Conference noted::equitation

    Not sure what the going rates are, but a few years ago I contacted a
    well known equine photographer and was quoted a rate of $250 for a 
    "shoot" plus film costs, plus milage at .20 per mile.
    
    Are you a photographer interested in a new area, or a horse person 
    interested in photography?  The reason I ask is that, after getting
    the above quote and realizing I couldn't afford it, I asked a friend
    who is a professional photographer if he moght be interested in doing
    my stallion, as a way to build up a portfolio in a new area.  Well he
    thjought this was a good idea, and came and took about a hundred shots
    of my horse.
    
    WELL, not even ONE of these shots was usable.  The horse was in weird
    positions in all the still shots, and in mid-stride or off stride in
    all the action shots.   The color was nice, the bacvkground was
    beautiful and the pictures might have been OK viewed as pleasant
    fall scenes.  But as horse pictures they were HORRIBLE!  So I think
    the most important part of being a horse photographer is really knowing
    horses.
    
    BTW Susan Sexton, a well know equine photographer, often gives clinics
    on horse photography, and they are quite good.
    in all of

    
    I'm a horse person interested in Photography.... I've been taking
    pictures for fun mostly for about 10 years....  I find usually you
    can expect 2-3 fantastic shots per roll, or if your lucky (as I was
    last weekend with a fellow equine noter!) alot come out usable.
    I've only really started to get serious, I took attitash festival
    shots I have been very pleased with (thought someday I will need
    to update my equipment) and two shoots I did recently were basically
    all standing photo's (halter), with a couple running lose in the
    field photo's.  I don't develop myself, but I have a very responsible
    studio that develops for me (other horse lovers).  
    
    What did this person promise you for the $250?  XX rolls, XX hrs
    taking (1 day type thing?), any guarantees to like them or re-take?
    I know some of you must have a professional you deal with, especially
    if you breed, sell etc. Do you ever change, or try others when the
    urge arises?  
    
    Nancy  

    Hi Nancy,
    
    I enjoy photography, too, and have gotten some super shots of friends
    at shows and of my own horses around the barn, it's a lot of fun!
    
    Have you considered the angle of attending shows, events, etc and
    taking shots then sending proofs to the owners to show them your
    work and offering your services? I was on a judged pleasure ride
    with my mare once a few years ago and several weeks later I got
    some really beautiful proofs mailed to me by a photographer who
    had spent the day there. The pictures were absolutely super, and
    very natural (I don't remember ever seeing him out on the ride).
    I have no idea if he was hired by the ride officials or just out
    there on his own or what.
    
    

    Used to be I'd always get proofs sent to me after a show. Very good way
    to build a business.  Some send small prints with "proof" either
    stamped or handwritten acrosss the photo.
    
    Mary

    I worked with someone from Andover Ma and the way she did the
    arrangements was to charge a flat fee per hour, back then it
    was 40$, then she would charge for the supplies(film and whatever
    else she needed), charge whatever her processing charges were,
    she didn't develope either, she had a milage radius she would
    travel, then outside of that she charged milage.  She took an avg
    of two rolls per shoot.  I agree with .1 you either have it or
    you don't, the photographer needs to be able to capture the
    personallity (sp?) of the animal as well as the proper angles.
    Sending the proofs is a very good way to make a name.

    
    I guess I should go make a name for myself....
    How is the best way to take someone's picture, just say... can I
    take your photo?, I'd also like an address to I can mail the picture
    if it comes out good?   Or just take the shots and ask if they'd
    like a copy?   How else can you find out where to mail it to them?
    Do show management give out this info. to photographers?
    
    Nancy

    Nancy,
    
    Approach them, say you are photographing the riders,
    and ask for their name and mailing address so that
    you can send them proofs.(You could write the number on the 
    back of the riders shirt down as you take pictures, as it can 
    be used to trace the rider in case you don't have the name or address)
    
    OR,
    
    Go to a show that is run once a month, take as many pictures
    as you can of as many different riders, make up a picture
    board, go to the next show, and display the pictures at the
    show.   Usually the same riders come to consecutive shows,
    and you can bet on 1)  An audience around the board, looking
    for themselves, and 2) any good shots will get a request for 
    a copy.
    
    You can practice on my horse, if you want, he's a ham! :-)
    
    Have fun!
    
    Lynne       
    

 Nearly all the dressage shows I go to have a show program which
 lists the names and addresses of riders.  You can easily match the
 number of the rider you photographed, with his/her name/address.

 In fact, I think its to your advantage not to ask permission to
 take photos, and just do it and mail the 'outstanding' proofs to
 the person.   I might say 'No thank you' when a photographer asks
 me if I want photos, but then it never fails, if I get proofs from
 someone in the mail later on, after the show, I usually buy a few.
 Think about it, everyone's show horse is a horse person's prize possession.
 Who could turn away a super photo of their favorite performer/pet?


 Best of luck,

 Melinda

    
    At the hunter shows, the photograher usually has the 'premission'
    of the show steward. Sometimes the steward invites a photographer
    to come. You should probably ask the steward or show secretary
    before taking shots. They are the ones with the names and address
    and show numbers. The photographers often sends all the shots of
    people from my barn to the barn rather than to each individual.
    Sometimes we get the little 1/2 inch copy of the negative, just
    large enough to see.
    
    Nancy
    

    I'm the noter w/ the horse Nancy photographed.  I am real pleased
    with the results...there are quite a few good shots to choose from, 
    and we can't quite narrow it down to a definate one or two.  My
    mare wasn't the easiest subject (she's a fidget) to photograph, but
    Nancy really captured her personality.
    
