Equine Photography Perth: What to Expect From an Outdoor Horse & Owner Session
Your horse doesn't need to be perfectly behaved, perfectly clean or know how to pose for the camera.
They just need to be themselves.
A professional equine photography session is about more than taking a few beautiful photographs. It's about slowing down and documenting the connection, personality and little details that make your horse so special to you.
If you've never had a professional session with your horse before, here's what you can expect.
Before your session
Every session begins with a little planning.
We'll chat about your horse, what you'd love to capture and how you'd like your final photographs to feel. We'll talk through locations, outfits, colours and any ideas you have for your session so that everything feels considered without feeling overly staged.
I'll also send you everything you need to help prepare, from what to bring to grooming tips and what to expect on the day.
On the day
There's no need to arrive feeling like your horse has to be on their absolute best behaviour.
Horses are horses, and I expect them to have their own opinions about things.
We'll give them time to settle in and I'll work at their pace wherever possible. I don't expect you to know how to pose, either. I'll gently guide you through where to stand, how to interact with your horse and how to create those beautiful moments of connection.
Some of the best photographs happen in between the planned ones.
A quiet moment together.
A soft nuzzle.
The way your horse looks at you.
A favourite scratch.
A little bit of personality that makes you smile.
Those are the moments I want to preserve.
We won't rush
Equine sessions are relaxed and unhurried.
If your horse needs a break, we take one. If something isn't working, we'll try something different. Sometimes a horse needs a little time to settle before they're ready to give us their best.
There's no pressure to make everything perfect.
My job is to watch, guide and create opportunities for beautiful photographs while allowing your horse's personality to come through naturally.
What we'll photograph
Your session will include a mixture of beautiful portraits and candid moments.
Depending on your horse and the location, this might include:
Elegant individual portraits
Images of you and your horse together
Quiet moments of connection
Movement and action
Close-up details such as eyes, ears and markings
Environmental portraits that capture your horse within their surroundings
The goal isn't simply to create photographs of what your horse looks like.
It's to create photographs that remind you of how it felt to be with them.
After your session
Once your session is finished, I'll show you a few photos on the camera, then once I’m home and rested I will begin the process of carefully selecting and hand-finish the strongest images from your session.
We'll then meet for your viewing and ordering appointment, where you'll see your photographs for the first time and choose the images and artwork you love.
Whether you choose a beautiful piece of wall art for your home, an album filled with your favourite memories, or something smaller to treasure, your photographs are created to be enjoyed for years to come.
“Chel drove down from Perth to Margaret River and stayed the night. Before the shoot she went out and had a walk around the property to look for the best places to take the photos. She explained what the process would be, but didn’t overwhelm me, she was so patient and calm throughout the whole experience. She is amazing with horses and dogs and even when the horses took a minute to settle or just wanted to eat the grass the whole atmosphere felt under control.
The shoot itself was fantastic, I didn’t realise how much I would enjoy it. So professional yet personal and everything ran so smoothly. Every time I started to panic a bit Chel calmed the situation down!
I was very nervous to see the final photos and to see what she had captured, I had not idea what to expect. I quickly realised there was no need to be nervous though. We sat down after dinner and went through the photos, they hadn’t even been edited yet and I still couldn’t believe how amazing they looked! I couldn’t believe that was me and my horses on the screen.
Chel’s photos make my heart smile every time I see them. It was the gift to myself that I didn’t even know I needed, or how much I would treasure the images. ”