Equine Blackout Portraits
I often get questions from clients about how blackout sessions work and how to get ready for them. So here is a mini guide for all of you in the future, whether you're taking these with me as your photographer, someone else, or just yourself, they make a big difference in how the picture will turn out overall.
How do they work?
For blackout sessions, I always pose horses in some type of door, whether it be an arena door, garage door, or something similar. Posing a horse in a doorway allows for the background to be darker, giving a more seamless look during the editing process. Some photographers also use a black cloth backdrop with the same concept in mind.
During the session, there may be a few specific poses that we ask the horse to do, such as standing square or turning their head one way or another. But for the most part, I like to let the horse do the posing. Horses reflect their personality in how they stand, what they look at, and their overall body language. Letting a horse express themselves how they choose lets their personality shine through their portraits and creates a stress-free experience.
Now, in the case a specific pose is needed, I have three favourite methods: noise, treats, and objects. My clients attest that my go-to is noise. You'll often catch me whistling, clucking, or making bird noises to get that perfect ears-up shot. Now that doesn't work for all horses, so I also have dog squeak toys to either squeak or just toss behind me to grab their attention. If that still doesn't work, then I take full advantage of the horse neighing montages on YouTube, which typically work a charm if all else fails. Treats also work super well when trying to get a nice neck stretch or a more fun pose, such as smiling.
What should I do before my session?
In order to ensure you have the absolute best pictures, there are some extra steps you can take before your session.
Thoroughly groom and bathe (if possible) your horse beforehand. A clean horse is a shiny one, and the cleaner they are, the better they will look in pictures!
If you choose to keep a bridle on for your portraits, clean and condition (even oil if needed) it beforehand. Dirt on tack cannot be edited out, and shiny tack makes a gorgeous pop!
Clean and oiled hooves make a huge difference in full-body shots. A nice shine on the hooves can go a long way.
If your horse is one that hates standing still or has more energy than most, I highly recommend riding or lunging beforehand. This allows your horse to get any excess energy out, leading to a quicker and less stressful shooting experience.
Want an extra fancy look to your portraits? Get your horse's mane braided! Braids accentuate a horse's conformation and look gorgeous with a pop of coloured yarn.
