Q&A With Caroline Willis Of Caroline Elizabeth Photography
- Caroline Elizabeth Photography
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
What first sparked your love for horses, and how did that eventually lead you into photography?
I started riding when I was 6 years old. I attended a summer horse camp and would literally cry when my mom would come to pick me up because I didn’t want to leave. I began taking riding lessons and eventually got my first horse, Daisy, at the age of 12. I started off in the hunter jumper world, but quickly switch to dressage. Over the years I continued riding, training, and showing.
I found my phone camera roll filled with photos of my own horses. One day I pulled out my camera and decided to try to take better photos of them. I realized I really enjoyed it and decided to learn more about how to use my camera in manual mode, how to pose photos, etc. And the rest is history!
How does your experience as a rider influence the way you photograph horse and rider relationships?
I know first-hand the incredibly special bond riders have with their horses. You’re not just going to the barn to hop on and ride- it’s truly a relationship that is built over time. I have had that trust with the three horses I have owned over the years and it’s truly so special. Because I know how special that relationship is, I try to capture sweet photos that show the bond between a girl and her horse. Whether that’s nose kisses, the trust that you see when the rider is sitting on the ground next to their horse or riding bareback through the field, or genuine silly moments, those moments are some of my favorites.
What are your favorite types of moments to capture during an equine session?
I think poses and moments that show the true bond and trust between a girl and her horse are my favorite. I have many poses that I go through during a session, but a candid interaction always beats a posed photo in my opinion. Sometimes the bond is so tangible that the horse and rider will be interacting with each other and all I say is, “just love on him right there,” and I get the absolute sweetest photos. Those genuine moments are my favorite.
Sessions with horses can be unpredictable. How do you handle that?
I have definitely had some unpredictable horses over the years! Sometimes sessions are held in a location that the horse isn’t used to or at a time that messes up their routine, so I do see lots of behaviors! I try to give the owner tips and tricks before the session in my prep guide to prevent bad behaviors (feeding them dinner beforehand, lunging morning-of if needed, etc.). If the horse is acting up I usually let the owner handle the horse and see if she can calm him down first. I may also suggest shooting closer to the horse’s stall or pasture to make him more comfortable, or even sticking him in the stall for a little bit to calm down. Most of the time horses are not going to stand perfectly still with their ears forward for the entirety of the session, so I never expect that!
As someone who is not only an equine photographer, but also a ‘horse girl,’ I will occasionally step in and help with certain situations. For example we recently had a horse who wouldn’t load on the trailer to go home from a session that my client had hauled to. I offered to help and was able to get the horse on the trailer for her. Perks of your photographer having lots of horse experience I guess, haha!
What do you do to help clients feel comfortable in front of the camera?
I try to help clients feel comfortable during their session before the session even begins. I offer an optional planning call and a prep and style guide so we can plan and talk about outfits, hair, makeup, how to prepare, etc. I always encourage my clients to wear outfits that they feel comfortable and confident in. This confidence will come across in the photos.
Then during the session I guide my clients through various poses. I’m never just telling them to stand in front of the camera and pose without guidance. I’m constantly encouraging them while I’m shooting, telling them how cute they look and how gorgeous their photos are going to turn out!!
What advice would you give someone preparing for their first horse and rider photoshoot?
Be yourself, prepare accordingly, trust your photographer, and have fun! Photoshoots are so fun and don’t have to be stressful! I will say in order for your session to go as smoothly as possible, preparation is key. Pick out and try on your outfits in advance, schedule your hair and nail appointment, clean your tack, plan to lunge your horse, figure out when you’re going to bathe your horse- all the details that can become overwhelmingly day-of. If you plan ahead and schedule accordingly, you will feel less stressed.
During your session- trust that your photographer knows best. When it comes to lighting, posing, and angles, they know what makes you look good. They are the professional!
And HAVE fun! Don’t stress about how you look too much- focus on your horse and the relationship you have with them and I promise your photos will be stunning!
Where do you see your photography business evolving in the next few years?
I just hope to continue to serve more clients and give girls images they can cherish for years to come! I would like to continue expanding into other states, traveling, and doing what I love!
If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring equine photographers, what would it be?
Just keep shooting! Even if you aren’t booking as many clients as you’d like to, schedule model calls and free shoots. Even now I continue to do model calls and free shoots for ideas I have or if there’s something specific I want to shoot. Clients will see your work from those shoots or learn about your business from a friend you did a free shoot for and then book you!
One other piece of advice I always tell aspiring photographers is to really learn the business side of things! You can shoot the prettiest photos in the world, but if you don’t know how to market and run the business, you’re not going to succeed. You have to learn how to run the business side just as much (if not more) than you have to learn about photography.
Caroline Willis
Caroline Elizabeth Photography
If you would like to book a photography session with Caroline, please visit her website for more information at www.caroline-elizabethphotography.com.
Instagram: @carolineelizabeth_photo
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This article is from the June 2026 issue of Equine Business Magazine
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