Photography Tips Guide Human subjects play a central role in nearly every photography venture, regardless of genre. Whether you are assembling a personal portfolio, creating commercial assets, or building a library of stock images, knowing how to locate and collaborate with models is an essential skill for photographers.
4 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide Most of the friction that builds up at a boarding barn doesn't come from malice. It comes from habits people form without thinking about anyone else sharing the same spaces.
4 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide Whether you're working with an English saddle or a Western rig, the strap that holds your saddle in place goes by different names — girth or cinch — but both serve the same essential purpose. Understanding how to fit this strap correctly matters not just for your horse's comfort and safety, but also for the quality of your equine photography, since a well-fitted saddle keeps your horse relaxed and steady in the frame.
5 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide Every equine athlete deserves clear breathing, but that doesn't automatically require a supplement. The real starting point mirrors what veterinarians and equine nutritionists recommend: identify what's irritating this particular horse's airways, then confirm the daily management routine already tackles the most obvious triggers.
6 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide A proper warm-up before a cross-country round isn’t just about loosening muscles—it’s about synchronizing your horse’s responsiveness with the demands of the course. You want to confirm that your aids are clear and effective, especially when it comes to steering and pace management. This alignment ensures the horse is mentally sharp and physically ready from the very first fence.
4 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide Whether you ride casually on weekends or compete at a high level, preparing your horse appropriately for the demands of the task is essential not only for immediate performance but also for their long-term health and soundness. A well-designed conditioning program takes into account the individual horse’s age, experience level, discipline goals, and overall physical condition.
4 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide Following Boyd and Silva Martin's Windurra Camp, the pair saw immediate recognition when Cooley Nutcracker was selected for the US Eventing Team heading to the FEI World Championships in Aachen later this August.
4 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide During the moment of suspension, he changes the sequence of his footsteps so that the left front and hind legs now lead. ) In a natural setting, the horse's head stays level and his back and neck remain soft and relaxed. His hips and shoulders remain absolutely aligned throughout the process.
6 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide Recovering a blown-out sky in equine photography often starts with subtle adjustments in Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom. By lowering the highlights and reducing the luminance of blues in the Color Mixer, you can restore depth to the sky without flattening your subject. These same techniques apply seamlessly within Lightroom, giving you flexible control over the final image.
4 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide I’ve lived most of my life at the gallop—the important parts, anyway. My earliest memories are of horses, and speed is the constant thread through them. While I appreciate the walk for muscle, the trot for balance, and even the canter for conditioning, nothing compares to the unique harmony of the gallop.
4 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide One of the most important principles of riding at any level is that rein aids should never be used in isolation from leg aids. Too often, beginners are taught to treat legs solely as a forward cue and reins as turn-and-stop controls, which trains a reactive horse rather than a balanced one.
5 min readMarlowe Hayes
Photography Tips Guide After major competitions, graphic photos flood social media feeds. Petitions circulate demanding horses be removed from the Olympic Games. Decades of quiet resentment have finally boiled over, with spectators and advocates alike demanding answers about how equine athletes are trained, managed, and treated behind closed doors.
6 min readMarlowe Hayes