Black Background Preparation Guide

Black Background Sessions

I absolutely LOVE black background sessions; a clean horse, a doorway, a handler, and a few treats are the main components of these shoots! A few simple ingredients come together to create a stunning, dramatic piece of art that can grace your walls for years to come. Below are a few recommendations on how to best prepare for a black or white background shoot.

How should I prepare my horse?

For the best images, your horse should be show-ring ready; there is nothing more photogenic than a clean, fit, healthy horse. The images will be taken primarily in a bridle, but if you have a nice leather halter and chain we can switch into for some shots it is also recommended. Simple metal snaffle bits are recommended for the best overall look. Below is a list of recommendations for getting the best image possible: 

• BATHED & GROOMED | Entire body brushed and dirt free, mane and forelock brushed straight and free of debris
• DRY | The horse should be completely dry when the shoot begins
• NO GREEN SPOTS | This should go without saying, but if you have a gray, green spots MUST removed... nothing ruins a picture like remnants of a poo pillow
• FACE WIPED DOWN | Nose, mouth, and eyes wiped clean (bring a rag!)
• SHINY HOOVES | Hooves painted and gleaming (Keratex Hoof Shield is a great option as it dries into a high-gloss varnish which will not attract dirt)
• PRISTINE TACK | Bridle wiped down, clean, and conditioned with bit shiny and wiped
• BRAIDED | Braided horses photograph spectacularly on black backgrounds and should absolutely be done if at all possible (if you plan on braiding, make sure you either practice beforehand or hire a braiding veteran - yarn/thread tends to look cleaner than rubber bands)

Have a Helper!

I HIGHLY recommend that a second person be there (besides you/the handler). I sometimes don't have assistants available and having a second person to help crinkle peppermints or shake a distraction stick (I have a very ridiculous pom pom to wave around) to get their attention is highly advised to make the shoot go by smoothly. An attentive horse is much more regal than a bored one!

Can you photoshop that?

I am an Adobe power-user and can accomplish mostly anything in Photoshop. For all horses, I will remove any scratches, scars, or nicks on the horse’s face or body, face blemishes or dirt/slobber that may show up during the shoot, and any unsightly background elements (black backgrounds inherently require quite a bit of post-processing, so this isn't too big of a deal). White backgrounds require a more intensive editing process than black backgrounds, so a tidy horse/barn area is even more vital when shooting those. I want to present your horse's best possible appearance with few distractions!

If your horse or tack is dirty, unkempt, or presented poorly I will not do any extensive edits without an additional editing fee. If you have any edit requests, please let me know prior to or during the session so I can understand exactly what you want and go over how we might accomplish it. For best results without extensive post-processing, follow the recommendations above. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you have any questions, concerns, or shoot custom ideas my way, please don't hesitate to reach out. If you have particular poses or other dreams for your shoot in mind, absolutely make me aware so I can bring them to fruition (I've had clients start a Pinterest board with inspiration and share it with me as one method).

My email address is alaina@alainahower.com and my number is (650)520-7659 and am always reachable via text.