For better or for worse, our lives are largely carved out and structured around our habits. Breakfast at a certain time, daily chores and errands, how many cups of coffee?! (Still not enough, by our reckoning!) But your habits don’t have to just be the things you do on autopilot – you can create a ritual and a routine around the stuff that really lights your fire. Experts reckon that 21 days is the sticking point for making or breaking a habit – do, or don’t do, something for that long and you’re in plain-sailing territory. 21 days is a […]

8How’s this for a dream: your own sprawling studio, dotted with your own beautiful photographs, a wall of inspiration, and plenty of space to store frames, samples, an endless array of lenses, and a viewing space for your clients, too. Some of you might be lucky enough to have just that – but even if your office and studio space has to fit into your home, you can make the most of it. Let’s be real – being a photographer is busy work. Balancing that work with all the real life stuff – you know, a family, a menagerie of […]

If there’s one surefire way to end a conversation with a horse person, it’s this: ask them to break down exactly what they’re shelling out for their four-legged friend every year. A hard yikes, right? But while it can feel so, SO tempting to ignore our version of the issue, as an equestrian photographer, you’ve got to be brave enough to face the music and crunch the numbers to find out the outgoings of what you do. But why? Well, for one thing, it’ll help you with budgeting. But that’s a bit boring, and falls far short of the primary […]

Are you guilty of New Year-itis? Do you head into January determined to make major changes throughout your life – fewer calories, more exercise, a thriving bank account, all the usual suspects? It feels like the pressure’s on, right? Like everyone around you is making these lofty resolutions and shouting about them from the rooftops. But here’s something to ponder: only 8% of New Year’s resolutions end up with any sort of follow-through. Kind of a grim statistic, isn’t it? Here’s why: most people make the mistake of being too vague – and also of overloading themselves. That’s not to […]

By Hannah Freeland I had an epiphany recently while one a long drive to a shoot. I spend a lot of time in the car, travelling from one place to the next, and I wanted to make sure that this blank space in my schedule was being put to work – for me. So like many people, I’ve turned to podcasts, and picking and choosing the right ones has been a fantastic way to work on my mindset, stay positive, and keep my passion – for work and for life – alive. I regularly have little ‘eureka’ moments while I’m […]

You’re a professional photographer, and that means that the experience of having a shoot with you is about more than just the fabulous images your clients will enjoy at the end – it’s also about the experience of the shoot day itself. Everything needs to be smooth, polished, and easy – and that takes preparation. Today, we’ll be discussing the three absolutely essential tips for making sure everyone is prepared for shoot day. Ready? Let’s do this! Tip #1: Make sure you’ve got the need-to-knows covered Surprises can be brilliant, but there’s a time and a place for them – […]

No matter who you are or what you do, if you’re self-employed or own your own business, you absolutely must have a website. It’s totally and completely non-negotiable – but if you outsource the job, it can also be eye-wateringly expensive. Fortunately, site-builders like Squarespace make it easier than ever to build your own – and we’re here to help you get it right. Your website has one primary purpose: it’s there to convince potential clients that they shouldn’t look any further than you for their photography needs. Your Instagram feed, your Pinterest pins, your Twitter, and so on and […]

This blog is super important if you want to understand exactly how to target and attract your ideal client. Early on in your career, you might think that any client is a good client. And that’s not entirely wrong – many of the clients you book will be brilliant, even if they’re not quite who or what you expect. But it’s absolutely vital that you know who your ideal client is.  So, what exactly do we mean by the ideal client? Basically, this is the perfect human being you would utterly love to have phone you up. The person who, if they […]

One of the most common questions we’re asked by the Training Barn delegates is probably one that you’ve mulled over a few times yourself: just how, exactly, do you go about growing a sizeable and authentic database of leads who – and this bit is crucial – actually want to buy your photos? We love this question, because there are so many ways to answer it. Here are ten of the best ways we’ve found… 1- First of all, make sure you’ve got a sign-up form on your website. This is extra-important for all those random people who stumble upon your […]

There’s nothing I love quite so much as autumn. There’s something about that first moment that you step outside, when you can feel something different – something crisp, and full of promises in the air, that really speaks to my soul. The smell of it, the burnished colour of the leaves, the watery, golden light. F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote that “life begins all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall”, and I, for one, am completely and utterly with him there. From a photography point of view, too, this time of year offers up so many possibilities. […]

