Equine Photographers Podcast
Learn how today’s professional equine photographers got to where they are and how their niche’ works
45: Field Notes - Luck Is Not A Business Strategy
Hope is part of every business owner's journey, but hope alone has never built a sustainable business. In this Field Notes episode, I explore why intentional decisions—not waiting for the perfect opportunity—shape the careers that stand the test of time.
44: Field Notes - Photography Business Mistakes
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Introduction
When photographers talk about mistakes, the conversation almost always turns to technical problems. We talk about missed focus, poor lighting, bad timing, or equipment failures because those are the mistakes we can see immediately.
Looking back over more than twenty years in business, I’ve realized that the mistakes that had the greatest impact on my career weren’t usually technical. They were business decisions, assumptions, and habits that quietly influenced the direction of my business over time.
In this episode of Field Notes, I share seven lessons that experience taught me—l...
43: 10 Years Later: Shelley Paulson
Ten years after her first appearance on the Equine Photographers Podcast, Shelley Paulson returns to reflect on the evolution of her business, changing priorities, and the lessons that come with experience.
42: Field Notes - What Clients Are Actually Buying
Most photographers believe clients are paying for the finished images, but that's only part of the story. In this episode, we explore why trust, consistency, communication, and professionalism often have a greater influence on pricing than the photographs themselves—and how understanding that can transform your business.
41: Field Notes - The Throughput Problem
Most photographers think they have a speed problem. They don't—they have a throughput problem. Learn how better systems and workflows create a more profitable photography business.
40: 10 Years Later: Carien Schippers
Carien Schippers joins the 10 Years Later series to discuss a decade of change, business evolution, industry shifts, and lessons learned along the way.
39: Field Notes - The Backup Gear Myth
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INTRO
Backup gear is one of those topics that almost always turns into a discussion about equipment.
How many camera bodies do you own? How many lenses? How many memory cards? Do professionals really need backups for everything?
But the longer you’re in business, the more you realize that backup gear isn’t really about gear at all.
It’s about preparation.
In this episode, Suzanne explores why professionals spend money on systems, equipment, and processes they hope they’ll never need—and why the ability to recover...
38: Field Notes - Where People Think the Standard Lives (Part 7
INTRO
Most people think standards live in equipment, software, or technology.
They assume the quality of an industry rises or falls based on the tools being used. But standards don’t come from cameras, editing programs, or AI. They come from the work people see repeatedly over time.
In this episode, Suzanne Sylvester explores where professional standards actually originate, how they quietly shift, and why the responsibility for maintaining them rests with the people creating the work—not the clients consuming it.
WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS
why most people misunderstand wher...37: Field Notes - Photographers vs Designers: Where the Line is Actually Drawn (Part 6)
INTRO
The line between photographers and designers has been shifting for years.
Photographers are creating ads. Designers are picking up cameras. And in many cases, people are doing both. On the surface, that looks like a natural evolution. But underneath it, there’s a growing gap in how those roles are being understood.
WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS
how and why the line between photography and design has blurred how the design industry shifted before photography did why designers moved into photography why photographers started taking on design work where the overlap works—and...36: Field Notes - The Pricing Problem: Why So Many Equine Photographers Struggle to Make a Living (Part 5)
INTRO
Pricing is one of the most consistent conversations in equine photography—and one of the most misunderstood.
It’s often reduced to undercutting or people charging too little. But the reality is more complex than that. This episode looks at why pricing continues to be a problem in the industry, and why it’s tied to larger structural shifts rather than individual decisions.
WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS
why pricing issues keep showing up in the industry how accessibility and technology changed the market how photographers typically set pricing—and where that breaks d...35: Field Notes - From Film to Digital to AI: We've Seen This Before (Part 4)
EPISODE SUMMARY
The current conversation around AI feels new—but the pattern isn’t. In this Field Notes episode, we look at how the shift from film to digital mirrors what’s happening now with AI, and how increased access has changed both the industry and the people working in it.
SHOW NOTES
The conversation around AI in photography is being treated like something completely new.
But it isn’t.
The industry has already gone through a major shift—from film to digital—and the pattern we’re seeing now isn’t all t...
34: Field Notes - Stallion & Sale Ads: Why “Pretty” Isn’t the Same as Effective (Part 3)
Field Notes | Equine Photographers Podcast
EPISODE SUMMARY
A good-looking ad and an effective ad are not the same thing.
In the equine industry, especially in stallion and sale horse marketing, there’s a lot of emphasis placed on how something looks. Clean design, polished images, visually appealing layouts.
