Tips for adding your family into your portrait session

If your whole crew lives and breathes horses, it only makes sense to include them in your family portraits—whether that’s your partner, your kids, or the four-legged “children” who run the show. These tips are helpful any time you’re adding more than one human to your equestrian portrait session.

First Things First:

YES! You are welcome to add anyone you’d like to your Horse & Rider Portrait Session! If you want more than just 5–10 minutes of group/family portraits, I recommend choosing at least the Gold (90-minute) session length.

Dressing for your Portraits:

• Don’t match, coordinate. Nobody in your family needs to wear the exact same outfit as another, but nobody should stand out, either. After all, you’re unique individuals who all belong together. 

• Choose your outfit first, then build around it. If you’re reading this, you’re either your family’s planner or the one who’ll most value these portraits. So, reward your extra effort  by choosing an outfit and colors you feel most comfortable in! (Clients, dig into the full style & preparation guide I’ve sent you for more tips!) 
  
• Once you have your own outfit, you can reference it to dress the rest of your family. For example, if you opt to wear a cream sweater, blue jeans and brown leather boots, your family could wear: 
  • A blue sweater with brown chinos
  • A white, cream, light blue or navy dress
  • Navy chinos and a grey sweater 
  • Charcoal jeans and a white button down

• Make sure to have everyone try on their outfits about two weeks ahead of your session! We want everyone to look and feel their best in portraits, and this early try-on means you’ll have plenty of time to find new options if something doesn’t fit. 

Prepare Your Family

• These portraits are important to you, but other family members might not be quite so excited. Make sure to gently explain to your family why these images are important to you, what the memories will mean, or how you plan to display the final portraits. Sometimes this is all it takes to change a hesitant partner or child  into a willing participant.
  
• Plan something fun afterward! Once the portraits are done and your horses are tucked in, take advantage of your dressed-up looks and head out for a family date night or dessert!
  
• But even if you have dinner plans, make sure to feed yourselves (and your horses) some snacks before the session. Pack some light snacks, too, if you have children. Nobody likes to be hangry!
  
• If you have a nervous or hesitant adult participant, a single beer or glass of wine before the session is A-OK in my book and can often help soothe those nerves. Of course, use your own judgment on this tip and please drink responsibly! 

Prepare Your horse

• Managing your horse’s energy is never more important than when there are multiple people involved. See why longeing is my top preparation tip. 
  
• Give yourself enough time to prepare both your horse and your family, or ask a barn friend to lend a hand.
  
• If your horse is nervous, practice standing still & in unfamiliar places ahead of time. Find other ways to help your horse have a good session here.
  
• If you’re outnumbered by your horses or children, ask a barn friend to join us and lend their extra hands if needed. Extra emotional support is always great!

Remember: it’s supposed to be fun!

Expect to hear me say “Embrace the chaos!” at least a few times during your session. Kids might not smile right away, horses might be a little wiggly, or the dog might try to bite my ear-getting tools…and that’s OK! I promise we will still create beautiful images you’ll love.

Dress your family, love your horse…and I’ll take care of the rest!

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Ready to make incredible memories for yourself & your horse? Contact me to start planning your equestrian portrait session.