Equine Fine Art
FAQ

FAQ

Fine Art horse photography refers to a style of photography that goes beyond mere documentation and aims to capture the essence, beauty, and emotion of horses in a creative and artistic manner. Several defining elements contribute to fine art horse photography:

Composition, emotion & mood, creative lighting, attention to detail, narrative & storytelling, post-processing & editing, unconventional perspectives and artistic Vision.

Overall, fine art horse photography transcends the ordinary and strives to create images that are not only visually appealing but also evoke a deeper appreciation for the beauty, majesty, and character of horses.

Yes I do, it is the best way to achieve the beautiful Fine Art images by creating contrast and hi-lighting the horses features.

Photographing horses with flash or high power strobes is a fairly straightforward process. After I have set up my lighting and the backdrop without the horse on set, we start very calmly walking your horse through the set and slowly get them used to all these elements.

I will fire the flash while we stand calmly with the horse, so they see the flash lighting is not a threat.

The pace of the shoot will be determined by your horse.

The idea is to create a safe environment in which your horse feels completely at ease.

I don’t have specific packages because all my clients have differing requirements.
Instead, once the photography session is complete, you get to view the proofs and select the number and size of Fine Art prints you would like to adorn your home or office.

I will then expertly edit each image to show off your horse in its absolute best light.

Planning

  • A shoot planning & styling consultation where we discuss the various options, what type of yard you have and what the undercover options are. This is either over the phone or via ZOOM. We can also do this at your yard and I charge for my time on site and travelling from my studio in Midrand.

The shoot

  • A 30 – 45minute shoot at your yard. We take our time to get the horse used to the space and the lighting before starting the actual shoot.

Fine Art prints & selecting them

  • Included in the session is a complimentary 20 x 30cm print and it’s digital file. 
  • I will send the proofs through to you via wetransfer.com to look through in your own time.
  • We can then customise a package for you. From the number of images, large format prints, no matter what your requirements might be, we have a solution for you.
  • And trust me, it will be hard to narrow down your selection.

As I am based in the Kyalami area, I mostly work in the Kyalami, Mnandi, Centurion and greater Gauteng, but am happy to travel anywhere in South Africa as well as across our borders.

  • The shoot can take place in stable blocks, barns, breezeways, indoor arenas or large hay sheds that have enough empty space for the horse, handler and equipment.
  • The area must be at least 4 x 7m, but more space is always better if you want your full horse in the picture.
  • There must be at least one power point.

As I work with flash lighting, the time of day is not important. However, if your horse is more relaxed early morning or late afternoon, then it is best to schedule the shoot at that time.

Enlisting the help of a horse savvy friend or family member can be invaluable during your horse’s photo shoot. 

Having a spare pair of hands during your equine session can help your session go as smoothly as possible. Extra hands are great for crinkling treat bags to perk up your horses ears, perfect for waving in the distance in the direction we want your horse to look.

Depending on how busy my studio is, we can generally set up the in-person viewing session 3-4 days after the shoot.

Once we have selected your favourite images during the in-person viewing session it normally takes around a week for the final images and prints to be ready.

I want you to love your equine portraits so much and enjoy them every single day. For this to happen your horse will really need to be looking it’s best! I always tell my clients to prepare their horse for an equine photoshoot as if they were preparing it for a show.

Key tips for preparing your horse for it’s equine photoshoot:

  • Super clean and shiny! It goes without saying really – photoshop is really good at removing blemishes, scars and a little bit of dirt but there is a limit to it’s magic. Your horse needs to be looking as good as they can possibly be.
  • Clipping and Mane Pulling Try to do this a week or so before the photoshoot so that everything has had a bit of a chance to settle down and any clip lines fade.
  • Head collar and lead. Ideally your horse will not be wearing  a bridle or headcollar, but if they need to, they need to be spotlessly clean. If you are buying something new for the shoot, make sure it’s been softened and worn in a little. 
  • Routine – I often end up agreeing the start time for the photoshoot quite close to the actual day – specifically so that we can take an accurate view on the weather. As a result, you will need to work out how well they cope with a change to their routine. As far as is possible I would always say that it’s best to keep their routine as familiar as possible. You know them best though and I will happily be guided by you on this.

Contact me via email – q@quintinmills.co.za

Giclée prints are the ideal solution for fine art reproduction. This archival printing style is popular with painters, illustrators and photographers alike.
Images are printed in high-resolution by specialized inkjet printers using pigment inks on a choice of fine art papers. We offer 3 art papers in our range, all varying in texture, finish and paper tone to get the perfect desired print finish. The result: exceptional quality prints, offering brighter colours, crisper details and long-lasting colour.

All prints, dependent on size, have either a 20mm or 50mm white border around the image for framing and handling purposes.

Various mounting and framing options are available.

We have two canvas options available.

Pandora Artist Canvas is a 100% cotton canvas with a robust base and fine structure offering high colour brilliance and superb colour gamut. It is soft and flexible, perfect for seamless stretching. This canvas is the perfect all round canvas, suitable for any image printed on this surface.

Hahnemühle Cézanne Canvas is a heavy inkjet canvas made of pure cotton, with an elegant, finely woven surface texture. The natural white canvas contains no optical brighteners and boasts a beautiful, natural shade of white. Together with the premium matt inkjet coating, it produces outstanding print results with excellent reproduction of colour and detail, deep black and exceptional contrasts.

Cézanne Canvas is acid- and lignin-free and meets the most exacting requirements in terms of age resistance. This heavyweight canvas impresses with radiant colours and deep blacks, down to the smallest detail which bestows Fine Art prints an exceptional brilliance. Despite its heaviness, the canvas is extremely elastic and is highly compatible with canvas stretcher frames.

Flat or Ready to hang: We offer flat or ready to hang option which is stretched over a 35mm frame.