Wouldn’t life be great if we could just go out and do what we love – photograph horses, of course – all day long, without having to worry about all the legwork that goes with it? I don’t know about you, but marketing our businesses used to be one of the jobs we’ve always felt the least inspired by. It’s time-consuming and it’s frustrating, particularly when it feels like no one is responding to your efforts. But we’ve put some serious work into honing our marketing strategies, making them work not just for our businesses, but for our busy creative […]

By Hannah Freeland There are many ways to show your confidence or lack of it, it could be your wardrobe, your language or maybe the way you hold yourself. Today I want to talk to you about showing your confidence in the three areas that are the most important in order to succeed in this industry. Confidence in your images Confidence in your service Confidence in your prices Confidence in your images Ok, I’m starting with the obvious, confidence in your images. Without this your business is going to stutter. There are a few exercises that can propel the rate […]

As we walk through the trenches of our business, it can be easy to forget the excitement and fun our clients feel about booking us When we get tied up with thinking about the accounts, editing styles, processes and workflows all the way through to updating software and making sure our insurance stands up to the task, we can quickly forget about the magical concept that it is being an equine photographer. We have some top tips to drag you out of the funk and into the fun. First of all, let me tell you that we all go through […]

You know what sucks? Fear. Throat-clenching, cold sweat, tingly fingers fear. It makes you lose your train of thought, stumble over your words, and it takes all the conviction out of your up-sell. It’s the reason that basically no photographers likes the hard sell. But you know what? It’s also totally universal, which means that everyone has had to find a way through it – and I want to fill you in on mine. But first of all, there’s something I need you to acknowledge. Say it out loud, write it down and stick it on your computer screen, whatever […]

Hands Up – who is on a budget or knows they don’t want to chuck their savings at a new business? First of all, it’s true that you can create a sustainable and profitable business from photography. We promise you; it can be done, and it can be fun. Hard work, but fun! Second of all, this can be equine ONLY photography – yes you heard me right, you don’t need to fill in the gaps with Christenings, Weddings or Landscape photography, if you don’t want to. If you get your business and photography ‘Ducks’ in a row, you can […]

Putting together your portfolio can be one of the toughest parts of setting up, and maintaining, your photography business. It’s the first thing a potential client sees, after all, and it’s the primary factor that helps them decide whether they’ll book you. So how do you make it do the hard work for you? Tip 1: Don’t Strike Blind The key is getting into your client’s head. It’s so valuable to identify who your ideal client is – their demographic, their tastes, and their budget – so you can begin to think like them. Only then can you increase your […]

Let’s take a trip down memory lane – right back, in fact, to the birth of my photography business. Back in 2006, I owned and ran my own graphic design company. And when I say I ran it, I mean I really ran it – everything from setting it up, to teaching myself how to keep a business afloat, to doing all the admin before I finally brought in a team to support me in the trenches. And you know what? It was great fun, and I was able to work with some wonderful clients on projects I was really […]

Let’s get real for a second: taking on your first-ever photoshoot is scary. You haven’t built up a safety net of confidence yet, and as a result, you’re plagued by doubts: can I actually deliver images my client will like? Am I going to be chatty and encouraging, or will we both find it painfully awkward? And what – heaven forbid – do I do if my equipment malfunctions? It’s so easy to let these doubts stop you before you’ve even begun. But here’s the thing – everyone feels them before their first photoshoot, and 99% of your fears are […]

No matter who you are or what you do, if you’re self-employed or own your own business, you absolutely must have a website. It’s totally and completely non-negotiable – but if you outsource the job, it can also be eye-wateringly expensive. Fortunately, site-builders like Squarespace make it easier than ever to build your own – and I’m here to help you get it right. Your website has one primary purpose: it’s there to convince potential clients that they shouldn’t look any further than you for their photography needs. Your Instagram feed, your Pinterest pins, your Twitter, and so on and […]

The presentation of your images is one of the most important things you can spend time getting absolutely perfect.  When a prospective client comes across your website, one of the first things they will do is look at your portfolio. They will have a rough idea in their head of what kind of style of images they want.  One thing that many photographers do is overcrowd their online portfolio. This is the WORST thing you could possibly do. The client will look through the first 20 images, and get bored if they really haven’t been wowed. Less is more Remember, your […]

Here’s a handy tip for you. Always leave 20 mins at the end of a shoot to be really creative. Go through the process of photographing your client and their horse on their yard. In your head, you have finished creating the standard imagery that you know will sell and you know your clients will be totally in love with…. Now spend the next 20 minutes being super creative and trying different things. You might want to look at Pinterest- look at images that really inspire you, images that are a bit unique and out there! Try to use this […]

