It’s All About The Brand

How To Choose The Right Style for Your Equine Branding Photo Session

It’s no secret FOLKS… a photo that “WOW’s” leaves a lasting impression. 

Even more, the story behind the photo is what connects with your audience. 

Envision this. Your small business, Mustang Ranch Rescue, is finally drawing the attention you’ve been hoping for. The last two groups of rescues adopted out. And you’re about to hit the Saturday kill pen to rescue twenty more. 

Your “Mustang Show & Tell” program seems to be your biggest attraction. People are loving the opportunity to see your recovered Mustangs in action. Not to mention the chance to get up close and personal to look in their eyes to the depths of their soul. 

This business takes everything you’ve got — grit and finances.

The budget is tight. Every penny goes to rescuing and feeding your precious herd. 

Fundraising is the only thing keeping you financially afloat. Well… and about 20 volunteers. The last two events just haven’t brought in what you expected or needed to survive. What’s the answer?

Friends suggest using an Equine Branding Photographer. To dial in some pictures to represent WHO you are and WHAT you do to help with your ad campaigns.

Folks, that’s when the magic happened. 

Because you train your Mustangs to become cattle ranching horses the photographer used a local ranch to create your imagery. You and your staff got all decked out. Boots, chaps, hats, wild rags, buckles, lariat ropes. The WORKS. The horses spruced up too in their best leathers.

The horse images were definitely show stoppers. The photographer highlighted the mustangs sheer beauty, raw ability, and gentled spirits. The imagery showed you and your team as compassionate, knowledgeable, and skilled. Even a little Badass.

People flooded to your events and the adoption wait list was a mile long. Gamer changer.

Can all this be the result of specifically chosen attire and a well-crafted photo shoot? Yes Ma’am.

A branding photo engineered to get the viewer to… buy, endorse, read about, ACT. 

But, how do you do that? 

By creating photography to inspire your audience.

Equine branding photography is a horse of a different color. A story behind the photo is paramount. 

Need some help figuring out how and why to brand your business? Read all about it here.

Leave an Impression

Think about famous advertisements, popular television shows, or even celebrities. What do you remember? What stands out? Their distinctive style. Outback Steakhouse’s Aussie guy in his regalia. The exiled princess in Game of Thrones. The wrangler driving his new Ford F-150. Mustang Maddie, the iconic female horse whisperer.

In your mind’s eye, you might not remember what they wore. But, you recall their image or style created by their look. This is the exact approach you must take with the outfits you wear in your images as you represent your brand. Subtle yet specific.

Tried and True Tips to Create the Look to Propel Your Brand

First, Connect Your Outfit with Your Theme

What is the theme of your brand? What do you want to capture with your photos? The outfits you choose and the accessories you wear will make or break your story line. If you wear something too bold or flashy, YOU will be the focal point of the image. Not the message of your brand. 

Like the Mustang Ranch, pick outfits to tell your story. What does your business offer? 

Do you sell custom western pleasure show tack? If so, your outfit should be western pleasure show attire. Bring out all the stops. Relate to your ideal customer who is preparing for the National Championships. Wanting to feel their best to bring home the title. Finding a slight edge over their competition. 

A burgundy blouse, black hat, jeans, and chaps against your gray Quarter horse. The perfect combination to show off the silver flair of your show tack. A crafted appearance to make your tack stand out. 

Maybe you sell supplements for the equine industry. Your ideal client has a star-studded boutique breeding farm. Your brand theme is trust and dependability. Your customer wants to know your product will give her broodmares the nutrition they need to grow a mighty fine foal.

Your style should represent a confident and knowledgeable business owner. Jeans, boots, and a pressed white or light blue shirt. Professional. 

Are you promoting a western stitched show shirt? A bright blue or green is the perfect pop of color against any horse. Add an ivory hat and rope halter on your horse...BAM where do you gaze? On the shirt of course. Your viewer visualizes themselves in the shirt. Fearless. Distinct. Daring. 

Inspiring your customer should always be your goal.

Second, Choose an Outfit and Location to Engage Your Audience

Your branding photography session is an opportunity to create photos that catch your customer’s attention. Do something out of the ordinary. Create images to make your viewer think “I want to do that!” Encourage them to dream big. Does the story behind the photo connect with them? Get your buyers to think about their own herd? Try a new product?

Like a branding session for Hermes saddles at the beach. Your finest boots, breeches, and helmet stand out against the simplicity of sand and water. EVERY equestrian has a fantasy of riding on the beach. Galloping in shallow water, with the wind in their face. Entice your audience. Give them the confidence to haul their horse out to the beach and take the ride of their dreams.

An open field of trees sets the perfect stage for marketing a red woven saddle pad. The subtle background colors don’t distract the viewer’s eye from the branding focus. If your horse is chestnut or a bay, blues and greens are a great shirt color choice. Wear a red wild rag that matches the pad and WOWZA, what an image. Captivate your audience with the beauty of nature. Draw them into the photo. Empower them. Give them the confidence to ride anywhere, united with their horse.

Draw your audience into your photo. Show them what you want them to see. A simple photo, leading your customer to act. 

Effective merchandising. 

Third, What Colors Work Best?

When deciding on the feel for your Equine Branding Photography session select colors a few shades darker or lighter than the horses you’ll be working with. 

Black and gray horses can easily pull off bold and dramatic.

If your goal is to make a showy statement with your brand imagery think about the opportunities with these color combinations. Maybe you’re marketing your “new for the season” riding helmet to the local pony club. A young rider with a raspberry helmet galloping on her black shetland pony is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. 

Grey horses pair best with dark colors like deep sapphire, emerald, or burgundy. Stay away from neutral colors as they will blend in with your horse. If you are advertising all-purpose splint boots in the hottest fashion color burgundy. Use a grey horse to make those boots pop. 

Lighter colors are best for dark horses to contrast their coat. White, light pastels, icy colors, even light vibrant colors work well. Are you selling a white and silver beaded show halter and browband? Command attention with a jet black Arabian holding a magnificent pose.

If you have a chestnut or Palomino, go for complementary colors in shades of blue or green. Like aqua, teal, royal blue, navy, and hunter green. Or shades of purple like violet or plum.

If your horse is brown, Buckskin or a Paint, try dark blues, greens, and reds.

Refrain from picking an outfit for branding photography that looks great on you but isn’t the right look or color for the photo. You want your viewer to see the theme of your brand, not you.

Follow these steps and your images will work as they are designed. As a call to action. 

Don’t hesitate. Get the branding photography you need.

Fast Horse Photography is the solution for powerful stock and custom images to communicate the story of your equine business brand. Contact us today.