Preparing For Your Equestrian Portrait Session Part One
Growing up with horses, I learned early on that each one was unique and special. Building the bond between horse and rider was developed over time. Learning about your horse’s personality was the best part of the adventure. Does your horse nicker when he hears your voice? Maybe a soothing hand on his neck calms his anxious temperament? Do you ever hum when you are riding? Just being in the presence of your horse can bring so much joy. Having made the decision to book a professional equestrian portrait session now is the time to prepare for success. With a horse portrait session there are two to get ready, your horse and you. Today I am going to cover how the rider can prepare. Here are five tips to create a work of art.
- The first thing to consider is your concept. Think about if you want your portrait to be about being a “Rider” with your amazing talented horse or about a photography session with your “Best Friend”.
If you want to be a “Rider”, horse show clothes always look nice. Black boots, britches and a riding shirt is another approach. Maybe you don’t show and all you ride in is jeans and boots. That works too. Think about wearing lighter colored shirts than darker. Avoid bold logos and stripes. Always bring a few outfits for clothing changes.
If this session is more about being with your “Best Friend”, you can wear a beautiful gown, a nice dress, a pair of slacks or jeans. Don’t forget you are going to be around your horse, a creature weighing twelve hundred pounds or more and your footwear must keep you safe as well as compliment your outfit.
2. Keep in mind the color of your horse when selecting what to wear. Here are some suggestions:
For a gray horse, there are lots of options; white, black, red, pink, blue or green.
A black or dark colored horse looks great with many colors; red, magenta, pink, ivory, white, blue and green. Black is not suggested.
A chestnut looks stunning in blues and greens. Certain shades of pink and ivory can also go well.
For a bay horse, I like blues, greens and ivory.
Pick a selection of outfits that you feel great in. Since horses come in many different colors, if you have a question it’s always good to ask your photographer ahead of time. For my clients if a home visit is not possible in advance, texting photographs of dresses or outfits work.
3. Hair and makeup: No matter what type of portrait you are having, freshly blown dried hair adds to the beauty of the overall portrait. Depending on the amount of makeup you normally wear, use what you are comfortable with. For gowns, I might use an evening makeup style. Schedule a hair and makeup session in advance of the shoot. A makeup artist can also be present during the session.
4. Nails: Either polished or unpolished, nothing in between. Your hands will be seen in the photographs, particularly the closeups. If using polish select a color that compliments your outfit.
5. Personal health: We are going to be asking a lot of you and your horse and I like you feeling great before we began. Come to your session rested and hydrated. You will feel good and look better.
I always feel privileged and honored to be selected to create a horse portrait. Not only do I want to make a wall portrait you can treasure for years to come, but I want the whole experience to be fun. Use your imagination, dream big, and I will take care of the rest. Look for my upcoming blog on preparing your horse.
