Archive for the ‘equine work’ Category

Every year as a favor to my mom I document her grand old horse, LD Val-Dron in a photo session. He is going quite strong still at the grand old age of 29. He is the son of National Champion stallion *Padron and out of a *Bask daughter – *Bask was one of the most prolific, and influential, horses of the Arabian breed. Our family has owned Val-Dron since he was 7 years old. My mom has grown VERY attached to him over the years. Despite the fact he got a little wild and broke away from my mom while we were shooting (galloping like a madman all the way back to the barn…), we had a lot of fun putting this shoot together and I hope I get to photograph him for a few years to come yet. :)

kansas city, missouri equine photography

kansas city, missouri equine photography

kansas city, missouri equine photography

kansas city, missouri equine photography

kansas city, missouri equine photography

kansas city, missouri equine photography

kansas city, missouri equine photography

kansas city, missouri equine photography

We also took a handful of shots with my sister Stacey and her retired show mare, BA Foxfire+++// (for non-horse people, the “+s” and “/s” denote the amount of wins over her show career – basically, a boatload. A BIG boatload)
kansas city, missouri equine photography

kansas city, missouri equine photography

I hardly ever, if at all, shoot horse shows anymore – but I LOVE doing equine portrait sessions and farm shoots. So….if you want shots like these of your favorite equine family member, give me a call or email before coats start thickening up and growing for winter! (believe me, we are just a few WEEKS away from that….)

I shot this event last year as well, which I truly enjoy despite the fact I get up at 2:45am to start the trek across the state to get there in time :) . This is the American Hanoverian Society inspections held at the St. Louis Equestrian Center – this annual event (part of a national tour) is an important part of the process of registering foals as well as inspecting mares and stallions for approval and conducting performance tests. It is very interesting to watch, let alone photograph!

Saint Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspection photos

Saint Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspection photos

Saint Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspection photos

Saint Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspection photos

Saint Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspection photos

Saint Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspection photos

Saint Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspection photos

Saint Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspection photos

Saint Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspection photos

My wedding business has grown SO rapidly that I’ve found myself moving away from having much of a chance to do any equine work anymore. I got my start shooting horse shows; I had no idea I’d end up where I am (I LOVE it!) and seldom get the chance to go get a ‘horse fix’ like I used to. Well, I got one at the Clanton’s farm last week on a VERY VERY hot day. I grew up showing on the arabian horse show circuit so this was right up my alley.

I am looking forward to doing some more farm work and equine portraiture yet this year. In fact, I’ll be headed to St. Louis in a couple of weeks to again shoot the American Hanoverian Society inspections at the St. Louis Equestrian Center.

In the mean time, here are some gorgeous arabian horses in training with the talented young trainer (I’m aging myself….) Alan Clanton.

Kansas City, Missouri equine photographers

Kansas City, Missouri equine photography

Kansas City, Missouri equine photographers

Clanton Performance Horses equine farm shoot

Clanton Performance Horses equine farm shoot

Kansas

Kansas City, Missouri equine photography

Clanton Performance Horses equine farm shoot

Kansas City, Missouri equine photographers

XClanton Performance Horses equine farm shoot

Kansas City, Missouri equine photographer

Kansas City, Missouri equine photography

Kansas City, Missouri equine photographer

Clanton Performance Horses equine farm shoot

Equine photography Kansas City, Missouri

Clanton Performance Horses equine farm shoot

equine farm shoot Missouri

Hi everyone! Taking a break from feverish editing and blog preparation (coming later today: Cara and Ryan’s wedding and aviation-themed reception!) to give some updates from the portrait session side of my business. SDP has grown this year beyond my wildest expectations  - and with that has come VERY tight scheduling. Right now, I’m getting several portrait session inquiries per day, and obviously I have to find places to schedule everyone in. However, it is also wedding season – not only wedding season but the BUSIEST PART of wedding season – and with 34 weddings this year, I am one insanely busy photographer right now!

