horse & rider
PHOTO SHOOTS
The bond between you & your horse, captured & preserved for a lifetime.
01.
YOU & YOUR HORSE
That soft muzzle, their sweet smell, the gentle whicker. Your horse is your world, and you want to capture that special bond and have beautiful memories of happy times to treasure forever.
If the thought of standing in front of the camera makes your palms sweat, I get it. I really do! Breathe. We’ve got this. I’ll guide you through every step, and you’ll be left with photos (and film, if you’d like it) that you might never have thought possible.
I’m Ciara, a Chester-based photographer and filmmaker, and I’ve been photographing horses and riders for over 13 years across Cheshire, the North West and North Wales. Whether you want a shoot for just you and your horse, or the whole family and every animal on the yard, I’d love to work with you.
02.
HOW DOES IT WORK
Every shoot is tailored to you and your horse. Once we’ve set a date, I’ll send you my “How to Prepare” guide and we’ll arrange a pre-shoot phone chat to plan the day, finalise the details and make sure you feel prepared, confident and excited.
Your shoot can be anywhere you choose: your home, your yard, a beach or a beautiful forest. I’ll help you decide what’s best for your situation and what you want to achieve. Things like your horse’s temperament, or specific images such as black background portraits, can be better suited to certain locations. My time is yours on the day, so I’m also happy to do a multi-location shoot, although I’d recommend minimising travel time so there’s more time for shooting.
Choose your style
Horse & Rider: portraits and moments that show your partnership.
Horse: A combination of black-background Portraits of your horse & the option for some action shots of your horse showing off their best moves!
Horse, Dog & Family: family, dogs and every other animal you’d like in the photos!
HORSE & RIDER PORTRAIT
BLACK
BACKGROUND
PORTRAIT
the whole gang
What you get
- £595 for a relaxed photo shoot of up to 3 hours at a location of your choice
- First 50 miles from Chester included (additional mileage 45p per mile). Further away? Arrange a shoot day with a few friends to share the travel costs.
- A pre-shoot consultation and my “How to Prepare” guide
- Hand-edited images, a private online gallery and your favourite 10 high-resolution digital images. Upgrade to the full gallery for £200.
- A Complimentary Viewing & Design appointment to plan prints, wall art or a photo book for your session’s finishing touches.
- Add film: a standalone film (3-5 minutes) is £995, or choose a combined photo + film shoot from £1390
- My happiness guarantee: if you’re not delighted, I’ll reshoot or refund your session fee
See The Experience for full details, prints and collections. Photographing a dog too? See Dog Photo Shoots.
“Better than I could have imagined”
“I had an Autumn shoot with Ciara and it was wonderful. Ciara was extremely professional without being intimidating and the photos were better than I could have imagined. Ciara really has a natural ability to take fantastic photographs and captures the relationship you share with your horse perfectly. I would recommend her a million times over.”
Jennifer
“Outstanding photos that will last forever”
“Fantastic is one of the words – there are more – Amazing, talented, Beautiful etc . First class job, brilliant with Princesses and ponies – with outstanding photos that will last forever – thanks so much, will have the same again soon!”
Jacquie Capper
03.
SHOW ME MORE
Here are some of my favourite images from the Mackey family’s shoot, a great example of a session with lots of different elements. The family wanted photos all together, portraits of their horses as they’re all getting older (despite how they appear!), and photographs of the sisters with their horses in their beautiful prom dresses. It was certainly a busy morning, and a brilliant one.
04.
YOUR QUESTIONS
What should I wear and how should I prepare my horse?
I’ll send a full guide when you book, covering outfits, colours, grooming, plaiting and tack.
Does my horse need to be well behaved?
This is such an important aspect to consider when choosing a photographer for your photo shoot. I have a wealth of experience working with/riding/handling and photographing horses.
I know it is highly unusual for a horse to go through an entire photo session with their ears pricked and not putting a hoof out of place. But that’s ok! To be honest it’s what makes each shoot different and challenging (in a good way!)
We will chat about how your horse is likely to behave during your Photo Shoot on the ‘Pre Shoot Phone Consultation’ and if you have any specific concerns we can discuss them.
When it comes to the shoot itself the safety of you and your horse is paramount and I will not ask you to do anything which you are not comfortable with or which feels in any way risky. I allow plenty of time on the shoot specifically so there is no pressure and have many tricks and buckets of patience so do not fear, we will create some beautiful photographs and have a giggle whilst doing so no matter how naughty your horse may decide to be!
Do I need someone to help on the day?
It depends on what you’re hoping to achieve and the temperament of your horse. It can be helpful to bring a friend along to shake some treats or jump up and down in the background but it’s not usually essential. We can chat about this when you’re booking your shoot.
Where can we shoot?
At your yard, a favourite hack, a field, the woods or the beach. I’ll help you choose the best location for you and your Horse.
How long does a shoot take?
Horse shoots are up to 3 hours, to allow time for setting up, different looks and the right light. 3 hours allows for a relaxed approach on the day and breaks for you and your horse if needed.
Can I include my dog or family?
Yes! Include as many humans and animals as you like.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Ah yes the wonderful British weather…! I always keep an eye on the forecast in the run up to a session and I am happy to reschedule at no extra cost if the weather is looking awful.
Can I order a framed print or wall art?
Yes. You can book a Viewing & Design appointment after seeing your gallery if you’d like to order any wall art or a photo book. See The Experience for prices.
05.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
“There will never be the perfect time, you can only make time perfect.”
Ready to start? Save your preferred date with a £95 deposit, or call me for an informal chat on 07857823296.
Ciara x