Nicole Beales Photography

10/06/2026

07/06/2026

Same subject, same lens, major difference! And it all comes down to the settings and positioning that sets apart a skilled photographer and an amateur.

Yes, these are actually photos of me back in the day. The first was taken by a barn mate on my old camera and the second by . Both shot on a 70-200mm lens, yet resulting in two completely different images.

The second image is tack sharp, well exposed, and free of distractions, leaving the subject as the clear focus of the photo. There’s nothing wrong with the first image, but there is a clear difference between what separates a pro and a hobbyist…

Image 1 → Image 2 settings:
1/500s → 1/2500s
f6.3 → f2.8
ISO 200 → ISO 200

The higher shutter speed in image 2 freezes the action and at 1/2500s, every detail is sharp. At 1/500s, a horse moving at speed starts to blur, and in action photography, sharpness is everything.

The lower aperture (f-stop) f2.8 creates what’s called a shallow depth of field, meaning the subject stays sharp while the background softens into a blur. At f6.3, more of the scene is in focus, which flattens the image and pulls attention away from the subject.

While settings play a huge role in getting that clean, pro-grade image, the thought process behind where you stand matters just as much.

Shooting at a lower angle keeps arena distractions out of frame, shooting tighter keeps the focus right where it belongs, and framing the horse evenly between the jump standards gives the image perspective.

Pair that thought process with settings that freeze the action and you get an image elevated to what you might see on a magazine cover.

These are the details I take into account when photographing equestrian sports no matter the discipline and are the things I’ve learned over many years of practice and observation.

Next time you take a photo on your phone, swipe up to see the settings it captured the image at!

Was this example helpful to you? If so, follow for more!

06/06/2026

Some fave colors, ponies, and scenes from last month 🎨🌁🌷

Shot for

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

Truly such a dream to be in the presence of these animals!

02/06/2026

Some b&w faves from Sonoma 📸🤍

Shot for

26/05/2026

Let me do some magic first then you can see🪄👩🏼‍💻👀

16/05/2026

The difference between a lucky shot and a planned one 👀📸

Choosing the best jump to shoot is about more than just standing at the “prettiest” fence. It’s about being intentional with where you stand to compose the entire image.

I’m constantly moving around, watching the light, the background, and how the course is riding to position myself where I know the strongest moments are most likely to happen for the horse and rider.

A good jumping photo is rarely an accident. It takes time to train the eye to be intentional with where you shoot from. And I have learned so much over the years from others that I wanted to share my insights on how I look at a course when shooting at shows.

Follow for more behind the scenes POV from a horse show photographer and comment if this was helpful! 🩵

11/05/2026

The moment you stop performing for validation and start focusing on yourself, everything changes.

Life isn’t about having it all figured out because who really does? It’s about experiencing it fully, learning along the way, and becoming better because of it.

Reshare if you can relate!🩵