How to get started with horse photography: 7 essential tips for beginners
Updated: Oct 20
Have you always dreamed of taking beautiful photographs of horses, but you're not sure where to start?
Maybe you've just bought your first camera. Or perhaps you've been photographing your own horse for years and want to take your photography to the next level.
The good news? You don't need the most expensive camera, years of experience or perfect locations to start creating beautiful horse photographs.
You just need to understand a few important basics.
I'm Eliane van Schaik, a professional equine photographer and educator, and today I'm sharing seven essential tips to help you get started with horse photography.
1. Get comfortable with your camera
Before you start worrying about creating the perfect photograph, take some time to understand your camera. Learn how shutter speed, aperture and ISO work together.
These three settings are the foundation of photography, and understanding them will give you so much more creative freedom.
For example, when photographing a horse standing still, I often start with:
Shutter speed: 1/800 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 200–400
Of course, these are just starting points. Your settings will depend on the available light and the situation.
Want a little help remembering which settings to use?
2. Start with horses you already know
One of the best ways to practice horse photography is by photographing horses you're already familiar with. Maybe that's your own horse, a friend's horse or horses at your local stable. Working with familiar horses allows you to experiment without the pressure of a paying client.
Try different camera angles, compositions and lighting situations.
And most importantly, enjoy the process! Every photoshoot is an opportunity to learn something new.
3. Learn to understand horse behavior
This is something I believe every equine photographer should take seriously.
Horses are incredibly sensitive animals, and understanding their body language is essential.
Learn to recognize when a horse is relaxed, curious, distracted or uncomfortable.
Pay attention to their ears, eyes, facial expressions and overall body language.
Never force a horse into a situation just to create a beautiful photograph.
A beautiful photograph should never come at the expense of the horse's wellbeing.
The more you understand horses, the easier it becomes to anticipate their movements and capture natural expressions.
4. Discover the power of natural light
You don't need studio lights or expensive equipment to create beautiful horse photographs. Natural light can be absolutely magical.
Personally, I love photographing during golden hour, shortly after sunrise or before sunset.
The light is softer, warmer and often creates a beautiful atmosphere.
But don't limit yourself to golden hour!
Cloudy days can also provide gorgeous, soft lighting that's perfect for portraits.
Start experimenting with different lighting conditions and discover what you love.
5. Pay attention to your composition
Composition plays an important role in how your image feels. Before taking a photograph, ask yourself:
Is the background distracting?
Am I photographing from a flattering angle?
Is there enough space around the horse?
Where do I want the viewer's attention to go?
One of my favorite tips is to experiment with your camera height.
Instead of always photographing while standing, try lowering yourself closer to the horse's eye level. You'll be surprised how much this can change the feeling of your image.
6. Don't try to photograph everything perfectly
When you're just starting out, it's easy to become frustrated when your photographs don't turn out the way you imagined. Maybe the horse moves at the wrong moment. Maybe the light changes. Or maybe your camera settings aren't quite right.
Photography is a skill you develop through experience.
Instead of expecting every photograph to be perfect, focus on learning something from every session. Look at your photographs afterwards.
What worked well? What would you do differently next time?
That's how you grow.
7. Find inspiration, but develop your own style
When you're starting out, looking at other photographers' work can be incredibly inspiring.
But remember that you don't need to create photographs that look exactly like someone else's.
Experiment with different lighting, compositions, editing techniques and subjects.
Discover what you enjoy photographing most.
Do you love soft, romantic portraits? Powerful action photography? Or those quiet, emotional moments between horses and their owners?
Your style will develop naturally as you gain experience.
Give yourself permission to explore.
Ready to start creating beautiful horse photographs?
Getting started with horse photography doesn't have to be complicated.
You don't need to know everything before picking up your camera.
Start practicing, stay curious and enjoy the journey.
And remember, the most important thing isn't creating a technically perfect photograph.
It's learning how to capture the beauty, personality and emotion of horses in your own unique way.
Your free horse photography cheat sheet
Want to feel more confident with your camera settings?
I've created a free Equine Photography Camera Settings Cheat Sheet to help you get started.
Inside, you'll discover practical camera settings for horse portraits and action photography.
Save it on your phone and take it with you during your next photoshoot!
Want to learn even more?
I'm currently creating The Equine Photography Course, where I'll guide you through the essential skills of equine photography.
From understanding horses and mastering your camera to working with natural light, composition and creating beautiful, meaningful photographs.
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