This is an older session, but I just realized that I never shared it, and this little family is too beautiful not to share. They have such a beautiful property and their horses both had such amusing personalities - all of that together put together an absolutely magical session!
Best of 2020
2020 was, in a word, wild.
I don’t think anyone was prepared for what 2020 would bring. With all of the craziness, I really learned a lot about being thankful for the blessings I have right now. Every horse show that I was able to attend was precious, every session treasured more than ever before.
In 2020, despite the lock down for a few months, my business adventure included:
Sessions or shows in six states
120,000+ photos taken
8,000+ miles driven for sessions and shows
I am so excited for this coming year - we have some great things planned! New shows, bucket list sessions, more inclusive packages, and more. Here are some of my favorite images from 2020:
Kennedy || 2020 Representative
My representative sessions are some of my favorite each year.
They are the perfect opportunity to say “thank you” to my reps for all of their hard work promoting the EKP brand, as well as a chance to flex my creative muscles a little bit. Kennedy and I did her session with her horse and pup, and I wanted to share photos from the outdoor portion of her session.
Recap || 2020 Oregon Quarter Horse Association Summer Classic
Now that things have slowed down (slightly), I wanted to do a quick recap of one of the biggest shows we had this year: the Oregon Quarter Horse Association Summer Classic.
This show took place at the lovely Oregon Horse Center in Eugene, Oregon. With everything from halter to trail to driving to reining, there is truly something for every Quarter Horse lover! Though the hours were long and the days were late, the 2020 Summer Classic was something amazing!
Though it has been an unconventional year, the turn out was incredible, the judges and show staff were amazing to work with, and the horses were top notch.
Below are a few favorite photos our team took. Enjoy!
Using Light to Take Great Photos of Your Horse at Home
Professional photos are great, but what about capturing your every day life?
The difference between a good photo and a great photo is in the details, so here are a few tips on how to use light to help you make your next impromptu photo session the best yet!
Disclaimer: all art is subjective, and photography is no exception.
I have been in the business long enough to know that everyone has their own style of how they take photos. Some people love soft, morning light, some like dramatic shadows and black and white edits, some do a mix of it all. There is no right or wrong way to do it, and I am not writing this to tell you the best way to take a photo. However, I hope you can use these tips in order to get the style you are looking for, whatever that style may be! All of the photos in this blog are mostly or completely unedited, except for a couple that you can see have obviously had some magic done to them.
To start: the difference between a phone photo and a DSLR photo.
Helping us out for the blog are my amazing booth manager, Britt, and her sweet boy, Axton. Aren’t they adorable?
Most of the photos taken in this blog post are taken with my camera, simply because I have the greatest control over settings and color, but here is a quick side-by-side of a couple of photos taken with my camera, and then two similar ones taken with my iPhone X, for comparison:
If you are using a cell phone or a point-and-shoot camera without a lot of control over settings, it is especially important to use your light well.
Next up: different natural light types.
Direct Light
Light is one of the most important parts of taking a great photo. Unless you are specifically going for dramatic lighting, using light in a way that it is distributed evenly takes a photo to the next level.
When you are taking conformation photos or something that needs simple, non-distracting light, facing your subject directly in front of the sun with your back to the sun will create bright, even light, such as in this photo below. This type of lighting is great to use with horses and other animals who aren’t as affected by sunlight in their faces, though of course, you should never encourage them to look directly into the sun.
For humans, direct sunlight can be used, but watch out for squinty eyes, which are so beautifully modeled by Britt below. Super bright, direct sunlight is not all that flattering to the skin, either. This is a large part of the reason that I usually use backlight for portraits with people.
Backlight
If you are looking for a photo that isn’t so bright, you can put the subject with the sun behind them and face the sun yourself, which creates a softer, gentler light on the subject. This is an excellent opportunity to use the sun when it is low in the show to create “sunbursts” - the best time of day to try this is up to an hour after sunrise, and up to an hour before and during sunset. Backlighting, when used correctly, creates beautiful, soft light that is especially flattering to humans. Here are a few examples of this technique:
Partial Light
If you are going for dramatic light, using partial light is a great way to do it. Admittedly, I am not one to use this technique super often, as it doesn’t fit my style super well, but it can be a great way to accent certain parts of your subject, and often makes an excellent black and white edit. Here are a few examples of using partial light. They are a great opportunity to really play with your editing style, so I did!
