Horse Photographer/Videographer

Most Photographers or Videographers are independent contractors who provide photographs or video of horse-related events and/or portraits or promotional video of individual horses. A few Horse Photographers/Videographers work for larger firms such as Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, or specific horse publications. Photographers and Videographers must be able to capture the equine subject in a manner that will draw the attention of the consumer, such as action shots, or expressive shots. Most Photographers develop and print their own work. Likewise, a Videographer should be able to film their own work and edit the tape to obtain the perfect film for the occasion. Most Photographers specialize in commercial print, portrait, or media photography. Photo specialists must be able to determine what types of pictures the customer wants based on the discipline. This can range from photographing hunter/jumping events to the fast paced environment of rodeo. She/he must be able to move and stay out of the way of the equine athlete, all the while obtaining, and position for the perfect shot. Videographers must be flexible enough to produce instructional videos to covering live equestrian events. Most Videographers produce a tape based on their potential audience.

Education for both the Videographer and the Photographer include a minimum of a four-year degree in photography or cinema and production. Classes to help with photographing or filming horses in particular include equine classes in the study of, form, function, and movement of the horse, along with business management and marketing classes. These professions include extensive, expensive equipment purchases and travel is mandatory for this field, along with the physical ability to carry a minimum of twenty pounds of production equipment for extended periods.

Since most photographers are freelance, they must be able to sell their work to the people interested in what they have produced. Often times, photographers will produce negatives, and send a small size sample of the work to the customer to determine if the photo is what they want. Videographers are often contracted for a particular job. Most of their work can be freelance, but it must attract the attention of customers in order to keep the contracts coming in. Honesty and quality work are essential for both of these fields.

Since most Photographers do freelance work, the income range depends on the clientele, and the cost of the Photographers expenses such as film and development. Some Photographers also produce photos of other events such as people and weddings, so that they can generate an average income of $30,000 per year. Videographers who are hired for production such as equestrian sporting events have an average starting range of $25,000-$27,000 per year which often includes benefits. Most of these contract videographers are expected to put in a 40-hour workweek, and often times need to work overtime. An experienced freelance Videographer may work between 10 and 12 days per month, and has an average income of $79,000. This type of income is achieved only after years of experience and also after purchasing very expensive equipment.