Just a quick one today. Because we get asked this question a lot… “How long do you take editing your images?” Our answer is almost always the same… “If we shoot for an hour, we edit for no more than an hour” Imagine this: I have shot a set of images that have an obvious distraction in the background. I spend the next 3 hours alone editing that object out each of the images I want to show to my client.  The client shows up to the viewing, picks her images for her album and frames- NONE of which include the […]

We are absolute suckers for that cute, cuddly shot. The ones that make you feel like you are like a fly on the wall. The horse and owner are having this beautiful cuddly moment in between poses, and you just keep clicking…it should be as if you aren’t even there. To get this kind of shot, you need to shoot tight to eliminate any distraction from the background. Keep focused on the pair having that interaction. Usually owners hands are soft, the horse’s ears may not be pricked, but the relaxed look on both of their faces is so amazing. […]

More often than not, your clients have no idea what to wear on their photo shoot- what looks good? What goes with the location? What goes with the horse? It’s helpful to give your clients a rough styling guide- it will ensure they are more confident in choosing outfits if you direct them towards them. If you haven’t already, start to think about what you like- is it the typical country style? Tweed, wax jacket, long boots… you get the gist. If you’d rather be more general, tell clients what works well- tell them to avoid bright, clashing, highly-patterned prints, […]

Picture this- you arrive at a yard. All you can see is a flat grass field and an average stable block- and you panic! “Where on earth am I going to place my clients?!” You then just fluff your way through the day with no idea where to direct yourself- let alone your client. The proof is in the pudding- we have created awesome shots from all sorts of locations, from a flat field with electric fencing, to the most magnificent yards you have ever seen. This is because we have become experienced in how to work our environments. Photographically, […]

This comes up time and time gain- many delegates feel like they’re lacking in confidence- you have the perfect horse, owner and location- but just don’t know how to work it, and don’t know what to do with the subjects. You start to feel pressure that your client is expecting you to start taking photos- so you just end up taking photos that aren’t well planned or executed, and when you get home, you’re disappointed because it didn’t quite work. This all comes down to lack of confidence in knowing how to work with, and pose your client. As you […]

Unplanned moments can sometimes make the BEST shots! If you are too busy changing your settings on your camera or fiddling around trying to find a snack in your bag- you will miss these moments! They often happen when you have shot your main set of images, and you’re just about to put your camera down. Then something funny or cute will happen…the image below is a prime example! Hannah had just finished a lovely set of images with this owner and her horse in the stable. She went to move the horse out of the stable and he gave […]

We cannot stress the importance of this enough. Over the years, we have become pretty hot on this! It is so so vital that you direct your clients into the exact poses you want, or often your descriptions will get lost in translation! So, lets set the scene… You see a gorgeous location that you think will be perfect for your client and her horse. There is a cute little log in a beautifully lit area in the woods. You can envisage exactly what you want…the client to sit on the log, with her horse cuddling into her. However- when […]

When you train you eye to really see the best of your area, you are already winning! Try and work out how it what you can use around you, and how it will look with a horse and owner in it… Natural frames This is the art of spotting natural areas that can frame your subjects. Overhanging trees, walkways, stables/barn doors, archways, leading lines….. these are all key things to look out for, and more often than not, you will have access to plenty at your client’s yard.  Here are some examples for you… Use natural props… Often, owners who […]

This is something I didn’t even realise was a secret until really recently. I was teaching a group of delegates on location and said to them…’don’t forget to find your square!!’…. The fact that I was met with 6 blank faces made me realise they had NO idea what I was on about! SO, when shooting at a client’s yard, I am always looking for locations that are roughly 2m x 2m- a square. As you can see from the image below, we have scouted a barn with lots of straw bales. However, I don’t want the whole scene in. […]

The most important lesson I ever learned is to NOT be underprepared! I remember when I turned up to one of my first shoots, and halfway through my battery died….but I had NOT packed a spare!! Embarrassingly, I had to borrow a camera off one of the guests at the party… I have never forgotten this, and it taught me to be over-prepared, if anything! Before you leave for a shoot, make sure all your kit works- this may seem like a REALLY obvious thing- but if you turn up and your cards/batteries/ lenses are not working- you will be […]

Branding – we made a mistake! So we thought we would open up to you guys and let you in on a mistake that we made. Please learn from us and trust your gut! It was a crisp summer evening, with the sun streaming through the studio window and a well earn’t peppermint tea in hand… only kidding we can’t set the scene as well as this, but basically we had just finished a 2 day training course and were reflecting on our brand and following. We had made a decision that our brand (you remember the dark blue with […]

