06/28/2026
When I was starting photography, I reached out to some photographers for some advice or if they would be interested in mentoring me.
Most didn’t respond or was rude. There were some really great photographers who gave me great advice and I can’t thank them enough!
I swore I would never be the gatekeeper photographer and I would always lend a hand to those who needed it.
If you’re interested in photography I have some advice:
- Photography can be a great hobby but the business aspect is a lot more than a hobby and is something you should really prepare for.
- Practice, practice, practice before you charge! You’ll need to make sure you have your focus down pat, you know your settings by heart, and you’re out of auto mode. I personally prefer manual or aperture priority settings.
- Quality lenses will make a huge difference. Kits lenses are expensive but very cheaply made. You can get great images with kit lenses but they pale in comparison to a quality lens. Lenses make a way bigger difference in photography than your camera body. Especially in equine photography I highly recommend a 70-200mm f/2.8 (action shots) or a for portraits an 85mm f/1.8 (or lower). Anything smaller in lens length than that will distort horses and make them look out of proportion.
- Be prepared for lots of overhead costs. It’s not as simple as picking up a camera and immediately starting a business. You’ll need a business license, an EIN number for tax filing, insurance, a photo delivery website (Pixieset costs about $40/month), a photo editing software (I use Lightroom and photoshop and it costs over $20/month).
- I highly recommend you spend a lot of time studying lighting, focus, and aperture. Especially if you’re doing portraits. Lighting can make or break a photo and you’ll need to study how to best work with all types of lighting.
- Reach out to other photographers. It’s intimidating but you will find someone out there willing to help you and guide you. I know that if it weren’t for a few really great photographers, I wouldn’t be where I am at all.
- Photography can be inconsistent. You’ll need to prepare emotionally for the times where you’re not booking, the off season has put a hold on everything, shows don’t sell the way you’d planned (if you’re doing horse shows).
If you’re dreaming of photography and being a photographer, this advice isn’t to discourage you. It’s just to give you the things that I wish I had known before diving into photography. I was one of those people who picked up a camera and thought, “hey this is a great business opportunity!”, and truthfully it was the best thing I’ve ever done. I always imagined a life of working with horses and I’ve always loved taking photos. However, I was very under prepared when I started. If you’re passionate and willing to take the good with the bad, you will do just fine and my inbox is always open.
