What to Expect...

Your photo shoot will last approximately one hour, depending on location.  Prior to your session we have a discussion about what you would most like to see in your resulting photos, and a little bit about the personality of your critters so I can capture who they are to the best of my ability. 

Depending on the type of shoot set up, we may need to acclimate your horse (or dogs, cats, guinea pigs) to the studio lights being close to them. Don't worry, we've never had one that didn't adjust.

You can choose to put your horse in a bridle or halter, or if temperament and space allows, free standing without anything on the head. We can do all of the above as well.

In the case of shooting horses, a few things can help ensure your photos will come out looking spectacular. 
  • Enlist a friend to assist with "getting ears".  This is pivotal for your shoot.  If you cannot locate someone to help, please let Allie know. 
  • Pick an appointment time where the barn is quiet and you have free use of the barn aisle. Avoid scheduling farrier or vet appointments at the same time as your shoot.  
  • Clean looks brilliant! Groom Groom Groom your horse, including pulling mane (if applicable), painting hooves, using a coat conditioner.  An Important note--please do not use baby oil or vaseline on the face--it does not work well with this type of photo.
  • Clean tack, including bit. High resolution photos will show every little bit of dirt. While photoshop can clean up most major dirt chunks, starting out as clean as can be is fab. 
  • Bring his or her favorite treat, and many of them.
  • Teach your horse to pick up a treat from the ground. Weird, yes, but it comes in very handy :)
  • Clean up your barn aisle (sweep floor, clean up clutter)
  • Dress nicely or in something that you wouldn't mind captured in photos--I love to snap a few pictures of horses with their owners.  You can always deny their existence, but it's nice to have that option :).  PS, ladies? You are not fat, you are absolutely gorgeous, stop being hard on yourself. 

When will you get your photos?

Typically I try to get you a "taste" of your photo shoot within a few days.  Editing the full shoot can take upwards of three weeks, but is typically done within 14 days. 
When finished, your photos will be made available on my ordering site, located here: 

Zenfolio Ordering

Other frequently asked questions

- Do you sell CDs with your images?
    At this time I do not sell CD's with all of your images.  I do, however, send you all of the edited images from your shoot in digital format.  They are lower resolution images that are suitable for sharing online, on websites, and via email. I do not sell full resolution images or sell "full rights" to images. 
- Can I print the photos from my shoot? 
  The digital images will print in small format, but for larger prints you will need to order from my site.  This is to ensure quality control, and to help offset the costs of maintaining my website.  I've set my print costs very low to allow you to buy prints affordably, but come from a very high-quality lab that ensures your prints will last for generations. 
 - How do you take the pictures with the black background? 
Despite looking like I have a black backdrop, I do not :)  The "low-key" effect is a combination of external lighting with modifiers, and a specific exposure from the camera. The short answer is "skill, patience and experience!"
- Can I let a sponsor use the images for advertising? 
   It depends.  Please have sponsors contact me for pricing on commercial use of the photos from your shoot. 
- What type of camera do you use? 
  I shoot with Canon gear