  Database and management software I use Lightblue for storing clients’ details and organising photo shoots. This is where I create leads, booked clients, shoots, workflows, invoicing, ordering and any follow ups.   I have tried many different databases and CRM’s in the past and although Lightblue isn’t the prettiest, it’s the most efficient and very easy to use. It does what it says on the tin.     70-200mm lens. This may surprise some people but I use 1 lens for 99% of my equine portrait shoots. This is my trusted 70-200mm. It is such a wonderful lens and […]

  My life, you could say, somewhat changed following the addition of my two beautiful bundles of joy. I am no longer 100% focused on me and my business working; no longer working 60 hr weeks. So you won’t be surprised to read that my working day is frankly no more than a quick sprint.  Hear goes the week in the Life of Emily (I think I am going to surprise myself…)     Monday 8.00 Drop Kids at School 9.00 Meeting with Stuart and Hannah – Strategy brainstorm 12.00 Working lunch catch up on Emails 1.00pm Go through presentation […]

I recently volunteered to model for the Training Barn on an equine photo shoot. They had a group of 6 friendly photographers who were keen to hone their photography skills, using my pony and I as their subject!   It was an exciting morning. I was up at the crack of dawn- apparently this time of day hosts the best light! It was the morning after the first lot of rain we’d had in weeks- my grey pony had made the most of this and was completely black- An emergency bath was in order!   By 8am we were ready […]

By Hannah Freeland We all know that the first thing a potential client wants to see is our portfolio of work, but what are they looking for?   Who have we previously photographed? What type of feeling comes across in the image? What does a typical client look like for the photographer? What type of yard do they photograph at? Are they an expert? Are they horsey and understand when a horse looks good? Have they worked with anyone famous?   And many many more, but the point is – clients won’t be looking for 100 images to ensure you […]

  I have followed Ashley Longshore for some time now. I was told about her by one of my business mentors, who said she sells her work on Instagram- and it literally sells out in minutes. I’m not talking one piece being sold. I’m talking, like, hundreds of pieces being sold within minutes of her posting “the shop is open”.     I got sucked in left right and centre- this lady is the most incredible, insanely talented, honest, authentic version of herself you could possibly imagine. If you check her out, she might not be your cup of tea. But you know what? She gives every artist and every woman the encouragement, the motivation and the belief that she can smash her […]

By Hannah Freeland I was recently asked about how photography entered my life. I had to really think about this as there was no ‘lightbulb’ moment.   When I was about 6-7 I borrowed my father’s film cameras and started photographing objects around the house and garden.   I remember picking a single rose from the garden, bringing it into the house, finding my mum’s cut crystal vase and setting up the rose and vase onto the dresser for the oak back drop. I had no idea why I was doing this, but I just wanted to style something and […]

By Hannah Freeland   Back in 2006 I owned and ran my own website and graphic design company.     I set it up, trained myself in running a business and hired a team to support me as I walked through the trenches.     I worked with wonderful clients on exciting projects and managed to travel to inspiring places around the UK.       While I was working alongside these clients I would offer my ‘Photography’ skills on the side. We would be building a website for a vet client and I would suggest we do a photo shoot for the imagery. I would […]

 By Hannah Freeland   I have loved and ridden horses since I was 2 I have 3 sisters, of which I am the eldest, and they are my best friends I am useless at Cross Country- I’m just not brave enough! I didn’t know being a full time equine photographer was a job or business until 12 years ago I believe furniture should be moved frequently for a clear mind and because my Mum does it I swapped from Canon to Nikon a year ago I have a trusted team around me who help support and run things with me I’ve had […]

By Emily Hancock I am a book worm – you will always find me reading when I have 5 minutes I play the piano and sing I play the Ukulele (loosely speaking…!) I can ski and snowboard I’m OBSESSED with stationary I have a huge stamp collection- over a decades-worth, in fact! I have a very large family- at my wedding my immediate family took up 60 seats! I am a dog person I have owned horses all my life I competed in Dressage competitions up to Advanced level I took 2 gap years and travelled the world I have […]

By Hannah Freeland    I am sure my Peli 1510 case is unlike most with what is inside…    This is because in the last year I actually took a leap from Canon to Nikon.     Unlike others who have done this, I didn’t sell my Canon kit. So currently in my case is:    Nikon 850d  Nikon 70-200mm Lens  Canon 5d Mark III with battery grip  Canon 70-200mm Lens  Canon 50mm prime lens  Card Readers  2 x Peli card cases  Spare batteries for both camera bodies    That’s it!     I don’t need to have other lenses with me, as 90% of my […]