To give you a visual, I made a graphic showing where you and your subject should stand in relation to the sun for each type of lighting:
Overcast Light
When the sun decides to hide behind the clouds, creating overcast light, you can really shoot in whatever direction you like, as the light will be nice and even. Many people actually prefer to shoot on an overcast day, as the light is often softened by the clouds, but enough sun gets through for it to be sufficiently light enough to get a great photo. Here are a few photos shot while it was overcast:
Just remember: light is a tool!
I encourage you to go outside and play with it! Horses are very forgiving subjects when it comes to light. They look amazing in any kind of light, so next time you head outside to take a photo or two, try using different light to create certain effects! Accentuate your horse’s shine with direct light, or play with the angles of his face with partial light. The possibilities are endless, and I would love to see what you do with it!
Next up: we will be discussing how to take stellar conformation shots of your horse for sales, ads, or just for fun! It seems simple, but there are many little details that matter!
See you soon!
- Liz
Please...Don't Wait.
Please, don’t wait.
Usually I blog about recent sessions or events that have happened in the business, but today is going to get a little more personal.
As all of my wonderful clients are, I am an avid animal lover. I currently own my horse, three little budgerigars, a ton of fish (plus babies!), and an aquatic turtle. The only reason there isn’t a dog or two and a cat in the house is because our landlord doesn’t allow it. And believe me - we’ve tried.
Along with loving these wonderful creatures, I have lost them. I have lost two horses that I deeply care about in my dozen or so years of riding, as well as other types of pets I understand the deep pain that is experienced when a beloved animal passes. It doesn’t matter how old you are - it hurts.
I have also felt the deep pain of clients who have had their horse or pet pass away. It doesn’t matter if it was expected, or completely out of the blue. You are never ready for it.
My post today is not intended to sell prints or get you to book. It is to bare my heart and tell you that I get it; I understand. Sometimes, life just isn’t fair. I had a connection with one of the horses that I lost that was deeper than anything I have every experienced otherwise in my life. She was put down to an irreparable injury. She was only nine, and was an athlete in her prime, before it was all suddenly taken away. This was when I was a teen eager, and I am very sorry to admit that I have few photos of her. The ones that I do have, I cling to. I never had professional photos done of her, never showed at a show that had a pro photographing, never even took the time to intentionally clean her up and do little shoot with my phone, and I deeply regret that.
Please, don’t wait to capture your memories with your companion. Whether you hire a professional for a shoot, buy a photo or two at your next show, or simply take the time to take more photos with your phone when you ride, just DO IT. We never know how long you have with our family, and our horses and pets are the same way.
If I am able to help in any way, be it by capturing the memories for you, being a shoulder to cry on, or helping you preserve your memories in art, don’t hesitate to ask. We are all in this together - bonded by our love for these incredible animals we get to call ours. And in the end, through all the joy and tears and sweat and hard work and money spent and care given, our memories and legacies, in whatever form we capture them, are what will live on forever.
-Liz
This post was written in loving memory of all of our beloved horses and pets who have passed on.
Cassidy + Mardee - A Little Mare with a Big Personality
During the 2019 portrait trip, my assistant and I had the privilege of meeting Mardee and her sweet mama, Cassidy.
Mardee is a tiny little Quarter Horse, who was pretty young at the time of the session. I’ve been around plenty of young horses, and I was extremely impressed with how quiet she was! We went way out into the property, and she didn’t bat an eye. Their bond was the sweetest connection I had experienced in a long time, and I hope you enjoy the results as much as I do!
Ugh, aren’t they just SO sweet?
-Liz
Lucia's Fashion Session
I had a really fun opportunity this past summer!
Lucia is a fabulous horse trainer and social media influencer with a lovely fashion sense. She is all over Facebook, Instagram, and MeWe with her practical approach to horse training and her beautiful style.
I had chatted with her a bit over Facebook, but had never met her. I ran a contest for a session giveaway, and Lucia won! I was super excited to finally meet her and see what she had in store for her session. And man, she did not disappoint!
It was a nice long drive for me to her place in Washington State. We went to the session location and met her partner for the day - an adorable, incredibly sane palomino gelding. We did some traditional fashion shots, then the horse’s owner informed us that he would do some bridleless shots - um, yes please!
We had a complete blast - enjoy some of the best photos from the session!
