Capture the Magic: Tips for Stunning Holiday Photos of Your Horse This Season

Holiday Photos for Horse Lovers

Don’t you just love getting mail in the month of December? All the beautiful Christmas cards bringing joy and holiday cheer to your home. Especially the ones from your horsey friends who seem to have the best equine family photo ideas. 

Ever wonder how your friends get those beautiful holiday pictures with their horses for their social media feeds and Christmas cards?  Taking unique holiday horse images can be tough. After all, you are dealing with a 1000-pound animal with a mind of its own. 

Here are some quick horse photography tips to ensure that your equine holiday photoshoot turns out looking amazing.

Tips for Taking Holiday Photos with Your Horse:

Accessorize: 

Do you want amazing horsey Christmas decor images? 

Choose holiday themed accessories, including accessories made specifically for horses. Craft stores, thrift stores, and online equine merchants have so many options available to ensure your horse is dressed festively this season. 

Look for colorful ribbons, holiday garlands, and ready-made equine holiday apparel such as Santa hats, sleigh bells, and reindeer antlers. These all make fantastic props to place on your horse or in your horse’s environment.

Practice: 

One of the best things you can do to ensure taking holiday photos with your horse is a success, is to practice. Spend time desensitizing your horse to your new holiday themed props. Hang out with your horse in the location that you hope to take the pictures so they will feel at ease spending time there.

Prepare your Horse: 

For stunning holiday horse images, plan to give your horse a bath on the day you will photograph them. Horses with lots of dirt under their coats will appear lusterless in photographs. 

Clean horses often have a beautiful healthy shine on camera. Depending on how you like your horse to look, consider trimming, body clipping, braiding manes and tails, or applying hoof polish.

Find a Helper: 

Grab a horse knowledgeable friend to assist with holding your horse or helping you create a calm and interested expression on your horse's face. Don’t forget to get those ears up!

Look for the Light: 

Some of the best equine holiday photographs are taken during the early morning or late afternoon hours when the light is soft and positioned just above the horizon. If you find yourself having to shoot in the middle of the day, stand with the sun behind you and directed at your horse. 

Taking a few practice shots is a great way to make sure you are happy with the angle of the shadows. Don't be afraid to move around your horse to find better lighting options.

Unclutter the Background: 

Find a location to photograph your horse that is free of distracting elements. Muck buckets, wheel barrels and discarded tractor equipment in the background of your equine images can take the focus away from your main subject... your horse! Driveways, open pastures, the side of a barn all can be great locations. 

Choose a background that complements your horse's color. For example, a dark colored horse can disappear against a dark background.

Hire a Professional: 

Everybody has a cell phone in their pocket. 

However, professional equine photography requires skill, extensive practice, knowledge of both photography and horse behavior, and an understanding of equine conformation. 

A professional equine photographer can anticipate moments and capture them quickly. Additionally, professional photographers can often take an image from good to stunning with the use of editing programs, delivering you a beautiful final image that is ready for print. Equine images done right become more than just a snapshot. They become a piece of art to cherish for a lifetime.  

Cara Taylor Swift is an equine and equestrian photographer, carving her niche in the United States' oldest city, St. Augustine, FL. With a passion for horses and an artistic eye, she has become renowned as the equine portrait specialist behind the lens at Fast Horse Photography, where she tells captivating stories through custom equine-inspired wall art for her equestrian clients.

Cara, a versatile creative, has expanded her reach into podcasting. She co-hosts and produces "Cowgirls with Cameras" and "The Business Animal," where she combines her passion for photography with equestrian expertise, offering engaging discussions and valuable advice for the animal industry. In addition, Cara has released her first book co-authored with Betsy Bird of Ride the Sky Photography, "Equine & Equestrian Photography Poses that Sell: The Ultimate Guide to Posing Horses and Humans," further showcasing her deep knowledge and commitment to the field. This book quickly became an “Amazon Hot New Release.”

Cara actively develops emerging equine photographers through Cowgirls with Cameras, leading workshops, retreats, and immersive experiences. As a dedicated equine photography mentor and leader, she offers personalized coaching to aspiring photographers, focusing on building successful businesses through in-person sales. Committed to education and community, she empowers new talents to establish their unique presence in the equine photography world.

Cara is a lifelong equestrian and horse owner, and her photography is ignited by her profound love for her own horses and the art of storytelling. Her innate ability to connect with horses and their owners allows her to capture timeless moments that transcend the ordinary, evoking emotions that resonate deeply with those who behold her work.

Cara enjoys traveling with her family, being a "soccer mom," loving on her labrador fur babies, and spending time with her horses at the barn. Her deep passion for horses and photography is evident in all her roles, whether as a photographer, podcast co-host, photography workshop host, or mentor.