levels and will give you the confidence to go out there and dominate your market.
#5: As with any other career, being a professional equine photographer has pros and cons:
* Pros:
– You already enjoy photography so you’ll be working in a job you love, which unfortunately isn’t very common- think of yourself as lucky! You’ll also be providing joy to your clients as they will be able to cherish special memories with their horses for years to come- and it’s all down to you!
– Through networking, you’ll be able to meet new people, just like you, who enjoy photography and share your journey with them- I can say, hand on heart, that my photography friends are the ones who have got me through the highs and lows over the years!
* Cons:
– To be successful equine photographer, you need to stand out. Sometimes, it can be really hard to achieve your niche market, but practice makes perfect and if you work hard enough, you will surely get there!
– There are always concerns that photographers don’t earn as well in the beginning. But it’s the same with all small businesses- the start is the hardest part, and you need to be prepared to deal with times of stress and little work. Once you get the testimonials and your name is well and truly out there, you will be turning clients away because you’re so busy! Perseverance is key!
If you want to get photography clients, then you need to learn how to sell yourself…
Believe me, nobody understands how scary this seems more than I do. But after fourteen years of working in the photography business, I’ve also learned sharing my story feels far more authentic than selling advertising.
You see, I worked really hard and devoted a lot of time to build my business and brand and this continues today. Early on in my career, I would be asked if I would show people how to use their cameras for horse photography. These requests allowed me to consider teaching in the equine photography industry, to see if I truly enjoyed coaching other people. So I set up 1:1 sessions and group photography days, including children’s photography and adult group courses.
After working with these groups for a bit, I decided I wanted to further my own education and gain industry recognition. I believed I was destined to work behind the scenes with my photography clients, teaching them how to improve and progress their own photography business. To do this, I earned my ARPS and FBIPP. Then, suddenly, the flood gates opened and I was inundated with training requests.
Once my services were in demand, I created very specific equine photography and business based courses.
So then, after continued success, I didn’t have the time to accept anymore 1:1 clients and knew I needed to open up more space to run group courses, so I could reach more people who wanted my help with their photography business. That’s when I converted a barn at my New Forest home into a training space, able to accommodate up to 15 people.
This made it much easier for me to create several group training programs, including the options I have today. Throughout the year, I offer my 1 day, 3 day and evening groups, but only allow six clients at a time, so everyone gets as much attention as they deserve. I set up my business this way because I love inspiring my photography clients. To see them believe in themselves and their dreams is something that fulfills me. At the end of our sessions, I watch them create beautiful, timeless images while maintaining a financially rewarding business.
My story began with a dream and ends with a purpose. Sharing it with others allows them to see my passion, but it also indirectly advertises my business.
Knowing and sharing your own story is the most authentic way to share your business with potential clients.
Our wonderful day started with the sun joining us for our morning shoot. Mitch Asher from the New Forest joined us with her beautiful chestnut horse, Zara. Both were fantastic models.
After our time with our models ended we were all pretty hungry and ready for lunch, so we headed back to my barn to enjoy a well deserved break. My mum spoiled us with lots of gorgeous homemade cake which went down extremely well with all the tea and coffee we drank. We were set up for an afternoon discussing workflow, editing, the sales process and pricing strategy.While you do not have to be an advanced photographer to benefit from this course, each participant showed true passion in equine photography. They inspired me and each other, and showed how keen they were to take their business to the next level and succeed in the equine market. I was able to show them the most successful processes I use when dealing with horses and their owners, and to prove to them they can be an amazing horse photographer.
I always enjoy my group courses, but the combination of the sun, the cake and great company made this day extra special for me. I feel very lucky indeed.
For an itinerary, price and dates this course is offered, please click the link here to see all of the details on my course.
When choosing my career, I did not realise how much difference there would be between the types of photography we can do and the types of resources we need to complete a session. I certainly learned that the preparation for an equine photography shoot can be a bit different for other types of photography sessions.
Now, I have a much better grasp on what I need to have handy, so I can focus on my clients successful photo shoot.
If you’re just deciding whether to choose a career in equine photography, here are some really helpful resources (from books to gear) to help your photography business succeed.
This manual will help anyone, especially beginners in equine photography, learn about horsemanship. From understanding the people who love their horses to how they take care of them, this book helps you better understand the people and animals you will be working with. Not only that, but it also provides you with common terminology used in the field, so you’ll understand what your client is saying when they use horse jargon. Plus, you can speak to them in a way they already understand.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horse Breedsby Susan McBane can help you better prepare upcoming sessions by giving you knowledge about the type of horse you’re going to work with. You’ll know what to expect, based on the breed of horse owned by your client.
If you are trying to find an area show, or even national shows, you can search for them at RidingDiary. Once you’re on the page, you’ll notice a search bar across the top of the screen. You’ll enter the region or county, month and event type. The website will give you all the information you need on upcoming events. Horse shows are great places to network and advertise your equine photography business.
Beyond these three great tools you can refer to over and over again, you’ll also benefit from having these resources available to you on the day of your session.
• Wet weather gear – there’s nothing worse than being cold on a shoot. A good, warm and rainproof jacket is necessary to avoid suffering when it’s wet outside.
• Wellies or Walking boots – for the same reason as the jacket, these will keep your feet warm and dry. They also come in handy when you’re walking through wet, muddy terrain, even on days it’s not raining.
• Polo mints – to keep the horse smiling (and you!)
• Black or Brown Lead Rope – clients love brightly coloured and patterned lead ropes. For the photo shoots they sometimes forget to bring a plain one.
• Bucket of Nuts – these come in handy when you need to get the horse’s attention. Just shake them.
• An Assistant – always helpful unless you want to have the camera in one hand and bucket of nuts in the other
• 4×4 vehicle – after a long shoot, the last thing you want to worry about is being pulled out of your client’s yard by their tractor.
