Lighting
Another very important thing to remember is choose your time to photograph wisely and keep the sun at your back! The best time to shoot varies from season to season. I find that the very best time for me to photograph is in the spring or fall. Then, the sun is not so 'hot' and 'bright'. During the very hottest part of summer, the sky is all washed out, almost white, anyway and it doesn't make as pretty of a backdrop. And, of course, in winter it is much too cold for me to be getting out and photograph even though I have tried a few 'snow' pictures when Georgia got it's little bit of snow but that's a story for another time. So, I prefer spring or fall.
I never photograph on entirely cloudy days. I prefer partly cloudy with the sun shining most of the time. Mid morning (9:00-11:00) or late afternoon (3:00-5:00) is best for me. Depending on what part of the country you are in and how the sun behaves, you might have to alter your time. But ALWAYS keep the sun at your back. Figure 4 shows what happens when the sun is in front of you! The setup was okay but you can barely see the model because the picture is so dark. Figure 5 shows the sun behind the photographer (as does Figure 1, 2 and 3). Note that the background is all trees/bushes. This is okay if you can't find the more open field. Just make sure it is far enough away to 'blur out'. Don't have photos where you can see the huge leaves of bushes in the background.
Dark models, bays or blacks do better when the sun is not shining very hot. It can make them loose all photographic detail. Also, on very 'hot' days, the white on models will blur into the background or the white can reflect too much light and wash out details on the horse.
Angle
Consider the angle of the model when shooting. The majority of the time you will place the model so that its side or profile is what you will get. However, if a model doesn't look flattering that way, try some different angles. The North Light Shire foal is a good example. If you position it to get a profile shot, the face is turned toward you (Figure 6). Depending on where the sun is, it could cast shadows so that you cannot see the face of the model. So I found that it was better to turn the model so that the face could be seen (Figure 7).
Also, try both sides of your models. For my 5-gaiter, Showtime's Gold Card, I prefer to show him with the off-mane side (Figure 8). I think this photo flatters him more than the one showing the mane side (Figure 2). The photo is taken in the same lighting and in the same location. If you have a model that has scratches on one side, consider turning it around so that the judge doesn't see these imperfections. However, always keep your models face where the judge can see it. I really dislike seeing models whose heads are turned away from the camera.
General Info
I generally keep about 6-10 halter photos of a model depending on how much I show it, how many clubs it shows in, etc. When I first started out, I would only take one photo of each model. If I liked the results, I would have reprints made. Now that I have the photography down better, I just take 4-5 shots of the model and have double prints made. I find that this is cheaper than reprints. But you don't want to do this while you are still experimenting with lighting and setup.
You will probably use a lot of film (much wasted) before you find your right setup. Be willing to do that and be willing to take new shots each year and try to improve. I know I certainly have come along way since my first photos in 1989! See for yourself! Figure 9 shows a poor San Domingo, very blurred! He is walking across a mountain of rock (they are huge) and has a forest (huge) of trees behind him. The sun is in front of me, which is messing up the picture as well. I don't think there is one thing right with this picture! Figure 10 shows a picture that I just made earlier this year and this model is showing right now with this photo.
Conclusion:
Taking good model shots is not difficult but it does take some practice. Below is a recap of key points to remember about outdoor model photography.