Isn’t she gorgeous? Check out her training work at Lucia Clemetson Performance Horsemanship on Facebook and @luciaclemetsonhorsemanship on Instagram. You can also see her fashion work at Reata Rose on Facebook and @reata_rose on Instagram. She is a beautiful soul and we had a great time together. Hopefully, we will meet again in the future!
-Liz, Northwest Horse Photographer
Sip 'N' Shoot Parties!
Oh my gosh, we have the coolest idea.
Thanks to my amazing team, we have come up with a super fun idea.
We’re talking a party. With hot cocoa (or wine if you have more adult tastes), your closest barn friends, and yes, your own session.
This is an incredibly fun, modern twist on the regular “barn sessions” that my team has offered for years, and I am so excited to see it come to life!
Here’s how it works…
Everyone books a micro mini session at our group rate. These are super short sessions - fifteen minutes and three digitals - so you can get back to the party! We spend part of the party doing everyone’s sessions. It’s extra fun because your barn buddies are there to cheer you on and help you get ready!
Once you have finished your session, you can join the party in the meeting area, where there will be drinks, snacks, and great company. Once everyone has wrapped things up, the rest of the party will be spent eating, drinking, and enjoying each other’s company. Plus, everyone gets a fun little gift as part of the party. Truly, what could be better?
Since we’re just trying this our for now and working out the kinks, we are doing our first winter parties at an introductory price - but not for long, so don’t wait to get your friends together!
Book your own party for only $50 a participant - that includes drinks, snacks, a micro mini session, and memories!
Send me an email at info@elizabethknightphotography.com to book! We will only be booking three parties at this price!
Clara || A Montana Senior Session
There’s no doubt, Montana is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Naturally, I was thrilled when Clara’s mom said that they have property with views of the big Montana skyline, and that Clara would like her session with her dog and horse. I had an absolutely incredible time with Clara, Zelda, and Jamaica was an amazing experience. I hope you enjoy the pictures from her session just as much as I do!
Fall Shortie Sessions!
Fall is the BEST time of year.
I know that’s just an opinion, but c’mon, the changing leaves? Football season (go Raiders!)? The cooler weather? Sweaters and boots and apple cider and Thanksgiving? It’s an amazing season!
Fall also means that it’s time for another set of “shortie” sessions! Available for pets and horses (and their owners, of course), these sessions are a perfect way to get the experience of a full session, without any extra fluff.
Shortie sessions are intended to give you a taste of what a real session is like. They are perfect for those who would like just a few pictures to capture the bond they have with their horse or pet. Check out the details on what is included and how to book a session of your own below!
Each session includes:
A thirty minute shortie session
Five social media size digitals
Location of your choice - we go where the colors are!
10% off of prints and products 11x14 and larger
"8” x 8” self-hanging framed print of your choice
Each shortie session is $195. Additional pets or horses are $80 each with no additional digitals, or you can book one session per animal. Groups of three or more sessions will incur a 15% discount.
Please note: these shortie sessions will only be available from September 21st-November 14th on weekdays. Dates are pretty limited, so please don’t wait to fill out the form if you would like to book a session!
Ready to book a session of your own? Grab your PSL and fall vibes and head over to the booking form page to get a date on the calendar!
Bella + Her Beautiful Rescues
Rescue is something that is close to my heart.
There is something about an animal that has been rescued from a terrible situation. It’s almost like they know that you care for them and that they will never have the hurt again in that way. It creates a bond between horse and human that is so special, and simply cannot be found in any other relationship.
This summer, I had the privilege of capturing the bonds that Bella has with several of her rescue horses in Everson, Washington. Each individual is in different stages of healing. Some are ready to live a normal horse life, others have special emotional, physical, or mental needs - for now, or for life. Bella cares for these animals wherever they are at. She respects their behavior, feelings, and concerns, and love them however she can. Please enjoy the pictures from our session - I think you will see the bond there too!
I hope you enjoyed seeing the love between Bella and her beauties. Much fun was had in our session!
-Liz, Spokane Horse Photographer
Choosing the Best Show Picture
Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed when purchasing pictures from your latest event?
Whether you ride endurance, slide into reining stops, or jump cross country obstacles, chances are you will come across an event that has a photographer at some point. While deciding what pictures you want to buy t capture your special event forever can be overwhelming, here are some tips to help you choose the perfect picture to hang on your wall.