As of now, I am scheduling about 3 weeks out on portrait sessions. My June schedule is completely full now – with one exception which I’ll explain shortly. I’m now already scheduling sessions in mid-July. So, if you are interested in booking an engagement session, a senior shoot, or a family session, it might be a good idea to go ahead and get on my schedule. I anticipate as we head towards late summer that scheduling will get even tougher – as senior shoots will start picking up at that time.

A “policy” change on scheduling, effective immediately – I am available for portrait session shooting Monday through Friday during wedding season (April through November), and seven days a week during off-season (provided I don’t have a rare winter wedding scheduled on a particular Saturday). I have quite a few Sunday weddings coming up on my schedule, as well as Saturday weddings that involve overnight travel. Sunday portrait sessions are going to be too difficult to schedule in until the season slows down.

And with the above comes a tip for those of you who REALLY want to get scheduled in – it goes without saying that evening shoots go first. I shoot nearly every evening right now. If you need an evening session, that is where the delay in scheduling is going to exist. If you want to get in QUICKLY, psssst, got a secret for you. Morning light is JUST as gorgeous as evening light and my mornings are largely free. I do realize with work schedules, it can be difficult to schedule at this time, but arranging for it can pay off big time as often I can get clients in nearly immediately if they are willing to schedule outside of an evening shoot.

So….to sum up – scheduling is running about 3 weeks (sometimes 4) for evening shoots, but if you can swing a morning shoot, you will find yourself on my schedule MUCH sooner! And note the availability for portrait sessions during wedding season in Monday-Friday (Fridays except where Friday weddings are scheduled).

I appreciate everyone’s patience! I promise you the wait to get your session is worth it. :) Of course, no blog post is complete without a photo, so here’s a quick preview of Stephanie and Cole’s engagement session that I did last night in Hays, KS (yes, I got home after midnight, but I LOVED shooting out there!)

Thanks to EVERYONE for your business. – Sarah

Hays, Kansas engagement session - wheat field

we ended our brief show photography season with the William Woods Dressage show at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri last weekend. Two VERY full days of rides. The show is posted in its entirety in the exhibitor galleries on our proofing site here. Here are a few highlights! Many thanks to my mom Nancy for manning the booth while I was shooting!

Erin Ackley and An Honest Request
Missouri Dressage Show Photography

Melissa Allen and Wies V/D Klumpert
William Woods Dressage Show Photography

Nicole Bellah and Waldor
Midwest Dressage show photography

Mari Jebens and Winter
midwest dressage horse photography

Aless Hall and Unze Funds
William Woods Dressage show photography, Fulton, Missouri

Brenda Zeitler and Wramielle
Kansas City equine photographer

Amy Stuhr and Dabadu Blue
Missouri equine photography

Anna Eklund and Rapture R
Missouri equine photographer

Kathy Yamaguchi and Simply the Best
Kansas equine photography

Meghan French and Foregone Conclusion
Kansas Equine Photographer

Erin Rhoades and Hemmingway
Kansas and Missouri horse show and equine photography

Melissa Allen and Cachet
Kansas City, Missouri equine and dressage photographer

I didn’t originally have this show on my radar this year, but when the Kansas City Dressage Society asked me to shoot their annual March dressage competition, held at Hale Arena at the American Royal Complex in Kansas City, I said why not? I did shoot this show last season, and coupled with the upcoming William Woods Dressage Show in April at William Woods University, will be the only 2 shows I’m planning to shoot this season, as all of my wonderful brides and grooms-to-be have taken over my photography world! :)

Here are some highlights from last weekend’s competition, now that I’m done editing and have fully posted images from the competition. Competitors and dressage enthusiasts alike, you can see the full complement of photographs on my proofing site here. I’ve concentrated below more on the portrait and candid aspect of the shooting I did – the good ol’ action shots can be seen on the proofing site.

