What to Do with Your Equine Event Photos

A young competitor at the Missouri River Classic Horse Show is off to a great start making horse show memories!

You’ve just competed in a horse show, rodeo, obstacle course challenge, or other equine competition. Knowing there was a photographer at the event, you’ve kept in touch and ordered your favorite photos. First, thank you so much for supporting your event photographer! Next, what should you do with your images? From the technological basics to display ideas, I'm here to help you keep enjoying your memories for years to come.

1. Download Your Photos and Save Them

Here's what the download email looks like when you order event photos from me.

Sometimes, event photos are already edited, and the files are delivered almost instantly. In my case, I upload images with basic edits, and then complete final edits after you purchase your favorite images. Those final edits are completed 2 to 3 days after purchase. If you don't see an email with your downloads, check your junk or spam folder. And if the email still isn't showing up, reach out to your photographer. As good as technology has gotten, sometimes glitches still happen.

After you've received your images, make sure you download them! Often times, digital photo purchases have a deadline that they must be downloaded by. These deadlines aren’t your photographer being difficult; there are often limitations on the host platform. So once you receive that download link, be sure you download the images right away. It’s also a great idea to back them up in cloud storage or on an external flash drive or hard drive. If you miss the download deadline, reach out to your photographer to see what options are available.

2. Share on Social Media

Celebrate your event experience on social media! Tag the event and your photographer’s pages; it always makes me happy to see my images being enjoyed and shared. Family and friends will be able to keep up on your adventures as well. It will also be fun for you to see the memories pop back up through that feature.

If you're working on building your following on social media, think about tagging brands of your tack, gear, hat, helmet, or outfit. Consider tagging your horse's breeding program or stud page if they are active on social media. And if you're sponsored, don't forget to include those pages. Some brands are great about resharing images to their stories!

A quick caveat: Be sure to check the terms and conditions of your image purchase before posting. Some photographers might not allow posting, and there are often restrictions on cropping and adding filters or other edits. If you have questions about your terms & conditions, reach out to your photographer.

3. Print Your Images

Why settle for generic big box store art when you can display your own horse on your walls?

I’m always a big advocate for printing your images and displaying them in your home or barn. Why relegate your favorite event memories to fleeting social media moments or files on hard drives? Frame the image of your favorite moment that celebrates your relationship with your horse and the hard work you’ve put into your event, and hang it on the wall in your home. If you attend many events, you could collect your prints into a photo album for the show season. You can often order prints through your photographer (Bonus: they’re likely working with a professional lab that will consistently produce high-quality products). For event photos, I offer traditional photo prints, canvases, and metal prints, all great options to showcase your favorite memories on your walls! If you’ve purchased a digital photo, it might include a printing release. Again, check your terms and conditions of the digital purchase.

If you have questions about your photos from an event I’ve photographed OR if you’re an equine event coordinator looking for a photographer for your upcoming event, please reach out here! I’m looking forward to hearing from you.