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Writer's pictureKirstie Marie Photography

A Day in the Life of an Equestrian Photographer

Updated: Apr 19

Following along for a day-in-my-life as a fine art equine photographer. 


Kirstie Marie and Mojo
Kirstie Marie and Mojo

One of my favorite aspects of this career is that each and every day is so different. I also love the flexibility that this career offers. My busiest season is spring, I slow down for the hot Texas summer, the workload picks up steam in the fall, and then I have a slower winter. 

The rhythm of this seasonal workflow ensures that I don’t get burnt out and it leaves me hungry for more!



Photo by Kirstie Marie Photography
Photo by Kirstie Marie Photography
Here is what a typical shoot day looks like for me:

5:45 AM: my alarm goes off, but I’m snoozing it. 


6:05 AM: I’ll get out of bed and make either my coffee (if I’m especially tired) or matcha latte (if I’m feeling pretty good) and immediately start reading my Bible-in-a-year reading plan. 


6:32 AM: it is time to start getting my daughter ready for Kindergarten. I set out her clothes, pack her a lunch, and prepare breakfast. 


7:24 AM: My husband and I head off to drop our daughter at school, and then go on to the barn. 


8:17 AM: I’m on the back of my favorite horse in the world, a palomino gelding named Mojo. Most days I choose to ride him in my Thinline care pack pad, but today we put on a western saddle to practice some ranch riding. 

Mojo is my husband’s team roping horse, but we share him so that I can enjoy some low key horseback time. 


9:05 AM: Mojo will get a rinse, a quick hand graze session, and I’ll head back home.


10:13 AM: time to dive into emails, refresh my accounting software, and send out any questionnaires, contracts, and/or invoices to clients. 


11:06 AM: I can start heading through my editing queue, usually eating my lunch at my desk. I like to multi-task while editing so sometimes I’m bounding around through emails as I edit, or I am watching TV shows in the background. 


1:25 PM: I need a break from sitting at my desk, so I’ll usually go through a Peloton yoga or pilates exercise mid-day. 


2:04 PM: back to editing until it is time for Kindergarten pick-up.


2:55 PM: I’m heading to the school to pick up my daughter. When we get home it is snack-time and then we usually work on crafts (her favorite is drawing).


4:30 PM: it is time to pack up for my photo session. I’ll set all of my cameras in the car, pack a big ice water and some snacks, and check about 18 times that my camera is in the car and that it turns on. 


5:15 PM: I set off to the shoot location, singing along to a Spotify playlist full of my favorite worship music. I spend most of the drive praying over the session: for safety, for God’s presence, for my client, and for my health. 


6:02 PM: I arrive on set and begin scouting the barn and pastures. I spend about thirty minutes chatting with my clients, meeting the horses, reviewing outfits they brought, and generating a game plan for the evening. 


6:30 PM: the real work begins! It is hot out, so we begin in the shade of the barn aisle before venturing into a pasture to seek shade from the mature oak trees. 


7:37 PM: we are several outfits in, any stiffness has melted away, the sun dips down into golden hour, and we are lost in laughter and great conversation! 


8:22 PM: we wrap up the shoot, say our goodbyes and offer some big hugs. I’m on cloud 9 all the way home, reflecting back through my favorite parts of the shoot and savoring each sweet second we got to spend together. 


9:16 PM: is a quick shower to get off the bug spray, sun screen, and dirt layers, and then I make some chamomile tea and set off to bed. 


Photos by Kirstie Marie Photography


Article submitted by Kirstie Marie Jones


Kirstie Marie is an award-winning equine photographer located in Aubrey, Texas. 

Her style is characterized by revealing the most beautiful elements of each girl and her horse in sun-soaked, distinctive photos to be treasured for generations to come.


To schedule a session with Kirstie go to kirstiemarie.com


To learn how to grow your photography business go to kmplearn.com

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