The Journal
A Horse Owners Guide To Photography
Feb 2, 2025
Hey! I’m Olivia Greenland {Photography}. As an equestrian & photographer based in the scenic Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley, I travel far and wide to capture the exquisite beauty of horses. Join me as I delve into the techniques of how to capture the best of our beloved horses!
When To Photograph Your Horse
The time of day, the colour of the horse, the weather, & geographical location all work together to dictate what would be the best time of day to photograph your horse. Often the middle of the day is avoided by photographers as it always has an abundance of light that can be overpowering. I have learned to welcome it in deep wooded forests that the Greater Vancouver area has; being in a Pacific Northwest climate & a Boreal Rainforest ecosystem.
If you want to embrace the beauty & rich energy of the old growth forests; there is what I call the magic hours! From about 1pm to 3pm; even on the darkest of rainy days – you’ll see strong beams of light force their ways through the thick forest canopy. If you are going for a location that is wide open & has a clear access to the sky; you’ll want to avoid 1-3pm. Aim for morning or evening. The transition of late morning afternoon & the late afternoon to early evening is also beautiful & offers a bit more light than sunrise & sunset. Remember how I mentioned even the colour of your horse can dictate best time of day? If you have a horse with lots of white; you’ll want to avoid harsh sunlight as that white just reflects it like crazy! However, if you have a black horse; lean into that harsher sunlight to help bring out all those details that are always hidden in the shadows.
Grooming Your Horse For a Photoshoot
Some horses may require more work like a palomino, grey, cremello, pintos— or ones with large white stockings, manes, & tails. They may require a bath to freshen up those lighter colours. Utilizing wraps & blankets to help keep the dirt at bay from your hard work; is essential. On the days leading up to the shoot; take the time to go through a full grooming process with them. Start with the curry comb. The curry comb helps to bring all the dirt & dust to the surface while giving your horse a nice massage. After that use the dandy brush; this one has hard bristles. This acts as a broom to get all that dirt off your horse. Now it’s time for the body brush. This one will have soft bristles. It guides the oils back into the hair & removes the fine layer of remaining dust. The body brush creates a beautiful shine. Grooming a horse is like an art at times. When it comes to the mane & tail— the more work you do with your hands versus a brush, the better. Work on gently pulling the strands of hair apart from one another— separating each strand one by one. This can become a very meditative process. It was one of my favourite things to do late at night at the barn. Braiding is a great way to help keep the mane & tail clean. However for horses who are turned out it’s always important to exercise caution. For the mane— you’ll want to leave the start of the braid loose so that they can easily reach their head down to the ground to graze; without the hair being tight as they extend their neck. However; tighter is better as you work your way down so that it isn’t as easily caught on things. Electrical tape seems to be better for horses being turned out rather than elastics. Tail & mane bags can be very helpful as well for protecting your braids. Tails— are best done with a simple French style braid. Securing the shorter strands at the top & working your way down, collecting the hair as you go. If the flies are bad— leave a large bit of the bottom loose for them to easily swat flies with; or utilize a tail bag with good fringe.
Where to Photograph Your Horse
I think this simply comes down to the aesthetic & personality of the horse & owner. Dramatic shots with the horse up on higher elevation or with a wide angle is always fun! If you’re closer to the horse it can be a quirky wide angle shot— Or get the horse on higher elevation to capture their mass. The dramatic shots often shows the greatness of their size. Of course, if they are sale photos— then you’ll want level ground to show off the horse in an honest way. However; you absolutely can find a way to compliment your horses confirmation and find different ground to help them appear more level when taking photos. Now if you’re doing portraits with your horse— a beautiful nod to your equestrian journey could be to go back to the first trail you ever rode on. Or perhaps the location you choose serves as a bucket list day & a reason to make it happen— sunset beach images & memories as you gallop through the ocean waves; is closer than you think. Simply book a complimentary consultation— right here!
Capture Your Horses Legacy With Photography
There’s definitely a lot of things to take into account— isn’t there? At the end of the day even if the conditions aren’t perfect, capture the moments with your horse. One day your photos & videos become all you have left. Besides maybe a beautiful bundle of tail hair— one that you spent many hours meticulously working through with your hands. Dry & calloused hands in the summer, frozen in the winter— any cuts the hair’s would be sure to find them. Every little minute spent with them is still held in your hands. All those simple photos of your horse are so meaningful. That’s why if you hire me to take photos of you and your horse; we will create something impactful. Imagine bringing your horse into your home with timeless handmade canvases— that become a mixed media art blending the lines between photo & painting. Featuring grand size options to make it feel like your horse is right there with you. Let’s book a consult to start talking about your vision today. Remember this… It isn’t just about capturing your horses legacy. It’s also about capturing your legacy as an equestrian. It can be one of the most gruelling, rewarding, humiliating, & life changing rides to take in life. Head on over to Olivia Greenland Photography to learn more about me.
