For Horse Show Photographers

[StevenGWebb]

Anyone within driving distance to OKC with experience with Stock Horse shows and pref. the facility to fulfill on-site open the 17th and 18th of Sept. for a clinic and open show? Indoor arena. Must have online examples or gallery for review.

I was asked to cover the event but I am booked. Yes, short notice but its good as I got.

Totally speculation
Vendor fee waived for trade-in-kind of awards shots and misc promo pics
Exclusivity for pro photos
PA Announcements and recognition during the show

Reply by PM if interested.

[Karebear98]

I would love to get into horse show photography as I showed horses for MANY years at various levels. If anyone knows how to break in, let me know.

[StevenGWebb]

Kara,

What kind of horse shows?

[Karebear98]

I showed open and registered. I did everything from western pleasure to hunter jumper. Halter, confirmation, horsemanship, barrels, you name it! I've got plenty of belt buckles, trophies, and ribbons to prove it. Those were the days!

[StevenGWebb]

As you know there are daylight and dark differences in shows and disciplines. I've never done well with Western style rides. I've done open shows with rail work, trail, halter classes and Western Pleasure shows. None have been profitable. Barrels are exciting and fun to shoot but if a competitor isn't in the numbers they pack up and leave. Its difficult to get them to look at pictures unless its their first go, or they win something. So out of 300 runs I only see about 1% conversion to buying customers. Also, unless it's a final in a series there is little reason to shoot it.

Hunter Jumpers constitute the lion's share of what I do now. Again, there are local shows and B-C rated shows in abundance. Not many professionals go after these because the attendance is low and the same competitors show at the same handful of venues over and over. A and AA rated shows are where you want to be and that puts you in competition with the rest of the pros. Tough shell to crack. It takes a lot of effort and a small fortune in equipment to do these shows since many of them are held at least in part in covered and indoor arenas.

AQHA shows are another ball of wax. These folks are all about the win shots. That's the posed formal picture of the horse, rider, staff, owners and family along with all the prizes like the saddle, jackets, buckles and such. It takes an enormous outlay in background, decorations and lighting to make these folks happy. At $50/8X10 it takes a long time to recover the initial capital outlay.

Cutting and reigning, again usually in an indoor facility requiring lighting and the ability to get an excellent picture in one-shot. Of course these folks want the action shot and an awards shot. You don't get many chances.

Competitive trail riding is becoming a popular event. Again there are lots of little events with 15-20 people who ride every weekend, somewhere. While some of the most beautiful pictures I've ever taken have come from these, I've never made a profit at one. There just isn't enough volume of riders. There also are too many associations. I've worked with two of them and there are at least two others and yet one more has been spun off. It's almost as if they have their backyard sandbox to play in and when someone gets his feelings hurt he builds his own sandbox. To my knowledge none of these associations are members of the USEF.

Breed shows, like TN Walking Horses, Morgans, or Arabs are far and above the best shows to work. The work is all from center ring and the official photographer has the only opportunity to shoot. The photographer will shoot 70-100 shots of each horse (which on a good show can number 300-500) the customer (owner/rider/trainer) will be looking for that one perfectly timed shot at just the right angle. You can sell multiple prints of the same image when you nail that one perfect shot. Generally that's all they are looking for, one picture. Lots of work, yes and lots of feeling unappreciated for the failed attempts. But with it clicks, man it clicks. And with the volume of exhibitors, it clicks often enough to make it worth while. Some of these shows require formal attire, up to and including a tux for evening sessions.

I can't tell you exactly how to get into the business. Just like all forms from commercial to wedding to portrait the best thing is to find a professional who you can intern under then either join forces and work as an allie or move on and work with the contacts you make along the way.

If you were in Atlanta the next two weekends I might could use you for a HJ show.

Best of luck with your endeavors.
Steven