Equestrian photographer help

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KatieSun

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Katie
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Hi, me again
So i've just been asked to photograph at a horse show. I can deal with that, but these are what i need help with...

I'l need to set up somewhere online where people can view and buy photos (and not steal them but in a perfect world that's not going to happen.)

I might need to hire a lens,where would i go and what would you reccomend? Ive got 18-55mm kit lens, 50mm 1.8 and a 70-300 tamron all to go on my 1000D body - saving up for a 5D mk 3 wish i had it for this show :love:

and the biggest point, some classes will be indoors
now i'm not very good at indoor photography of moving subjects so any tips please!

What do i wear?

and where do i get cheap flyers/cards printed

thanks! :thumbs:
 
1/1000 minimum to stop blur of the hoofs if youre doing movement shots and F4-F8 maybe to keep DoF the full length of the horse, adjust the ISO to allow this. 70-300 will be the best for this. you might get away with the 50 if youre doing portraits of them.


NEVER use the flash! horses are flight animals and the flash would easily spook them. Same with your movements - Pick a good spot and stay there, again if you appear from nowhere running towards the horse then it is likely to spook them...

HTH.
 
Part of an email I received when enquiring about taking pictures at a point to point meeting

We do allow photographers in the racecourse during racedays. However, our ultimate watch word is safety. So you may not at anytime during a race actually go onto the racecourse itself – you may not hide behind jumps to get the ‘ultimate shot’. You must at all times recognise that these animals are at least 3/4 ton and moving at speeds up to 35mph and moreover that they are easily spooked. This means absolutely NO flash photography in the vicinity of any horse at anytime during the day.

Hope that helps
 
what kind of show is it? Jumping? Dressage? Showing?
 
Oh and vista print do OK cheap flyers.

For the website, I think you will have to look at somewhere like 500px, where once you set up a shop on there, they can download a full rez version for £3 or something. Otherwise it would be setting your own space up with custom site.

I could be wrong on the site though.
 
dod said:
what kind of show is it? Jumping? Dressage? Showing?
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what he said. tips will vary according to discipline (and level).

a lot of indoor arenas can be a nightmare for lighting if the sun isnt out. personally id go and hire a good low light body and 2.8 lens.

wear something warm, preferably layers. indoor arenas can be freezing places unless in direct prolonged sunlight, then they turn into ovens.
 
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Cheap easy site for prints is photo box pro gallery. Easy set up, you can password protect it and set your own prices.

Do your sums carefully if you really think you'll get a return from flyers and other print media. ie If it costs you £50 to 'set up' you have to be honest with yourself about a break even point on print sales. It's no good aiming for a £1 profit per print and hoping for the best.

It's a common rookie mistake to want to appear really professional until it comes to the pricing. If you're not turning a profit, you're not just 'enjoying your hobby' you're effectively working your day job to subsidise other people's lifestyle, by supplying them with cheap photos.

It's amazing how many photographers can't see that. They think 'well the gears all paid for anyway, I might as well make 'something' back. :mono:
 
I've backed out and put the woman onto a couple of other photographers i know, i don't want to take on 3 rings, one being indoors on my first go at event photography, and thank you for the tips! I know about the safety point and how frustrating it can be if your horse is going lovely and a photographer jumps out of somewhere :)
 
Katie, I think you made the right choice.

Event photography is hard work and I have massive respect to the folks who are able to do this successfully. For starters to sell on site you have to be able to get shots fit for sale with no editing whatsoever - because you will have no time for that! You also need someone to sell the prints while you are out shooting.
Finally, you would be shooting solid from event open to event close - often up to 10 hours without much of a break.

I list this stuff as it is what I used when turning down an MX event last month. The effort involved is massive and that is before the cost outlay of getting viewing stations set up and on site printing (with appropriate backup gear).
 
KatieSun said:
I've backed out and put the woman onto a couple of other photographers i know, i don't want to take on 3 rings, one being indoors on my first go at event photography, and thank you for the tips! I know about the safety point and how frustrating it can be if your horse is going lovely and a photographer jumps out of somewhere :)
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Honestly- good choice. Event photography is 20% taking the actual pics and 80% logistics and business.

Now what you should be doing is finding out who's got the job and asking them for a day's work-ex; not taking photos, but watching how the whole set up is run, especially from the sales/service area!
 
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