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.
Nikki's Pretty Little Appy
On our portrait trip this past summer, we met Nikki and her pretty Appaloosa mare.
For being as young as she was, this little mare was amazing! We took her all over the property and posed her near water, on a hill, and in unfamiliar places. She was foot-perfect, and totally handled everything we asked her to do. And as you can see, we got some beautiful results!
Christmas Mini Sessions!
By popular request - Christmas mini sessions are here!
I’m all kinds of excited for the Christmas season - I’m even a little bit excited for snow! We live in such a gorgeous place in the winter, despite the chilly temperatures.
I have had several people interested in winter and Christmas sessions, so I am pleased to announce that during the week of November 24th-December 1st, I am offering Christmas mini sessions! These can take place no matter the weather. No snow? No problem! We can make winter magic in post processing. Check out an example below!
Want to create some magic of your own? These are perfect for family sessions, pet sessions, horse sessions, and all of the above combined! Private sessions are available at your location of choice, or join us for a special day of sessions, which will take place at the beautiful Spokane Sport Horse Farm on November 30th! Check out the session details below:
Private Sessions: these take place at the location of your choice within thirty miles of Rathdrum, Idaho.
>> Forty five minute session
>> Location of your choice
>> Ten social media digitals of your choice - options for add-ons
>> Set of special gift ornaments for your tree!
$275
Special Portrait Day - November 30th at Spokane Sport Horse Farm
>> Thirty minute session
>> Choice of background at Spokane Sport Horse Farm
>> Horses and leashed pets are welcome!
>> Five social media digitals of your choice - options for add-ons
>> Set of special gift ornaments for your tree!
>> Limited - only fifteen available as of now!
$125
Ready to sign up? Submit your information in the form below and I will get you booked!!
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
Class of 2019/2020 Essay Contest
We are hosting a Class of 2019/2020 essay contest!
Seniors of 2019 and 2020! We are having a contest for a free photo session with you and your horse or pet! In high school (and still now!) I loved to write and read. I would have loved the opportunity to win a session with my horse or dog for my senior session, which sparked the idea to hold a contest of my own! Check out the details below and submit your best writing!
The contest winner will receive a full service black background and outdoor session. Five runners up will receive gift certificates towards a session. Please note: a travel fee may apply for sessions outside of the Spokane area, unless you are able to accommodate travel dates.
You have the choice of three prompts for your essay. Treat this as a school assignment - preference will be given to essays with proper spelling, grammar, and formatting. Essays should be at least 300 words long.
Prompt #1: What has owning and working with pets or horses taught you that will be useful as you navigate life after high school?
Prompt #2: Tell me about a horse or pet who was extra special to you. How did he or she change your life?
Prompt #3: What is your favorite aspect of the horse or pet community? How have you seen others in the community come together over the mutual love of the animal?
To Enter:
To enter this contest, please send your completed essay to info@elizabethknightphotography.com with the subject line: EKP Essay Contest, as well as the following information:
Full Name:
School Attending:
Graduation Year:
Location:
Will you use this session with your pet or horse?:
Best of luck to all! I can’t wait to hear what you come up with!
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 Three // Pasco, WA
The beauty of the Arabian horse is unmatched.
As we rolled up to the barn at Sunhaven Sport Horses, several dished face peeked out at us from stall door and over fences. Tracy Oliver and her trainer Tony have an excellent group of pure and part-Arabian horses. I enjoyed every moment watching these horses move with such grace, and getting to know both Tracy and Tony and hear a bit about the amazing industry they are in as breeders. Here are some of the completed images from our session!
I hope you enjoyed taking a peek into these award-winning Arabians’ sessions. they were truly an exceptional group on equally beautiful property!
- Liz, Photographer at Elizabeth Knight Photography
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!
What are you getting for the horse lovers in your lives this year? I would love to hear more suggestions! Merry (early) Christmas everyone!
Christmas Sessions Are Here!
Christmas will be here soon.