By Hannah Freeland   I’m not going to lie to you, this still hurts. I was commissioned at age 17 having been recommended by another photographer friend to photograph a 21st birthday party. I jumped at the chance as this was going to be one of my first “big” paid jobs I had done. Sharp and keen, I jumped in with two feet and was confident that I could produce a nice set of images from the party. I was promised £500 to do the job.     Keen as mustard, I turned up early, got familiar with the surroundings; the various marques; the amazing flower sculptures; the gigantic fire pit; and oh so much more.     The party […]

  By Emily Hancock   I wanted to share with you a rather exciting little event that happened over 10 years ago, and kick started the photography business I went on to create.   I was a recommended supplier (back in the days where I photographed weddings) at a very nice 5-star hotel. One day I received a phone call from the wedding coordinator. She said they had a regular client who would be hosting his 80th birthday party at the venue and wanted a photographer for a couple of hours on the Friday night of his big birthday bash. […]

  By Hannah Freeland. My connection with horses.   This has been the case since I was 2 years old. I am very quiet and calm around horses. I like to get to know them, their character and personality.   This next bit happens fairly frequently… I’ll be chatting to the owner of the horse on a shoot, and they comment that their horse isn’t normally as settled with new people as they are with me. I remember a few years ago that I was chatting with an owner whilst her lovely horse nudged me for a good old rub […]

We’re sure you scroll through Facebook and Instagram on a daily basis and come across posts that say stuff like “increase your income by 100%” or “work a 1-hour week and still earn a full-time rate” … Some of these are genuine, achievable claims, and some are, well… just not! It can be a little loud, daunting and confusing in the online world. So, we wanted to take this blog ‘Back to Basics’. We know full well that this may sound a little boring, and you may feel like you have exhausted all the basics, but let us explain… As […]

By Hannah Freeland   Let’s talk about what we mean by ‘ideal client’ This is the ONE client we all hope knocks on our door, calls us in the studio or pings us an email saying, “I have seen your work and cannot wait to get a photo shoot booked in with you, when is your next free date?”  This client will be educated in the way you work and see value in the finished product.   So, who is going to educate them…?    YOU    First of all, we need to establish who your ideal client is. We want you to start creating a profile of this client and […]

 By Hannah Freeland I’m going to paint you a picture, and I want you to admit if this is you.   You’ve been to SWPP, you picked up all of the brochures on anything that took your fancy, you watched demonstrations of software, cameras, lenses and gizmos. You spoke to lots of trade stands about their frames or albums, while they tell you how amazing their product is and that you can get 75% off if you purchase in the next 3 minutes (ok, that’s an exaggeration, but you get it). You were inspired, energised and you had a plan. […]

We couldn’t be happier to announce that we have opened up the course dates for the much sought after Business of Equine Photography course! This 3 day intensive course will be held on 11th-13th September 2018 at the Training Barn studio in Burley, Hampshire. Not heard about this course yet? Want more info? Keep reading… Do you have these questions running through your head?   “I want to make money from my photography business, but I don’t know how” “I feel like I have so much un-tapped potential but don’t know where to start” “I love horses and photography and […]

By Hannah Freeland    I thought you guys might get a good kick out of seeing an average week for me?   I have left out the numerous phone calls and 10-minute jobs, but this should give you an insight to what a week looks like at Hannah Freeland Photography HQ!     This was the first week of June 2018:-  Monday   8.30am – Call with new client – who booked  9.00am – Facetime with Emily for morning catch up & plan for the week  10am- Pack welcome packs  10.30am – Set up new CRM for Training Barn  11am – Quote to commercial client   11.30am – Call training client and confirm 1:1 training date  12pm – Edit clients’ images   1.30pm – Email rider and all sponsors about a set of images  1.45pm – Post office with Welcome packs  […]

I love the autumn time. The smell and colour of the leaves makes me so happy, and from a photography point of view, you literally can't beat the bright, golden-yellow back drop of the Autumn woodland for a seasonal equine photo shoot!

Equine photographer Leslie Bliss has worked and trained with Emily for a few years now. She has kindly written her top 10 tips on how to get the most from training with Emily, as well as her experiences working in the competitive equine photography industry..

One of the Training Barn graduates has kindly written a little blog post about her experiences of working with Emily at the Training Barn. The most important thing in life is to actually enjoy what you do! Read Esther's story below to see how training with Emily changed her outlook on photography...