Episodes
Reading the feed…
Reading the feed…
Not every photograph has the same job. Explore how art, documentation, marketing and commercial photography require different approaches.
Equine photographer Phyllis Burchett returns 10 years later to discuss photography, business, change, career longevity, and finding where you fit.
Official photographers often take the blame for horse show photography policies they didn’t create. Here’s why we may be asking the wrong person.
Not every Official Photographer contract is worth taking. Learn how choosing the right horse shows can build a stronger, more profitable photography business.
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.
SUBSCRIBE 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 ta
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.
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.
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.
Carien Schippers joins the 10 Years Later series to discuss a decade of change, business evolution, industry shifts, and lessons learned along the way.
SUBSCRIBE 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 from failure is often more important than avoiding failure in the first
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 where standards come from
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 where it starts to b
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 down what actually drives pri
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 that different. In this Field Notes episode, we step back and look at what actually cha
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 someone is making a buying decision. IN THIS EPISODE We cover: t
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 actually doi
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: increased access, more participation, and growing pressure on pricing and standards. The
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 photo ownership in straightforward
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 Episode We cover: why this issue is becoming more common in the industry what happens when images are pas
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 about consistent coverage for every exhibitor that walks into the arena. That’s the part most people don’t see. This episode w
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 exis
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.
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. SUBSCRIBE IN THIS EPISODE: 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 photography approach evolved, what she would do dif
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. SUBSCRIBE IN THIS EPISODE Lori McIntosh’s equine photography story begins long before she ever picked up a camera professionally.