Clare Krska and Romincka
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Cindy Fletcher and Fantoms Storm
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Colleen Church-McDowall on Patriot
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Melissa Allen on Wies Van De Klumpert
dressage photography

Lara Moody on Whisper
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Lori Emery on EA Chunky Monkey
dressage photography

Mary Forck and Muriel du Bois
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Emily Wagner and WakeUp
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Amy Stuhr and Dabadu Blue
dressage photography

Maggie O’Leary and Enchanted
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Erin Ackley and An Honest Request
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Emily Wagner and Riley
dressage photography

Jennifer Avery and Aeijolt Fan Walta during the Saturday night demonstrations
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Ciera Smith and Tarro
dressage photography

Colleen Church-McDowall on Espresso
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Melissa Allen on Daina
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Hannah Williams on Aurelia NSF
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Peggy Keller on Noncents LMP
KCDS March Dressage Competition Kansas City, Hale Arena

Emily Wagner on Riley
dressage photography

Well, I am going to eat crow after my last post about my move away from horse show and equine competition photography. I was asked today to photograph the Kansas City Dressage Society’s March Competition at Hale Arena (the American Royal Complex) in Kansas City, Missouri, March 27 and 28th, so we’re going to sneak this one onto the calendar before the wedding season fires up in mid April.

Competitors, we will be offering some of the same great at-show specials that were hugely popular at some of the shows we attended last year, such as the Iowa Dressage Classic and Missouri Dressage Classic. And, we’ll be offering our usual artistic twist to standard competition photography! :) Look for more information forthcoming….see you there! :)

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I shot the American Hanoverian Society inspection held at the St. Louis Equestrian Center early last fall, and never had a chance to blog it. For those clients and fans of the wedding and (human) portrait variety, equine photography is how I got my start. I’ve moved in a TOTALLY different direction with my work, but I thought this would show a different side to what I do or have done. In 2010, as of now, I only have TWO equine events I’m shooting – the William Woods University Dressage Show April 17 and 18, and then this inspection again in July. Weddings, senior, engagement and other portrait sessions have taken up my entire calendar this year!

Here’s a peek into my “other life” as a photographer. :)

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Ok, I won’t expect you all to try to say (or even THINK about saying) “Aeijolt fan Walta”, so we’ll call Jennifer’s Friesian gelding by his barn name, Magic. I met Jennifer and Magic at Pine Hill Farm on a very chilly but gorgeously sunny morning last Sunday. As I’ve boarded at Pine Hill, I have had ample opportunity to scope out the place from a photographic standpoint – and the pastures are gorgeous, with widely scattered, tall trees and rolling hills. We worked the morning light for all it’s worth. There are at LEAST 100 more shots that are just as cool as these.

Up next is Malorie and Matt’s engagement images – some great stuff from that shoot, later the same day as this shoot. The light was just as incredible.

Until then…here you go!

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love, love this shot.
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Pfalzgraf and Degas

October 17, 2009

This is the most emotional shoot I’ve ever done, and therefore the most emotional blog post as well. Pfalzgraf and Degas were photographed for their owner as a rememberance as they were both laid to rest last week. Both had rapidly deteriorating health conditions that caused their vet to recommend that they not go through the winter. They both had full, long lives; Pfalzgraf was a 33 year old imported warmblood gelding and Degas a 27 year old Arabian gelding. Both were loved for a very, very long time by their owner Betsy – who wanted one last shoot by which to remember them.

We scheduled the shoot for last Saturday before I was due to go out of town on vacation; time was short for both geldings and we had days of cloudy weather forecast after Saturday morning – plus I’d be out of town all week. I found it beyond amazing that we had maybe one hour of sunlight all day Saturday – a cold, blustery day – and that hour was while we were shooting early in the morning. It was cloudy on my drive to their farm and as soon as we put them back in their paddock, it clouded over once again.

Thanks to the powers that be to give us sunlight for this shoot. I often feel my chosen passion pales in comparison to what some do for a living – but I could not help but realize how incredibly important my job was this day. To create something extraordinary by which Pfalzgraf and Degas could be remembered.

Godspeed.

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