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Equestrian portraits for High School seniors has become very popular. With my experience as a lifetime equestrian and as an equestrian photographer, I know how to work with the horses and their riders. Planning and preparation make the sessions flow more effortlessly.

  1. Make sure the horse is fed and well groomed. Do attend to those ears and whiskers.
  2. I like have several outfit changes so bring along a variety from very casual to more formal attire.
  3. Have a groom to help manage the horse and keep him or her calm between clothing changes. Horses do like to take advantage of beautiful green grass and eat it any chance they get.
  4. Another helper can get the horses attention when needed.
  5. Choose a location that has a variety of settings.
  6. Start in the late afternoon to end with golden light.
  7. Bring peppermints!!

 Having had a successful show career with this horse and many others, saying good-bye to a “best friend” is never easy. Feeling the weight of responsibility to create an enjoyable session and lasting memories for Amber, I was helped by her grace, beauty and connection with her horse.

Horse Portraits

 
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I just finished teaching a Family Beach Photography photo session for The Palm Beach Photographic Center FotoFusion 2014. It was a wonderful opportunity to share with my students much of the information I have gleaned from thousands of hours photographing families at the beach.

Family Beach Photography

I thought about titling this blog: All Dressed Up With No Place To Go,  What Can Go Wrong, Will or Three Strikes And You Are Out.. At the location secured three weeks before the class, we had permission to photograph but had to pay for parking. It turned out the day of, we received free parking passes but were not allowed to photograph. My two families with their young children were incredibly patient as we moved to a second location. Since we were not going to be able to photograph at the beach, I figured we could create the same type of portraits, with similar lighting techniques and students could learn from the experience.

Family Beach Photography

After going through two very useful lighting setups, again we were asked to leave the location. The gate was going to be locked and we needed to be on the other side of it. No worries, next to that site was a place I thought I could finish up with more candid family photographs and give the students the final part of the workshop. Mom and Dad are in position, the background is good, the light is perfect. About to shoot, once again we are asked to leave. No worries. I resorted to begging. It worked with the promise of being quiet.

Family Beach Photography

The students appreciated the experience. Lesson learned, you can make plans but when reality takes over, go with the flow and do the best you can!!
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The most important day of your life is approaching, your wedding!!  Finding the best wedding photographer for you can be a journey unto itself. Having been a wedding photographer for over twenty five years, I have five suggestions for what to consider when making your decision for your wedding photographer.

1. Personality: You are going to be with your photographer during the planning stages of your wedding, the day of your wedding and after your wedding. Is this someone you feel comfortable with, enjoy, and can talk with?

2. Experience: Make plans and watch reality take over! A seasoned professional will be able to meet any situation as it unfolds ensuring complete coverage of your wedding day. Some questions to ask might be, how long have you been a wedding photographer and how many weddings have you photographed?

3. Competency: Look carefully at all of the samples you are shown in the initial meeting. Do the albums tell a complete story, are the products well-made, is there a variety of books and sizes and are they archival?

4. Pricing: Make sure you understand the pricing structure. There is a fee for the wedding which may or may not also include products. What are the prices for prints and albums? It is important to have a large enough budget that encompasses the wedding fee and the products.

5. Second Photographer: The biggest advantage of your photographer having a second shooter is that two locations or activities can be covered simultaneously. One photographer can be photographing the bride getting ready while the other is photographing the groom.  At the ceremony, one photographer can be on the ground level, the other in the balcony. At the reception, you also gain two perspectives for the activities making sure everything is covered.

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Choosing your wedding photographer

At my studio, I consider the job complete when I can present a beautiful bound album to the bride and groom that carefully and beautifully portrays their wedding day. “The day goes by in a flash”, and the album can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Also check out a previous blog: 5 Tips For Planning Wedding Photography https://debkalasportraits.com/5-tips-for-planning-wedding-photography/  for more information.