• Get in close! Make the horse fill about 90% of the frame, even when moving.
• Dark horses need light backgrounds, light horses need dark backgrounds. The background should be fairly consistent behind the entire body of the horse.
• Pictures come out best on a sunny day, with the sun to your back. High noon is not the best time because of harsh shadows. Early morning or late afternoon is best.
• In an indoor arena, make sure any bright doorway or window is at your back. Careful not to kick up too much dirt or sand…it makes the photo look grainy.
• If your camera allows, turn the flash ON (especially on a dark day, or indoors), but natural sunlight hitting the horse's side, and coming from behind the photographer, is always better.
• Try to get a side "conformation" shot (both sides), a headshot, and a shot of the horse moving.
• When you are close to the horse, it helps the perspective to bend your knees a little and shoot the picture level or pointing slightly up toward the horse's head. It's always best to avoid shooting down at the horse from a higher vantage point. Level shots look best.
• Try to make sure the horse's ears are forward, nobody likes the look of pinned ears!
• For conformation shots, try to get the horse standing with all four feet flat on the ground, preferably with all four legs showing separately, and with the horse looking straight ahead with neck stretched and ears forward.

No Camera?

Disposable cameras are available at many stores for about $10, and most stores also put photos directly onto a CD. These cameras take amazingly good pictures - especially if you follow the tips given above.

Photos taken by a professional are worth the cost and will also give you something a keepsake of your horse. If you want to use photos taken by a professional, you must get permission from them. Most photographers don't mind if you use their photos as long as credit is given in the ad and you ask them for permission first.

Depending on your location, a TWH Network representative may be able to come to your farm and take digital photos for use on your site.. There will be a small fee. Contact us for more information.