The Secret life of a show photographer

The Secret life of a Show photographer

Linda Finstad – Owner of A Sharper Image - Photography

It comes up a lot. Usually when I’m standing in line for another hot dog (staple diet of a show photographer)

Or when there’s a slow time during the day when I’m not taking pictures.

“So you’re the official show photographer?”

“Yes sir, I am, and I absolutely love it.”

“Well I don’t doubt it. You’re doing a great job out there. It must be great to Work only one day a week!”

There seems to be a lot of misconceptions regarding what horse show photographers actually do all week.

It’s perfectly understandable, after all, the only time most people see us working is at the show.

So I thought I would reveal to you what most self respecting show photographers really do besides take pictures every weekend.

Hopefully it will give some insight into what goes on behind the scenes after we leave the show.

The Reality is

Not the glam, high paying “Part time” job you would imagine, just like all the competitors after show its back to the office - we spend lots of time in front of the computer working on both the images and the business.

And not even a tiny time slot for “Partying like a Rock Star”

The hours are long – there are no benefits – paid holidays or retirement plan.

You are constantly under pressure to capture “The Shot” and recalculate your camera settings as the light conditions change throughout the day.

At the end of the day I am usually sun burnt - bug bitten - smelly and exhausted.

But I wouldn’t change it for the World – Nothing turns my crank quite like the sight of a beautiful horse.

And the thrill of capturing that moment of perfection in a dressage test as the horse rounds and softens and everything goes just perfectly.

To see the fruits of my labor please visit www.imagineitsold.ca