1. Look for the moments.
Did the photographer capture the joy on your face after you finished your personal best ride? Did your horse do something adorable during the jog? Was your horses’s effort over the outside oxer just STUNNING? Those moments are something that you never want to forget, and getting the images to remember the details forever is the perfect way to memorialize them.
2. It’s all about the angles.
In most cases, a 3/4 angle on your horse, whatever discipline you are riding, tends to be classic and flattering. Oftentimes, a full on side angle can be nice as well, especially for flat disciplines. The perfect angle sometimes is the difference between an average shot and a “wow!” shot.
3. Timing is everything!
Hopefully, the photographer who is attending your event is well versed in the equestrian community and is in tune to what riders want from their pictures. Each discipline requires different moments in the stride, angles, and timing to get the “money shot”. If you aren’t sure what is the best photo, ask your photographer! Experienced photographers will be happy to help you find the perfect picture to capture your ride.
4. Look for correctness in the rider and horse.
A photo can be beautifully composed by the photographer, but if it’s the moment your horse chooses to hang a leg, or you accidentally get left behind, it may not be the best choice. I always recommend taking a close look at both the horse and the rider and making sure that everyone looks their best. Most photographers can also do minor fixes, such as ear/eye fixes and cleaning up the background. Be sure the ask when you are making your decision!
5. Above all, go with your gut!
Sometimes it happens where I am going through pictures, and for some reason I “just really like this one”. If you have a particular picture (or two!) that you are drawn to, go with your gut. You don’t want to walk away without that one and regret it later. Pictures are all about capturing emotion, and if a picture invokes emotions in you, then the photographer has done his or her job!
I wish you the very best in selecting your pictures this season. If I have attended an event you are looking for pictures at, I am always available to do a consultation and help you find the perfect pictures to fit your needs. Never hesitate to reach out! Have great rides this year!
-Liz, Photographer at Elizabeth Knight Photographer
Finally Sharing: 2017 Workshop || Day Two
The second day of the workshop might have been my favorite. But it’s hard to choose…
The second day, we focused on breeding horses. We had two gorgeous stallions of different types, as well as a mare and her sweet foal. Check out the stunning results below!
Sorry (kinda) for the overshare, but this second day of the workshop was just fabulous! We had a great time learning about photographing stallions, mares ,and foals in their best light. Day three to come soon!
-Liz, Photographer at Elizabeth Knight Photography
Finally Sharing: 2017 Workshop || Day One
I can’t believe I haven’t shared the workshop images all in once place!
Back in 2017, we had a wonderful workshop consisting of three days of gorgeous models and beautiful weather. I have shared many of the images, but just realized I never shared the whole thing on the blog! Doh!
Since there were three days, I am going to split them into three blog posts. The first day was at a beautiful local campsite that allows horses. We had two beautiful horse and rider pairs come out to demonstrate different aspects of modeling. We went over composition, posing, and even had an unplanned experience with the craziness of working with a young horse!
Check out the gorgeous images below of Katie and Amanda with their beauties they brought along for the day!
We had such a fabulous time, and the colors were just beautiful! I can’t wait to get together for more workshops in the future! Let me know if you would like to be a part in the future. <3
-Liz, Pet and Equine Photographer
Carlee & Dreamer // Post Falls Equestrian Center
I have yet to see such beautiful light.
When I arrived at the lovely facility of Post Falls Equestrian Center, the light was just beginning to fall behind the trees. That day in particular had been hot, with a strong sun, but as it started to cool, the sun filtered through the trees in all the right ways. I hope you enjoy some of my favorites from her session just as much as I do.
Man, this makes me want summer! I hope you enjoyed taking a peek into a summer session. Here’s to many more in 2019!
-Liz, Photographer at Elizabeth Knight Photography
Best of 2018 Contest Winners!
The “Best of 2018” Contest has been a success!
With hundreds of votes on over a hundred pictures, this year’s contest has been the biggest yet. It is so much fun to look back on the previous year and remember all of the wonderful horses, pets, and people that I had the privilege of getting to know. Here’s to a fantastic 2019!
Without further ado, the winners!
In the “Portrait” division, winning first place and an 16x20 mounted print…
Jenny Wells and her group of lovable pups!
And in second place, winning an 11x14 mounted print…
Kelsey Masterson and the ever handsome Scooby!
We have three runners-up who got a significant amount of votes well - they are eligible for a regular 8x10 of their photo!