But none of that matters if the ad doesn’t actually communicate the horse.
In this Field Notes episode, we break down what makes an ad effective, where things start to fall apart, and why clarity matters more than design when someo...
33: Field Notes - Photoshop vs AI: Where the Line is in Equine Photography (Part 2)
Field Notes | Equine Photographers Podcast
EPISODE SUMMARY
Editing has always been part of professional photography, especially in equine work where environments are often unpredictable. But as AI tools become more common, the line between refining an image and altering the horse itself is becoming less clear.
In this Field Notes episode, I break down the difference between traditional editing tools like Photoshop and AI-driven processes. While both can improve an image, they do not work the same way—and that difference matters.
We get into where normal editing belongs, what AI is...
32: Field Notes - The Changing Standard: How Technology is Reshaping Equine Photography, Design and Marketing (Part 1)
Field Notes | Equine Photographers Podcast
EPISODE SUMMARY
The equine photography industry is changing—but not in the way most people think.
A lot of the current conversation is focused on AI. But this shift didn’t start with AI, and it won’t end there. It’s part of a pattern the industry has already gone through before.
In this Field Notes episode, we step back and look at what’s actually happening. From the transition from film to digital to the current rise of AI tools, the same cycle keeps showing up...
Who Owns Photo Rights Photographer vs Client vs Social Manager
Field Notes | Equine Photographers Podcast
This episode breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in photography right now: who actually owns a photo—and who has the right to use it.
As the demand for content has increased across the equine industry, more people are handling images daily without fully understanding how ownership and licensing work. That misunderstanding is leading to misuse, confusion, and lost income for photographers.
This is not a gray area. It just hasn’t been explained clearly.
In this Field Note, we walk through the structure of p...
30: Field Notes - Can Social Media Managers Use Client Photos? Photo Rights Explained
Can Social Media Managers Use Client Photos?
Episode Summary
Can social media managers use client photos?
This question is coming up more and more—and it’s where a lot of misunderstanding starts.
In this Field Notes episode, we walk through what’s actually happening when images are passed from a client to a third party, and where that use can cross the line.
This isn’t about bad intent. In most cases, it’s a lack of understanding around how photo rights and licensing actually work.
In This Ep...
29: Field Notes - Why Can't Multiple Photographers Just Shoot The Same Show?
Why Can’t Multiple Photographers Just Shoot the Same Horse Show?
Horse show photography isn’t built around competition. It’s built around coverage.
This question comes up all the time:
Why can’t multiple photographers just shoot the same horse show?
On the surface, it sounds like a competition issue.
It’s not.
It comes down to how horse shows are actually run, and where photography fits into that system.
Horse show photography isn’t just about getting a good shot. It’s a...
28: Field Notes - Private Client Photography at Horse Shows
Horse shows are structured, fast-paced environments where multiple professionals are working at the same time—trainers, riders, show staff, veterinarians, vendors, and photographers. Within that environment, it’s not uncommon for riders to hire their own photographer to document their experience at a show.
But when a horse show already has an official photographer, the question naturally comes up:
Where does private client photography fit?
Understanding the difference between official event coverage and private client work is key to answering that question. While both types of photography exist at the same event, they serv...
27: Field Notes — The Ethics of Photographing Horse Shows
Horse shows are busy, fast-moving environments where trainers, exhibitors, and organizers work together to keep everything running smoothly. Along the rail, it’s common to see someone with a camera—but not every photographer is there in an official capacity. The ethics of photographing horse shows becomes an important conversation when someone simply shows up and begins shooting without permission. Understanding the role of the official photographer, the expectations of show management, and the impact on the industry helps clarify why this situation is more complex than it might first appear.
Episode Summary
Can you phot...
Mastering Fine Art & Wild Horse Conservation in Equine Photography — with Carol Walker (10 years later)
Carol Walker Returns: 10 Years of Growth
Carol Walker returns to share what changed in her fine art equine photography business over the last decade—what she’d do differently, how her creative focus evolved, and why wild horse conservation remains at the heart of her work.
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Carol Walker of Living Images by Carol Walker returns to The Equine Photographer’s Podcast for a candid “10 years later” conversation about what changed—creatively and professionally—since her last appearance.
We talk about how her fine art equine photogra...
