There is an equine photographer for every location, every budget, and every style, so how do you find the one for you? Research and ask questions! We love it when potential clients reach out and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Not everyone is going to be a great match, and that’s okay. Reaching out and asking questions could save you a ton of heartache before you invest in your priceless memories.

Question 1: Do you have a contract?

I know, I know, contracts are a pain in the butt to read, but they contain very important information that protects both you and your photographer. It holds all of the important information – details about the session (such as location, date, time, how many photos you get), how much you are paying for your session, what you can legally do with your photos, and what your photographer is responsible for.

Contracts also have information on what happens if either party is late and what happens if you need to reschedule.

Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for clarification about your contract! Like I said, it’s a lot to read and your contract is written in legal-ese to protect both of you. Your equine photographer should have no problem helping you figure it out.

Question 2: Do you have insurance?

Let’s face it, there are two major truths when it comes to horses – they’re expensive and they’re prone to getting hurt. What happens if someone gets hurt during the session? Photographers are legally required to carry insurance. Ask your photographer if they carry liability insurance – a professional equine photographer will gladly show you their insurance information.

Question 3: What experience do you have with horses?

Equine photography is a very specialized niche. Just like you wouldn’t want to hire a corporate headshot photographer to photograph your wedding, you don’t want just anyone to photograph your horse. You want someone that knows the importance of “happy ears” and pays attention to leg positioning. What do you do if your horse misbehaves during a session? Safety is out #1 priority in sessions. Your best bet is to find someone that specializes in equestrian portraits rather than going with someone that has no experience with horses.

Question 4: What are your prices?

This is a common, important question to ask. Chances are, you’re going to want to save up to book a session with your favorite equine photographer. Many of us have our prices listed on our websites. Another question that goes with pricing is does your photographer accept payment plans? What methods of payment do they accept? Many of us these days use a client management system to invoice our clients so that you can pay online. Some are old-school and only accept checks. It’s best to accept ahead of time so that you are prepared.

Question 5: Who can be in the photos?

Some photographers have a strict policy of only the equestrian and their horse(s) being in the photographs. Some allow other animals and people be involved for an additional fee. I personally say bring who you want, just tell me ahead of time so that I can plan the flow of the session accordingly. Yeah, it’s amazing having photos of you and your horse, but maybe you want to include one of the whole family plus the horse (because let’s face it, the horse is part of the family, too). This is a question that it never hurts to ask your photographer.

There are so many other questions you can ask, but I think these five will be great to get you started. It’s important that you click with your photographer so that you and your horse have a great experience. If you ever have any questions, you can always reach out to me via my contact page or email me at kristina@truluckphoto.com. I love helping equestrians out and hearing all about their horses!