    If anyone wants to see the pictures, I'm in NRO5.  I have them in my
    office.
    
    Michele

    
    
    I thought I would give some updates ..... especially since some
    of the great ideas has come from here and mail I received offline.
    
    Since I started this note I met a local photographer (alot of you
    local to Mass have probably seen him one time or another) Richard
    Bartlett, he happens to develop at the same shop I do.  He was
    extremely nice and offered to take me on a couple fox hunts.  Both
    went well, I was especially happy with the proofs from the second
    hunt.  Since I had never taken part in a hunt myself, It was great
    to go and I learned alot about my picture taking (in crowds... people
    walking around everywhere!)  I will definately keep in touch with
    him....   I also hope to do some farm shooting next year, I seem
    doing this since I'm actually out with them, watching them in their
    surroundings etc.... 
     
    I've also had the opportunity to talk with Brandy Adams (most will
    know her from the Journal) and was invited to go on a shoot with
    her next season.... her speciality is the show jumping, which I
    have ridden myself and enjoy.  In understanding how horses jump,
    and loving that sport I look forward to what I can learn hands on.
    Brandy pointed me toward Dodo Knight who has had equine photo clinics
    in the past.  In speaking with Dodo, she said she would be ok to
    do a one-on-one for a day... Now I'm saving $$$ for that day, when
    I saw her work I was in awe!  She does GREAT work with horses..
    no wonder she's able to do it as a profession....   I'll keep you
    posted on this.
    
    There are a few farms etc. clubs that I have been in touch with
    or are getting in touch with.  I hope to line up some regular show's
    for next season and see what works well.  I know I've been pretty
    happy with my photo's from Jumping shows, but I have to see how
    the actual riders will feel.  I have even started a portfolio of
    some of my most recent work and hope it grows!  I even did a shoot
    for the other people I work with at the barn, it was not their horses,
    it was their dogs! I missed one, but got the other 5 dogs that were
    there.... they loved them!  What an ego boost....   I still have
    alot to learn about the profession of photography and hope to see
    Dodo early next year and learn it.  There's more than just copywrite,
    you need to have permission (preferrably signed) from the owners
    etc. for use as a model.  I'm not sure what this is all about, some
    of you have probably had professional photo's done and signed some
    type of document.  It states that the photographer has copywrite
    privilege and that they have reproduction rights? etc. so they can
    use the photo's in the future for other things.  
    
    
    I want to thank everyone that has contributed so far to this, I'm
    learning a great deal and I look forward to the show season to really
    test my talents.   I've even had friends here that know of the
    portfolio I've made, taking to people they know with horses... 
    I'll probably see some of you next season, I'll post the places
    I'll be ... in case anyone wants some photos!    Thanks again!
    
    Nancy

    Nancy...
    You are more than welcome to do ours at any time...really best in show
    season.
    Now as far as copyrights go....with all the professional shots that
    we have had taken at the shows we have never signed anything.  Even
    when they were done at the farm (the trainer's) we didn't sign a thing.
    
    Good luck....sounds like you are having a lot of fun.
    

   Hey Nancy,

   I saw your pictures in the Feb 92 issue of the Pedlar, they are
   great! (If you haven't seen them, they are  Black Prince UF on p120,
   and Brigade CF on p122.) I also have gotten many compliments on
   the show and over fences photos you did of Esprit last summer. 

   Kiirja

    For Marlboro area residents who may be interested ...
    Susan Sexton will be giving a presentation on Monday May 4th at 7 PM
    at the Northboro Horsemen's Association May meeting.  She will be
    discussing horse photography, displaying some or her work, answering
    questions, and talking about whatever else is raised from the
    audience.  For information, call Suzanne Mader at 508-393-1964.
    This would also be a good time to have her do a shoot for you since
    she will already be up here (i.e. you save the travel cost, I imagine).
    
    Note: I am flying down to Virginia to pick her up in my single engine
    plane.  If the weather is bad, there may be a problem getting her up
    here, so call ahead.
    
    MR4DEC::ROMAN (Michael)

...but I don't know Susan Sexton.  Does she specialize in a particular
breed or a particular area of expertise, i.e., hunters, etc.?  Where might
I have seen her work?

thanks,
Gwen

    If you read *any* horse magazines you've seen her work.
    
    I've been to one of her photography seminars, and it was excellent. 
    She gives a really good presentation, with lots of pointers for amateur
    photographers.  
    
    -ellie  

Well, I do read horse magazines, but they are all Arabian-related.  I don't
think I've seen her work there.  

    Oh well, maybe I should have said "almost any horse magazines" 8^)  8^}
    
    But I know she has done some beautiful shots of Arabs, which she
    had at the seminar I went to.  Her work is also seen frequently in the
    Pedlar, which is a Northeast area publication.  (I'm not sure where
    you are from.)
    
    

    
    She does quite a bit of eventing photos - I've gotten some pictures 
    from her and they're great.

    Well, Susan is in town, so she will be there to give her talk tonight.
    I just noticed that I had the starting time down as 7 PM.  Oops.  It's
    really 7:30.  She says to bring your photos if you'd like, and she'll
    point out the good points and also point out how the pictures could
    maybe be improved.

    I have a photographer friend who is getting into taking pictures of
    horses at shows and such.  He would like to know what the going rate
    is and how it usually priced (so many proofs taken, toward a package,
    deposit? or whatever?)
    Has anyone had pictures taken? How did the photographer price it?
    
    Thanks,
    Sharon