Before Your Session...

The main goal for your equine session is to make you and your equine partner look as incredible as possible. We will try to let everything flow at your horse's pace during your session, but there are definitely some things you can do before I get there to help everything be a little easier for yourself, your horse, and for your photographer (me). Here are a few suggestions to help the photos be fun, easy, and beautiful.


  1. Give your horse a show quality bath. Even if your horse isn't light colored, giving him/her a bath will help his/her coat look shinier and cleaner. If you do this the day before your session, put your horse's mane and tail up in bags or braids to help them stay clean and to make the day of your session grooming a little easier. You're going to get yourself all pretty for a session with your horse, so you should help your horse look his/her best as well!
  2. Exercise your horse 4-5 hours before our session if possible. For a morning session, make sure your horse is exercised the night/day before, and then spray the sweat off and wait until they dry before turning them out if you've already given them a bath. Sometimes when the horse is super fresh, he/she is silly and doesn't like to stand still. If you don't have time to do this, we will do our absolute best and we will still get beautiful images, but just know that your session will go much smoother if you are able to do this.
  3. Touch up your bridle with saddle soap and wash your horse's bit. Most people prefer to use their bridles for their photos, but don't even think about cleaning it up! Unless you specifically have a fancy halter for this photoshoot, we will likely use your bridle. Make sure its not dusty, and make sure your bit isn't covered in green goop.
  4. Get there about an hour before me to groom your horse/make finishing touches. Your horse is already clean, but brush through the mane, use your finishing brushes on his/her coat, put show sheen on the mane and tail, clean up the hooves, etc. This will make SUCH a big difference.

What to Bring...

You know yourself and you know your horse best! I will bring some things that work for some horses to get their ears forward, but if you have something you KNOW will work, you should definitely bring it! Here are some things you should definitely bring!

  1. A damp rag: Bringing a damp rag is perfect for getting dust off your horse's nose or even just cleaning up around their eyes mid-session.
  2. Baby wipes: The baby wipes are for yourself! The chances are pretty high that you could get a smudge of dirt on your face, or that you might need to wipe some snot off your arm. Just bring them, just in case. ;)
  3. A clean bridle and/or fancy halter. Not everyone has a nice halter, but if you do, don't forget to bring it! If you don't, you'll want to use your bridle for these so make sure its clean and make sure you pack it when you're headed over! I do have multiple bridles in my client tack locker so if you aren't sure that you have one you like, reach out and I will bring whichever one you want!
  4. Multiple outfits, hats, etc: Sometimes people show up to their sessions with only one outfit, and the one outfit doesn't match well with the background or with their horse's color. There's nothing to change into if you don't bring extras!
  5. A water bottle: Even in the winter, running around taking pictures can get tiring. Make sure you bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. It's only an hour or so, but it is still helpful! Make sure to bring water for your support person too... chances are, they will be running around more than you will!
  6. A support person: Not necessary, but super helpful. Bring someone who knows your horse/s and will be able to help get ears forward. This person will likely hold the reflector for me sometimes if you bring them, and they might be the person running back to the barn to grab something you forgot.

What to Wear...

Of course, this really depends on what season it is, and where we are taking the photos... But there are some basic rules that will help you be dressed for success anyway. Try to avoid bright highlighter-type colors, especially bright yellow/green or bright pink. Those colors especially will not help your photos at all, and I'll have to work extra hard to make them look good and consistent with my editing style. Wear neutrals with pops of color. Avoid busy patterns if you can, but if you want to wear something with a busy pattern, just be sure to bring some other options just in case. If we are doing a couples shoot, do not wear the exact same pattern of shirt. Couples should try to compliment each others outfits by wearing complimentary colors or sometimes one partner can wear a pattern and the other wear a solid, etc. Below are some photos of people that chose outfits that I love!

Don't Forget...

While I do love when clients follow these guidelines, we are doing a session for YOU and I want you to be able to get the images that you are hoping for! If you don't get all of these things done, your photos will still be beautiful and so uniquely YOU and I am so excited to see what we create together. Now let's go have some fun together! <3


Ready to book your equine session? Shoot me a message and let's talk.