| u are trying to sell your horse, you probably | | | | decoration for your photo. The buyer will be more |
| understand the importance of taking good photos. | | | | concerned about your horse’s safety than |
| Unfortunately, many sellers post poor quality photos | | | | about actually buying him. Also, beware trees or |
| of their horses for sale, turning away potential | | | | posts that “grow” out of your |
| buyers, and reducing the value of their horse. | | | | horse’s head or back. |
| Here are several common faux-pas of equine | | | | 4. Using Old Photos |
| photography to avoid. | | | | There is nothing more annoying that to look at a |
| 1. Not Grooming Your Horse | | | | horse that is advertised to be a four-year-old only to |
| It is amazing how many people take photos of their | | | | be shown nothing more recent than his baby pictures. |
| sales horses without grooming them. There is nothing | | | | Make sure that any photos you use to advertise are |
| less attractive to a buyer than a muddy, hairy, | | | | current. If you are advertising your horse as going |
| generally dirty horse who looks as though no one has | | | | under saddle, make sure that you have some photos |
| bothered to take the time to care for him. This is | | | | of him working under saddle. The more recent your |
| particularly true if you are advertising your horse as a | | | | photos are, the better. However, good quality |
| show horse or a stallion prospect. Take the time to | | | | summer photos are better than photos taken in the |
| clean up your horse before photographing. You will | | | | winter when your horse is shaggy and not looking his |
| find it is well worth the effort. | | | | best. |
| 2. Taking Pictures in the Field | | | | 5. Doing it all by Yourself |
| While casual pictures of a horse outside can be nice, | | | | To take good photos, you really need an extra set |
| they are not good sales photos. A horse is not | | | | of hands. With a helper you can have someone set |
| shown off well if he is busy stuffing his face with | | | | up your horse so that he is standing well. A helper |
| grass, or even worse, if he has his head deep into a | | | | can also chase your horse so that he is moving |
| round bale. Pictures of your horse sticking his nose | | | | forward if you are taking free motion photos. Of |
| into the camera, or trying to eat it, are not | | | | course, it is also essential to have a helper if you are |
| particularly becoming. You also should avoid photos | | | | taking photos of your horse under saddle. Too many |
| with a group of horses in them – the buyer | | | | photos are poorly taken due to a lack of assistance, |
| will have a hard time knowing which horse is the one | | | | so call in those favors and get your friends out to |
| for sale. | | | | assist. |
| 3. Bad Backgrounds | | | | 6. Bad Camera Angle |
| It is important to get photographs with backgrounds | | | | The camera lens will distort the picture you take, and |
| that are not especially distracting to the eye. A buyer | | | | you need to compensate for this. Photograph the |
| can’t get a good look at the horse if it is | | | | horse by squatting down enough to have your |
| surrounded by a busy or highly contrasting | | | | eye-level near the middle of the horse’s |
| background. Likewise, barbed wire fencing, old farm | | | | body. Avoid head shots where all you will see is the |
| tools and other dangerous articles are a poor | | | | nose and a tiny body. |