I have always had a fondness for horses. When my son decided to take up horse riding lessons, I couldn’t have been happier. A friend of mine owns horses and often lets us visit and gives my son some practice time. She asked if I would be willing to take birthday photos of her daughter, Kylie with the horses. I said, “Absolutely” and asked if she also wanted some of just the horses, which she definitely did! This session was an amazing experience. I am so happy to be a part of the Columbus Horse Photography world.
First Up – Horse Portraits
When I arrived for this Columbus horse photography session, the sun was still brightly overhead. It wasn’t the right lighting just yet for photographing Kylie or the horses outside. I planned it that way, though. I knew I wanted to get some shots of just the horses inside the open barn doors. The bright sunlight helped illuminate the space without the harsh highlights.
I did bring along my Godox strobe and beauty dish for some fill light on the horses’ faces. I love how their heads are well lit and their bodies fade back into the dark barn.
Kylie assisted bringing in the horses one at a time. In all, it was two horses, one mini horse, and a mini donkey. I got solo shots of each, as well as poses with Kylie.
When it comes to Columbus Horse Photography, Kylie and her equine friends knocked it out of the park. She has a special bond with each one, which made for very special images that I know she will cherish forever.
Once the portraits on black were complete, we moved into the barn for a few natural captures. The lighting was still soft and beautiful. I can’t decide which style of barn images is my favorite!
Ideal Lighting for Columbus Horse Photography
The barn poses went great! We were finished with plenty of time to spare before sunset. I asked if it would be okay to take a break and resume the session outdoors during golden hour. I wasn’t sure if they had plans, but I knew that if we could wait just a bit longer, we would love the end result. They were more than willing to hold off another hour. They wanted those awesome outdoor images, too!
When considering who to hire for Columbus Horse Photography, take a look at their portfolio. Pay close attention to the lighting. Even in not-idea situations, a well-trained photographer will know how to work with whatever light is given. Things to avoid may include harsh highlight spots on faces, shadowed “raccoon” eyes, squinting, dark subjects, or unintentionally blown out skies.
Girl’s Best Friends
Kylie loves to ride her mare bareback. The two of them have a great connection. The plan was to head out into the soy bean fields. I followed behind as they led the way. Then, these amazing images fell into my lap. The sunset was hitting them perfectly! Look at the glow around the horse’s feet. Then, there is Kylie’s firey hair and glow on the horse’s tail. Chef’s kiss!
Once out in the field, these two ladies had a grand time! At one point, Kylie had to run and jump onto her mare’s back. They have an amazing amount of trust in each other. The relationship between horse and rider definitely impacts the success of Columbus horse photography sessions.
Towards the end of the session, I wanted to get images of Kylie’s gelding in the pasture as the sun set. To lure him out away from the fence, Kylie had the brilliant idea of riding her mare along the fence line to the edge of the property. It worked! I got some gorgeous photos of the gelding grazing at sunset and neighing for the camera.
But, perhaps the best image from the day was this last unplanned shot. Kylie had to head back to the barn. She did so by riding her mare along the hillside at the back of the pasture. That’s when this amazing moment presented itself.
Booking Your Columbus Horse Photography Session
The equine photography bug is biting hard these days! In the past, my schedule didn’t allow for many Columbus horse photography sessions. Now, I seem to be at the barn a lot and love surrounding myself by these amazing animals. I have opened up my schedule to offer more equine sessions in the Columbus area. To book your next Columbus horse photography session, e-mail me at Stacey@StaceyAshPhoto.com. I look forward to meeting more equine friends!
