Kids Equestrian Helmet
Preparing to take Photographs at your child’s next horse show with your D-SLR camera
There is nothing more fun then spending the day with your child at a horse show. Create a great keepsake photo album of their adventures in the show ring. Watch them grow over the years by photographing them. Here are some simple tips for taking photos of your equestrian.
1. Get ready the evening before. Charge your charger. Pack a spare battery. Did you know that ideally, batteries should be taken out of cameras because they can drain inside them? Charge the night before.
2. Clean your camera lens. Hopefully you have a UV filter to protecting the camera lense from dirt, and scratches. A lens hood can further protect from scratches and glare. They are affordable items that protect your big investment.
3. Clear your memory card the night before. Erasing photos at the event takes up a lot of energy. And you may miss a great shot. Get as much off your card the night before. Buy the biggest storage card.
4. Take a lot of photos. Check a couple to make sure your light and your speed is ok, but do not waste a lot of battery life in erasing photos at the show. Do that later at home. You may get 50 excellent shots for every 250 you take.
5. During cold winter days, store your extra battery in a jacket pocket, not in your camera case. The cold will affect your camara’s battery life. Bring some hand warmers to the winter show. Keep your hands warm!
6. Stock a couple of basic lenses. Outdoor shooting is so much easier than inside shooting. Indoors, you need a lot of light and have to watch what speed you are shooting at. Ideally, a 2.8 lens with a 70-200 range is excellent for low light indoor rings where you cannot use a flash. Flashes irritate riders more than the horses. Be sensitive about using your flash. See if others are. You do not want to spook a horse and rider.
7. Position yourself someplace where you can get great action shots but be away from obstructions and at a place where you may spook the the horse and rider. You will be told if you are in the way. Look for someplace where the backdrop is not so busy or maybe has a great sign. Keep the light behind you.
8. Take your lens cover off. If you are changing lenses, try not to get dust and dirt in there. Be prepared for rain and have a lense hood on to reduce dust, dirt, rain and sunshine from getting on your photos. Invest in a great camera backpack and keep some cleaning supplies inside. I don’t bother with a purse and just carry everything I need for a horse show in my camera backpack.
9. For close up shots in the warm up ring, show your rider’s horse the camera. Let the horse see you and smell you and the camera by his side. They get curious. Photograph some close ups of the horse’s head and the tack. Ask permission to photograph some riders. Get in the photo with your rider!
10. Read your manual and know how to use your camera. Understand the automatic settings and how to adjust your ISO. Understand how, perhaps, to use your video setting. It is fun to create movies that incorporate stills and video shots! If you are shooting video, tell the folks next to you so you are not catching their conversations on tape.
11. Hold the camera steady. Know where the horizon is and keep it steady. Know about when your rider is going on during the show. Let the folks know, nearby, that you are shooting so that they keep their hands and elbows out of the picture. Watch where the professionals shoot from and consider moving to obtain the angles they are getting. Know the kinds of shots you want to capture. Practice your timing as they jump the rails or pass a certain part of the indoor ring. Aspects of the photo can be changed with your camera software. Take lots of candids with their friends. Ask the kids to pose for group shots. Get shots with the helmets on and off.
Good Luck!
copyright 2011 Cathy Marsh Cathy Marsh Photography
About the Author
Great Photos will happen. Check out Equine stock photography at http://www.cathymarshphotography.com
Blog about Equestrian Daughters at She Rides Horses.com http://www.sherideshorses.com
Quality Equine cards at Horse Card Shop.com http://www.horsecardshop.com
How to Fit & Measure for a Riding Helmet by Mary’s Tack & Feed