Congratulations to Kenzie Crittenden, Christina Roberts, and Solveig Wantanabe!
In the “Event and Show Division”, winning first place and an 16x20 mounted print..
McKenna Anderson and her sweet Jack!
And in second, winning the 11x14 print by ONE vote...
Katie Keppler and Ben!
And our runners-up in this division, winning a regular 8x10 print are…
Crystal Murray-Weston, Pheiffer Rosenberger, and Connie Hicks!
Huge congratulations to the winners! If you won a print, please email me at info@elizbethknightphotography.com to make arrangements. Thank you so much for making 2018 the best year yet, and here is to making 2019 even better!
-Liz, Photographer and Animal Lover
2018 Portrait Trip, Part Two // Tangent, OR
Part two of the trip took us to Tangent, Oregon.
I always think of either the beautiful beach or a lush forest when I think of Oregon. When we made our next stop in Tangent to photograph a lovely buckskin colt, the colorful fields and orchards reminded me a bit of home. Momma (Juanita) even jumped in for a shot with her other lovely mare. We will be back in 2019 to photograph her next lovely foal and we can’t wait!
P.S. as of the time this blog post was written, this colt is still for sale. He is extremely nice! Juanita is excellent to work with and has already put tons of time on him. Send me an email at info@elizabethknightphotography.com if you’d like her information!
2018 Portrait Trip, Part One // Oregon City, Oregon
The portrait trip was the highlight of my summer.
Getting to meet everyone and travel all over the Northwest was so incredible! I never dreamed I would be able to travel for work, and this trip last June took Luke and I all over Oregon and Washington.
Featured on the blog today is a barn day I did at a beautiful private barn in Oregon City, Oregon. Here are a few favorites from the number of sessions we did that day!
Stay tuned to check out the rest of the images from the sessions from the trip! I will be heading back out to Oregon and Washington in May, and I can’t wait to do it again!
- Liz, Elizabeth Knight Photography
Christmas Shopping for the Horse Lover
It’s finally December! And December means Christmas shopping.
Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. Snow is on the ground, making all of my sessions white and fresh. Families are getting together, gifts are being exchanged, and so many things are being celebrated.
I love Christmas shopping - it’s one of my favorite things to do in December! Do you have all of your gift purchased yet? I reached out to the horsey community to find out what everyone’s favorite horse related gifts have been, and I have put together an easy, but personal list of gift ideas for the horse lover in your life!
Gift cards, especially to tack shops.
I have yet to meet a horse person who does not light up at the prospect of going to the tack store with a little bit of money in hand. Let’s be honest, horses and everything related to them are expensive, so it is not often that a horse person has “fun” money to spend on his or her favorite animal. Gift cards are an easy way to make a horse lover’s day!
Personalized gifts for their horse.
Every horse person appreciates a beautiful leather halter with a nameplate for their horse, or a cute stall sign with their horse’s name. If you know the person pretty well and know what they will use, custom items show that you put a lot of thought into the person’s gift! Other custom ideas suggested included custom rope halters, monogrammed saddle pads, custom made tack sets, and personalized horse brushes.
Personalized gifts for the rider.
Horse people love their horses, but as much as they’d like to, they can’t be with them 24/7! There are many options for personalized horsey gifts that don’t involve the horse - making it easier for non-horsey people to get them as gifts. Mugs with pictures of the horse, custom made riding gloves, horse shaped ornaments painted like their horse, horsehair jewelry, horse related bookends, hand painted portraits, and yes, photography sessions/certificates were among the favorites.
“That thing” they’ve been talking about.
This one often takes a little bit more creativity and trickery, but if you hang out with a horse person for long, more often than not they will mention something they’ve been wanting to get for their horse or themselves. Coordinate a bit with their significant other, parents, or good friends on details you don’t know, and you may just have the perfect gift! Going in together on the gift is another excellent option if it is a bigger item.
Training/riding lessons with their favorite trainer.
Training and lessons can be very expensive, but they are so vital to the success of a horse and rider team. If the rider does not currently take lessons, then giving a cute certificate for “x amount of show fees” is another fun idea that will be much appreciated by the rider who shows.
Treats for the rider - and the horse.
One idea that stood out to me as a really fun, simple idea that makes a great present was gift bags. Part of them were horse treats, and part were human cookies/goodies. Wrap them up (separately!) and put them in a box, and you have a perfect horsey gift!