Hi everyone! This is one of my favorite times of year! Thanksgiving is next week, which is a precious time with family and friends spent reminiscing about a wonderful year and enjoying yummy food. Christmas is starting to sneak into my house, admittedly completely by my doing. As I type this blog, gentle instrumental Christmas music is playing, and my desk is decked out in lights and penguins, which happen to be my favorite Christmas animal. I am extra excited tonight because I was able to schedule some last minute Christmas sessions today!
Christel of Spokane Sport Horse Farm and Erica and Angela of Angela Tanner Training and Horsemanship have both generously offered their beautiful facilities for our use. Both facilities are quiet and are the perfect place to hold sessions. Not looking for Christmas specific pictures? No problem! We have plenty of room, and can do simple outdoor or black/white background images very easily. The dates and details of each location are below.
Sessions Details
We have two session types available to fit your personal needs - half sessions and full sessions.
Half Session - $50
20 minutes of session time
Three edited, high quality digitals of your choice
8x10 regular or 5x7 standout print
10% off of additional digitals and our full line of products
Full Session - $99
45 minutes of session time
Seven edited, high quality digitals of your choice
11x14 regular or 8x10 standout print
15% off of additional digitals and our full line of products
Remember, we have beautiful, hand-gift wrapped options for all products, making these sessions a classy, personal Christmas gift!
Spokane Sport Horse Farm - November 24th
This beautiful location is quiet and both horse and dog friendly. We will be set up for solid background as well as outdoor and Christmas photos.
We will have time for sessions from 10:00-3:30. Time slots will be listed below as they are booked.
Angela Tanner Training and Horsemanship - December 1st
Located in Newport, Washington, this lovely facility is set up for all types of sessions. Both horses and dogs are welcome!
We will have time for sessions from 10:00-3:30. Time slots will be listed below as they are booked.
These are last minute, but I wanted to offer them to anyone who would like pictures this holiday season! Pictures will be delivered before Christmas. Check out our event at https://www.facebook.com/events/195063731383387/ and sign up using the form below - these will be snatched up quickly!
See you soon!
-Liz
Registration Form
Please fill out the form below to book!
What to Expect With Every Session
So, you want to book a session.
As a business owner, I strive to be consistent in my treatment of every session. My biggest goals are to make your experience as simple and personal as possible. Each session is catered to you and your pet or horse's individual needs in order to create the best artwork for you as possible!
The First Contact
When we first make contact, I will work with you to get a good idea of exactly what your dream session will look like. From the type of animal, to how many images you need, this process is treated with utmost transparency to help you select the exact session collection for your needs - no more, no less.
If you have chosen styling or have questions, we will work closely to make sure communication is clear and everyone involved knows what is going on. Ask any and all questions that come up - I am happy to help in any way possible!
The Session
Once we have a session date, location, and other details figured out, it's time to shoot! I (and my assistant if needed) will meet you at the predetermined location. The session time starts precisely at the time we planned to make things as clear as possible, so I recommend planning on being ready to go ten minutes before our scheduled time!
When everyone is present, we shoot! I love and recommend coming with posing and prop ideas if you have something that you just love. Even better if you send me the ideas before the session so I can make sure to work them in!
The Delivery
After our session, I carefully sort and hand edit the images for your gallery. Unless something else has been pre-arranged, typically it is up to my discretion which images are included. Usually, I include at least one of each pose that is flattering and has good lighting.
Payment, if it hasn't been completed at the time of the session, is due any time before images are delivered. Typical turnaround time during most times of the year is up to four weeks; please let me know before the session if you need a different timeline.
When the images are completed, the gallery will be sent to your email address. They will be in a simple, user-friendly gallery where the included digitals can be downloaded, and any desired prints or products may be purchased. Remember, the digitals provided are for your personal use, though commercial usage may be purchased from the gallery. Don't forget, I offer a complementary design appointment to help you find the perfect products for your wall or album!
As always, if you have any questions or requests, please do not hesitate to reach out! I am here for YOU and your dream session, and I want you to love every minute!
- Liz, Photographer at Elizabeth Knight Photography