Horse Photography at Butte Star Ranch by Yuba City Photographer
Horses have the unique distinction of being both partner and pet. They also make wonderful posing partners for photos and are guaranteed to make any photo more interesting. At the same time, horses are definitely challenging clients, even more so than toddlers. They make you work for good photos!
I met with Hosanna, her boyfriend and her two horses to take some photos. I have a personal connection with this photoshoot, because Hosanna is my riding instructor at Butte Star Ranch. I highly recommend both Butte Star Ranch and Hosanna for riding lessons by the way! Unlike other riding places, I find the lesson horses to be well trained and stable, while ALSO not being impossible to get moving. That’s the key difference, because at many other places I’ve been, the lesson horses are stable because they are so lazy they are so frustrating to get beyond a walk. These lesson horses are very enjoyable to ride. I like their facility best in the Yuba City and Marysville area. But that’s an aside. Back to the photoshoot!
This photoshoot had a little bit of everything, and then some more after that! We started with some regular portraits, both individual and as a couple.
But then for something new! Hosanna’s boyfriend Tristan asked whether I could take some photos of him roping. Umm, heck yes! I am always excited to photograph something new, and my sports photography background is ideal here to get some interesting photos. Just 5 minutes of playing around with the angle and lighting produced some awesome photographs!
Then we were back to our regular programming. We went to the barn to get some photos in the entry way. It’s always amazing to me how dusty drab barns just transform in photographs. Because of their dark cavernous nature, they have some awesome lighting potential.
Once we got the regular “nice” photographs, we then played around with lighting in the dark arena, and really came up with some cool shots!
Finally, in the fading light, we went back outside and got some more portraits and action shots just after sunset (called Blue Hour). Here’s are some photos that I really do think set me apart from other photographers (and are why you should hire me ;-) ). I have a unique mix of experiences that allow me to capture both good looking portraits and awesome action shots in the same session. Many photographers do not have this dual skillset!
Overall, this photoshoot was absolutely one of my favorites of the year. I can’t wait for another opportunity to photograph some horses and their people.