25: Lori McIntosh – Immersed in Photography & Horses since being a little kid – PODCAST
I love doing these podcasts It is great fun to do these podcasts, and I hope to get more regular with them. One way to make things move along more quickly is to cut down on the amount of information that I include on the website. Going forward, I am going to share a little […]
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Building an Authentic Equine Photography Career from Childhood Passion — with Lori McIntosh
Lori McIntosh: How She Built Her Equine Photography Passion from Childhood to Career
In this episode, Lori McIntosh shares how a childhood surrounded by photography and horses became the foundation for her equine photography journey — from early studio experiences to endurance riding and professional work today. Whether you’re building your own equine business or exploring your creative roots, Lori’s story shows how passion and persistence shape a meaningful career.
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Lori McIntosh’s equine photography story begins long before she ever picked up a camera professionally. Growing...
24 : Pam Gabriel – Teacher, horse rangler & photographer – PODCAST
Starting back up after a pause in the podcast I hope to get onto a schedule again after a hiatus from the podcast. Hopefully everyone who has subscribed will get this new episode. Please share it and spread the news that there are going to be new episodes. I have to admit that I had […]
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Turning Horse Life & Teaching into a Sustainable Photography Practice — with Pam Gabriel
From Horse Passion to Photography: Exploring Pam Gabriel’s Creative Journey
In this episode, Pam Gabriel shares how a lifelong love of horses turned into a path of wrangling, teaching, and building an equine photography practice rooted in creativity, connection, and community.
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In this conversation with Pam Gabriel, we explore how a love of horses shaped her life and creative pursuits — from wrangling and teaching to discovering the power of photography to connect with equine lovers. Pam reflects on her early experiences with horses, how photography found its...
23 : Matt Cohen – West Coast Rodeo & Sports Photographer – PODCAST
Thanks Kirstie Marie for a great introduction for Matt Cohen. Matt Cohen Rodeo Photography Website: http://www.mattcohenphoto.com Blog: http://www.mattcohenphoto.com/blog/ Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/1115/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mattcohenphoto Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcohenphoto/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jmatthewcohen SHOW NOTES: Matt describes himself as a city boy. He didn’t really have any exposure to horses at all until he was sent by a local paper to cover a rodeo for one evening. He […]
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How to Excel in Rodeo & Sports Photography as an Equine Photographer — with Matt Cohen
Thanks Kirstie Marie for a great introduction for Matt Cohen.
Matt Cohen Rodeo Photography
Website: http://www.mattcohenphoto.com
Blog: http://www.mattcohenphoto.com/blog/
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/1115/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mattcohenphoto
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcohenphoto/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jmatthewcohen
Cody Snow, Red Bluff 2016
SHOW NOTES:
Matt describes himself as a city boy. He didn’t really have any exposure to horses at all until he was sent by a local...
Growing Your Editorial & Stock Equine Photography Business — with Shawn Hamilton
In a changing market with changes in photography and changes in the economy their have been publications that have ceased to exist and others have cut back on photography budgets. Stock photography has also changed over the years. Throughout all this change, Shawn Hamilton has been able to run a successful editorial, commercial and stock photography business focused exclusively on equine photography.
My wife an I have been to the Rolex Three Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky for the cross-country jumping portion of the event many times over the past many years. O...
22 : Shawn Hamilton – Editorial and Stock Equine Photographer
In a changing market with changes in photography and changes in the economy their have been publications that have ceased to exist and others have cut back on photography budgets. Stock photography has also changed over the years. Throughout all this change, Shawn Hamilton has been able to run a successful editorial, commercial and stock […]
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Legal Essentials Every Creative & Equine Photographer Should Know — with Christina Scalera
Where to Find Christina:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/christinascalera Twitter: http://twitter.com/creativeatlaw Facebook: http://facebook.com/christinascalera Website: http://christinascalera.com Email: hello@christinascalera.com Periscope: @cscalera You can ask Christina questions here: http://www.christinascalera.com/contact1 Photo by Shelby Rae PhotographsChristina is an attorney based in Atlanta GA.
NEW? START HERE TRADEMARK REGISTRATION BLOG STORE AFFILIATES SPEAKING CONTACTIf you’ve ever complained that you love what you do but HATE the business side of things, you’re in the right spot. Christina’s mission as a lawyer for cre...
