Public Forums > Photography > Equestrian Shoot - end of this month.

I am doing a shoot on a ranch with about 6 models (only 2 males) a few bridal shots for a local bridal botique, but also want to take full advantage of the 80 acre ranch and beautiful Painted Horses (the breed-not actually "painted")  I have a general plan and will be touring the ranch with the owner on Thursday to get a feel for my environment & do some tests shots. I also will be privileaged to have a wonderful International Make Up Artist/Stylist working with me & 2 colleagues joining us in the shoot.  If you had the opportunity to do the shoot, how would you plan for it & what would be your "must have" shots to take...I would love to hear your ideas/suggestions/advice! ~Christine

I'm not going to be much help here but I'm rather jealous.

I LOVE the idea of having a female in a wedding dress atop a grey or black horse.

Or the traditional knight in shining armour thing. Bloke atop a pretty horse and a female await rescue. You have a lot of scope for ideas here.

I would love to see the shots when you are done!

Jet x

Thank you I would LOVE to get my hands on real Knight Armour...oh what a beautiful vision! I LOVE your work by the way...your current profile pic is definitely my fav.  I hope I do the shoot justice, I am a semi-pro...pretty much an ameteur, I mainly do simple family portraits and event photography but have found myself dabbling into fashion/models/art.  I have much growing to do...but I do have a foundation in Art - painting, sculpting, piano, dance...I even love wood work (gotta love those power tools!) It only seemed natural to pick up a camera...it's like instant gratification.  Although there's nothing like a blank canvas, brushes, and inspiration.

Anyway, we'll be visiting with the property owner tomorrow @ sunset and I will be getting a feel for the shoot.  When all is done I'll be happy to send you a link to the album, would love some constructive criticism as well!  Just remember I am in my humble beginnings (o:

~Christine

Hi Christine

That sounds amazing!  It's hard to say exactly what you need to do but I would suggest that since there will be so many models there and artists at your beck and call to get a really clear idea of the brief and what the client wants.  I find it also helps to have a look at the product you are shooting (in this case wedding dresses) and also to do some sketches, like how people do when directing a film.  You probably won't stick to it but having clear focus means you won't spend any time deciding what to do :)

Thank you so much, your words of wisdom are very encouraging! I've read most of your posts in all the forums so I have learned so much from you already. I am absolutely breathe taken, I met with the owner of the ranch yesterday at sunset and I think I could have slept with the horses under the stars! She is giving me free reign on her ranch and the possibilities are ENDLESS!  I will also be cataloging all her horses for her website on another day. The horses, every corner, inch, nook and cranny of the property is beautiful...I couldn't even sleep last night thinking of my "must-have" shots.  I feel like a child going to Disney World for the first time!  I can't even begin to express my excitement! Thank you again for your advice, it definitely helps!

Credits:

Becky's Alterations & Bridal for all the dresses (Forever Yours Design)

Faythe Mesic - Makeup artist www.faythemesic.com

Brandi Tolliver - Guest Pro-photog

Redner Salonga (New IP Recruit and Tog) - for his extra hand in shooting and giving special individual attention to the models while I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Location: Double A Ranch

Also of course, you gorgeous models!

My note/blog I posted in my other network profiles:

SOOOOO AWESOME! Fun, exciting, crazy, and beautiful...OMG can't even describe it...but I DID learn many lessons here...My first "Group" shoot with many models so I knew it would be an interesting learning experience. Could not have done it with out everyone, especially my husband...who could hardly take shots of his own because he was so busy running around making sure everyone was in place, had what they needed, etc.

Special Thanks to our new recruit and IP photographer Redner Erald Salonga, you did awesome just a little fine tuning but we all need that! You totally captured the moment in your pictures and gave the models the special attention that I couldn't give.

So, easier said than done…but all my previous ideas will eventually come to fruition since we have a partnership with the Ranch Owner. Not so easy to give the special attention I wanted to with SO many models and everybody asking me “what next?” and DUDE…I kept stepping in piles of poop! I had a general idea of what to do, but kind of approached it as let’s do this thing and I’ll learn as we go.

So I will be recruiting a volunteer few to help out with minor details, I will definitely structure it better next time now that I know what to expect – bring food & water for everyone, and have extra hands to do errands and such!

The humid weather messed up everyone’s hair but all in all we still have some GREAT shots…The combination of 4 camera’s going it was wonderful to have the extra hands and amazing to see the different styles we all have. I was also a little stressed about the dresses getting dirty…so we’ve been inspecting them and cleaning them up this morning, nothing major and they survived!

Everyone benefited from the whole thing, the models will have more shots for their portfolio – or just to boost their network profiles. Becky’s Alts & Bridal has shots that she can post in her bridal boutique. Faythe has plenty of pics for her folio as well and may even use some to publish in the Jacksonville Magazine and her website…Erald got more practice shooting models and got to use one of our bigger lenses on his camera. Brandi also got to experience a model shoot – which she normally does families and babies.

The Ranch has great exposure by all of us publishing their pictures on our websites…everyone blessed indeed!

To see more of the pics go to my website www.integrityphotography.net

Next shoot…I want to go to the bamboo forest that we discovered recently…FUN!

Sincerely,

Christine Bryant (cbryantsmile)

Wow, the photos are great! Thanks for sharing that :) It was really interesting to read what goes on 'behind the scenes' of preparing for a photo shoot and all those other details.

Hey its great to see all the detais and see the images - a lot of work goes into making the best pictures thats or sure!