This page details opportunities for contract photographers to shoot for Essence Captured at equine events. All rates are subject to change with or without notice. Please sign and retain a contract with us for any rate guarantees.
This is an opportunity for those who love action, horses, and photography to contribute to capturing memories for the athletes and their families. The reward is the joy in watching and capturing the action and the moments, for all levels of competitors, and in being outside in the fresh air and sunshine (or possibly other weather!) and mingling with the equine crowd. Another opportunity is increasing your level of proficiency with your camera (and in post processing and Lightroom if you choose to edit) - adding hours to your experience, learning new things, and getting better and better.
We LOVE what we do, so ultimately we want people on our team who are also going to LOVE doing this. If you're not excited just thinking about it, this is probably not for you.
If you ARE excited and interested, have read everything on this page, and are ready to see the event schedule and discuss your availability, fill out this form!
Horse Show coverage involves working a show with us where you are expected to cover competitor classes (action and candid shots) at an arena or similar assigned location. You will edit and upload images after the event to our on line gallery following our guidelines and procedures.
A split shift is where you cover approximately 3-4 hours in the morning and 3-4 hours at the end of the day.
You must have your own professional level camera(s) and lenses, or able to shoot with ours.
If you want to participate as an editor, you must be proficient in LightRoom, and have high speed internet for bulk image uploading.
We will schedule you according to your availability and talent for each event.
Experienced Photographers may elect to shoot on our memory cards and leave RAW images with us for editing.
“Contract Photographer”
Pay is commensurate with experience. Pay ranges from $20/hr to $35/hr with an average pay of $150 for a day.
($30-$100 travel stipend based on your distance from home to event venue)
“New Photographer”
(photographer who is trying us out and vice versa to see if we are a fit for each other)
Come and Float (no pay) and shoot on one of our memory cards for a review of your images. We will provide feedback, assess, and discuss where you might fit and when you are ready to accept event coverage responsibility. This process may be waived for photographers with horse show experience and an acceptable portfolio.
(or you may request a check instead)
Floating means you can come shoot at the event we are covering on your schedule, as long as we know when you're coming. You can shoot as much or as little as you want.
You may edit and upload your images to our image gallery, where your submitted images will be curated, or we will edit and upload your images. If your images sell, you will receive a stipend (percentage of sales).
“Floater”
No base pay, bonus may be paid after sales are final based on image sales
If you're not at our level yet, love photographing horses, and want to be one of our photographers, we will train you.
Training fees are $100/hour for devoted one on one training [or work trade for training at an event].
You can earn your training fees back once you complete your training and start working for us.
Training sessions consist of alternating on location instruction and mentoring, and skype or zoom type video calls for post processing and editing instruction.
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