• Digital SLR camera
• Long zoom lens – ideally 70-200mm so you can stand back from the horse and let it feel more comfortable and natural while you’re shooting.
• Memory Card Space – at least 16GB, but the more you have the better.
• A Fully Charged Battery
• Clean camera – My camera is always filthy by the end of a shoot. Be sure to clean yours between sessions so you look professional and keep your camera in good condition.
If you are just starting out as an equine photographer, all of the above will definitely come in handy for you to stay comfortable and appear professional while you’re working with your clients. If you have a must-have item I haven’t listed, feel free to email me and let me know!
Last September Kate Alford signed up for the basic photography one day course. Her initial intention was to learn how to use her camera.
She decided after the course to continue working with me and signed up for the 3 day equine course. Kate felt both courses covered everything she needed and the content was incredible and a great source of information. She wanted to ensure she did not get distracted by the daily slog as a mother of three children. Kate wanted to push herself forward towards her dream job, so she joined my “mentor me” programme
This training course lasts a full year giving photographers time to progress their businesses whilst sparking passion, expressing creative freedom and leaning loads of business strategies and sharing information. It’s a pass admitting participants a backstage look into my business and to show them what works for me – my tricks – and help further their own careers
When we first chatted, I learned Kate was a working mother. Though a juggling act, with children to watch and schedules to keep, she knew our time together would help plunge her further into her photography dream. Unbelievably, Katie only had 14 hours a week to focus on the work she needed to implement from the course: a short amount of time to build such an incredible business, but that’s just what she did.
Now, a year later, I’m proud to say Kate’s a fully-fledged professional Equine photographer who made her passion her career and makes money doing what she loves. Though Kate is not well known in the industry yet, her determination and passion have helped her build a network of people who now emphatically recommend her.
This course focuses heavily on the business side of becoming a professional, and Kate took full advantage of this time, asking me questions about profit and business flexibility. Though I hate to make our time together sound formal: she knew what to ask and when to ask it, never holding back in fear she might say the wrong thing.
What I valued most about my year with Kate was her brave honesty. She always told me how she was feeling about her progress and the daily struggles of starting her own business. Not only was she honest and eager to learn, but she also responded well to critique and instruction.
The Equine industry is lucky to have such talent, especially with her resolve to get her name out into the professional world. I can assure you she’s someone to watch in the next few years. I have no doubt she will start to make a real impact on the equine photography market across the county.
Kate and I had the most amazing year ever, it was crazy, productive, and full of laughter and the occasional tear. But, most of all, it was a huge pleasure to work with someone so willing to change her life. When you spend as much time together as we have, you begin to value the person as a friend. After our time together ended, Kate sent me an amazing testimonial, and I was honored she was just as thankful for our year together, saying wonderful things and confirming we had a special bond.
“The one to one days have been invaluable, tailored to whatever area I needed to work on, be that training shoots, or business planning and everything in between. I have been held accountable for the plans I have made, and the regular phone calls have given me boosts & information, and cannot begin to cover the amount of information, experience and help I have gained.
Every conversation I have had with Emily since my initial enquiry has been positive, encouraging, down to earth & incredibly informative and helpful. She has never made me feel like the questions I ask are irrelevant or silly, and will explain any aspect of the photography business that is of help to you or your business. She provides a ‘safe’ environment for you to explore ideas and to question the direction that you are working in, and does not simply guide you on the direction that she has worked, but allows you to grow into the areas that you wish work in, for example, Wedding Photography.”
Though Kate has finished our year together, she now has a clear vision and plan for how to grow her business this year. It was incredible to watch her technical and creative abilities improve week after week. Although she has said she feels lucky to have spent the year with me, I feel I was the lucky one.
Last week, I had 6 delegates enrolled on the 3 day Business of Equine Photography course, who stayed here in Burley in The New Forest to carry out some intense equestrian photography training!
We had a really great 3 days, with lots of laughs as well as hard work. Below are some testimonials written by the delegates which are, quite frankly, very flattering as well as a great reflection of what this course has to offer!
Furthermore, one of our delegates, Michelle, has created a couple of video slideshows which showcase some of her amazing equine portfolio she was able to build while on the course!
-Awesome course! It’s down to you that I’ve managed to make a point of telling people about equine photography. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this or any other course by Emily; I would come back in the future! Thanks Emily. Nicky Chadwick, Bradford.
-Great balance of business presentations, exercises and critiques and really appreciated the level of detail you went into. Felt totally at home at the training barn; a more friendly and less corporate-like atmosphere. Your course has given me the confidence to pursue a genre that is so intensely inline with what I love in my true heart. So thank you honestly and from the bottom of my heart for how much you have helped me over the last three days! Michelle Wildman, London.
-Interesting and well organised set up, both with shoots and business. At first I felt slightly out of my depth but as the course progressed you made this much easier for me! Fantastic food and a brilliant 3 days, would definitely recommend this course to others! Gary Horner, London.
-10 out of 10, fabulous practice and port folio opportunities. Feel so inspired and looking forward to the future now. Can’t thank you enough and will be recommending your course. Amazing, thank you. Leslie Bliss.
-Thorough and honest course which provided invaluable knowledge for making the best start in equine photography. I have come away with so much knowledge and inspiration as well as general excitement! Emily, you are a wonderful teacher! It was very relaxing learning at the Training Barn in terms of the relaxed manner and great location, thanks!Matthew Bishop, London.
-The course covered everything brilliantly for everyone at different stages in their photography career. There was loads of opportunity to develop and shoot individually which was the benefit of having a maximum of 6 delegates on the course. Fab food and hospitality. Without a doubt would recommend and I loved every minute! I have learnt so much, thank you!Kate Alford, Somerset.
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