What's your Day Rate?

[rkee]

To Shoot Equine Events. You need to be aware of the the type of event and the type of shots need depending on the Breed and the gait . To shoot walking horses are very different then quarter horses. on the rail class is different then hunter jumpers. Each breed is looking for the right shot and the correct foot fall of the horse . There can be alot to taking on an equine shoot . Indoor arena with fast moving horses and low lighting is just for starts . If your going to sell your images you have to get the shot and get it fast . You also have to be in the ring and in the mix of a large class on sometimes 30 plus horses at one time . Then there is raining and rodeo ... lol is a whole different ball of wax,

For the most part show manages pay your rate and your expenses . Room ,meals ,mileage .

Then to build a relationship with the entries is a must it help if you know horses and how is hot and on top and there to promote their new stallion . So there is a good bit then just getting the gig and knowing your camera .

But good luck

[justjenny]

Ooh-- casual hunter/jumper photographer and rider here. Cool to know that there's people who do it professionally on the forum!

[rkee]

Glad to meet you Jenny .>>>. Past hunter jumper rider, dressage and Champion Tennessee Walking horse owner. Married a nice Texas Cattle farmer and been to my share of Rodeo's and photographer of several shows

[StevenGWebb]

Originally Posted by rkee

To Shoot Equine Events. You need to be aware of the the type of event and the type of shots need depending on the Breed and the gait . To shoot walking horses are very different then quarter horses. on the rail class is different then hunter jumpers. Each breed is looking for the right shot and the correct foot fall of the horse . There can be alot to taking on an equine shoot . Indoor arena with fast moving horses and low lighting is just for starts . If your going to sell your images you have to get the shot and get it fast . You also have to be in the ring and in the mix of a large class on sometimes 30 plus horses at one time . Then there is raining and rodeo ... lol is a whole different ball of wax,

For the most part show manages pay your rate and your expenses . Room ,meals ,mileage .

Then to build a relationship with the entries is a must it help if you know horses and how is hot and on top and there to promote their new stallion . So there is a good bit then just getting the gig and knowing your camera .

But good luck

After 5 years of shooting breed shows, gaited horses, driving events, hunter jumpers and western horses of all manner I think I've got it now. I'm fairly versed in timing and getting the shots. I've got three rings worth of lights and hardware, and plenty of production gear. What I was interested in finding is what it's likely to cost me to hire someone who doesn't know beans and train them to cover a ring of hunter jumpers.

So far as show management paying the rate and picking up the expenses, that's a dream world or an opinion from days long past. Today the management is more likely to charge the photographer a vendor fee like the tack guy or supplement salesman. It's not the world that it once was.

Steve

[rkee]

Steve it sounds like you then have a handle on it . I must be dealing with different show managers .

[Magus]

I am curious as to how your situation worked out?

My wife and I have been around horse shows for 40+ years and know a number of "show photographers" and I have done a few myself but I have not run across someone who actually brought their own photographer to a show.

BTW: Equines Photographers Network seems to have a decent size membership.

Scott

[StevenGWebb]

Originally Posted by Magus

I am curious as to how your situation worked out?

My wife and I have been around horse shows for 40+ years and know a number of "show photographers" and I have done a few myself but I have not run across someone who actually brought their own photographer to a show.

BTW: Equines Photographers Network seems to have a decent size membership.

Scott

I shot the event shorthanded and it worked out OK.

It has become somewhat fashionable for a barn or group of barns to bring along a photographer. It works out, I guess. In this case the barn photographer only photographs members of the specific barn(s), so his workload is much lighter than the official show photographer who's photographing everyone. These, private shooters usually have a daily rate and are handing over the images. Its a sure set amount money maker for them. No inventory, no production costs, no promotional expense.

I have ran into these guys at several shows. When someone else is shooting the same direction, near the same angle, and has pro gear, the question usually comes up, "who are you shooting for?" Often the answer is, "XYZ Stables has me shooting all their rides".

The way the market is now, it's not a bad idea.

Steve

[Magus]

Smart move! We were at a show in Scottsdale in few years back and because I was carrying "pro type" equipement, I was challenged a few times as to who I was working for. Acutally, since we had a horse in the event it was no big deal but I do remeber the "pro" that the show hired gave me a hard time and after seeing the proofs she did for my horse, I asked her not to waste her time. I never heard another word!

Sounds like a business plan to me..