21 : Christina Scalera – Legal issues for creatives & equine photographers – PODCAST
Where to Find Christina: Instagram: http://instagram.com/christinascalera Twitter: http://twitter.com/creativeatlaw Facebook: http://facebook.com/christinascalera Website: http://christinascalera.com Email: hello@christinascalera.com Periscope: @cscalera You can ask Christina questions here: http://www.christinascalera.com/contact1 Photo by Shelby Rae Photographs Christina is an attorney based in Atlanta GA. NEW? START HERE TRADEMARK REGISTRATION BLOG STORE AFFILIATES SPEAKING CONTACT If you’ve ever complained that you love what you do […]
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Capturing Hunter/Jumper Shows & Portraits That Sell — with Andrew & Stacy Ryback
One big family
It is interesting interviewing show photographers and finding that one thing they love about what they do is getting to know the riders as friends over time. Andrew and Stacy do this to the nth degree and hire people who will continue with their sales philosophy and the feeling of family in their business. It sounds like they have a blast shooting and selling their photography at these shows. I would love to spend the day with them and just watch how the customer experience works.
The camera came first f...
20 : Andrew & Stacy Ryback – Hunter/Jumper show photography & portraits – PODCAST
One big family It is interesting interviewing show photographers and finding that one thing they love about what they do is getting to know the riders as friends over time. Andrew and Stacy do this to the nth degree and hire people who will continue with their sales philosophy and the feeling of family in […]
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Winning Saddle Horse Show Photography: Techniques & Mindset — with Jon McCarthy
I contacted Jon because I saw some of his farm call images. As I explored his website, I found out that his main gig is Saddle Horse Shows from all over the country. I’ve been wanting to have some interviews with show photographers, so I was delighted when Jon was willing to come on the podcast and tell us about his history with horses and his equine photography business.
What makes a great horse show photographer?
How do you learn to run a horse show business?
These are some of the...
19 : Jon McCarthy – Saddle horse show photography & learning from the best – PODCAST
I contacted Jon because I saw some of his farm call images. As I explored his website, I found out that his main gig is Saddle Horse Shows from all over the country. I’ve been wanting to have some interviews with show photographers, so I was delighted when Jon was willing to come on the podcast […]
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Outsourcing & Beta Techniques for Growing Your Equine Photography Business — with Kirstie Marie
A Texas portrait equine photographer
When I was exploring for new people to interview, I came across Kirstie Marie Photography in Texas. I put off calling her because I had just interviewed another photographer from Texas, so I signed up for the Kirstie Marie email list. Once or twice a week I have been getting samples of beautiful horse and rider portrait sessions she is having. The emails are very graphically interesting and personally inviting and you are left with wanting more. It was time to interview Kirstie of Kirstie Marie photography.
Filling a void...
18 : Kirstie Marie Photography – The concept of Beta and Outsourcing – PODCAST
A Texas portrait equine photographer When I was exploring for new people to interview, I came across Kirstie Marie Photography in Texas. I put off calling her because I had just interviewed another photographer from Texas, so I signed up for the Kirstie Marie email list. Once or twice a week I have been getting […]
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Startup Strategies That Work for New Equine Photographers — with Anna Smolens
HELLO, I’M ANNA. A FINE ART EQUINE AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER BASED ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND.
How do you gain instant recognition and memorability? After reading about being the purple cow in a marketing book, Anna decided on the name Purple Horse Design. One of the many little points we discuss about Anna’s quick start-up of her equine photography business in Maryland. Lots of energy and enthusiasm and planning and practice have brought her along amazingly fast. Listen to her enthusiasm and ideas and learn from the new kid on the block here on the E...
17 : Anna Smolens – Start-up strategies for equine photography that are working – PODCAST
HELLO, I’M ANNA. A FINE ART EQUINE AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER BASED ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND. How do you gain instant recognition and memorability? After reading about being the purple cow in a marketing book, Anna decided on the name Purple Horse Design. One of the many little points we discuss about Anna’s quick […]
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Growing Your Brand Through Engagement & Audience – Lessons from Tony Stromberg’s Spirit Horses & Social Growth
Where did Tony Stromberg come from to get to where he is now? This is from the About Tony on his website and I would encourage you to go over and read more as this is only the first couple of paragraphs describing his journey.
After successfully spending over 20 years as a high-end advertising photographer in San Francisco, I found myself disenchanted, burned out, and ultimately receiving no nourishment from the work I was doing. On the outside, I had everything anyone would want, but my inner landscape was barren and I began “searching” for my lost spiri...
16 : Tony Stromberg – Spirit Horses & 800,000 and growing Facebook Likes – PODCAST
Where did Tony Stromberg come from to get to where he is now? This is from the About Tony on his website and I would encourage you to go over and read more as this is only the first couple of paragraphs describing his journey. After successfully spending over 20 years as a high-end advertising […]
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