Why I Photograph Horses
I'd like to use my first blog post to introduce myself and offer a little of my background history. I began taking photography seriously over 25 years ago. My first paid gig was working with a wedding studio in Cincinnati Ohio USA. I photographed a wedding every weekend, sometimes two. I did this for 3 years before starting my own business. I've photographed everything from products, newborns, portraits, and of course weddings.
I moved to England around 14 years ago. I continued to photograph weddings and portraits here in England. Currently, I live in the small village of Wolverley, just outside of Kidderminster, and luckily there are quite a few horses around! While I still do a lot of different types of photography, I have chosen equine and portraits as the main focus of my work.
Why Equine Photography?
In May of 2023, I decided to get involved with equine photography. I did so for two reasons. The first reason, is I love horses! Like so many people, as a kid I wanted a horse, but it never worked out. When I was around 11 years old, I was injured by a pony. After the swelling went down and the bruises and cuts healed, I experienced something new and unsettling. I found myself nervous and ill at ease around the horses I had always loved. I wasn't able to get back on a horse or ride again for a very long time, and when I did, I found it a little scary. I felt unsure about being up close with horses and sharing the same space.
The second and most important reason was to face the fear of that incident as a young boy. I wanted to overcome my uncomfortableness with the animals that I had always loved and once enjoyed being around. In March of 2023, I requested on Facebook (to my surrounding community), asking people who had horses, if they would allow me to photograph them. I met a few kind, wonderful people who allowed me to photograph their horses and I worked with the horses from a short distance. I also met a few, very special people, who went beyond just allowing me to photograph their horses, they also helped me to understand what made a successful equine photograph. They reassured me, answered my questions, and helped me slowly regain my confidence.
I wanted to know more, I wanted to learn more about equine photography so I bought a few books. The books offered very little information on horses. They were packed full of tips on how to use a camera and the settings that I already knew. I realized that what I wanted to learn and what I wanted was to understand the horse better—the behaviors, how they communicate through body language and vocalizations, and what it all means. Most importantly I wanted to learn about their welfare, what made them comfortable, and how to safely interact with them. I wanted to know how to reassure them that I wasn't a threat and in turn reassure myself that they were not a threat to me. I've watched many training videos and read as many equestrian articles related to behavior as I could find. I've bought a book on equine behavior and behavioral science relating to the horses we care for, keep, and train. I've learned not only what not to do, but what to do and how to do it without stressing the horse. The more I learned, the more comfortable I felt around them. I learned how to approach a horse safely, and how to introduce my camera and the gear I use. I've barely scratched the surface and there is so much yet to discover about horses for me. I enjoy being around horses again, I'm comfortable working with the horse and owner to get the best possible results. The most important factor in my choice though is how much I enjoy the time I get to spend with the horses. Even on cold and rainy or overcast days, I look forward to going out and meeting a horse.
In July of this year, I decided that I wanted to focus on Equine Photography as my primary specialty. While my journey is just beginning, I am excited and energized. I look forward to meeting new horses and growing and not just as an Equine photographer. I want to learn more about these amazing sentient beings. My appreciation of the horse grows with my knowledge as does my affection for them.
I am reassured by the dedication and commitment of the people in the Equine community. It has been enriching and inspiring. They are a community like no other. They have welcomed me, supported me, and have taught me and for that, I am forever grateful.