kerry ould

Collaboration | Equine photography

This past weekend, I worked on a different kind of project - one in which the tables were turned and I was in front of the lens.  It's usually something I avoid as I hate having my photo taken, but a very dear friend finally convinced me that I should have my own photos of me and Poppy.  True.

We've been planning this for a while and knew that I wanted the colour red to come out in the images, and that they had to be done in the snow.  Luckily last weekend we got one last (???) snowfall.  The perfect fluffy kind of snow that hangs in the trees.  My favourite shooting conditions. This put the plan in motion.

Allison, my photographer-for-the-day happens to be a very talented creative director with a Toronto ad agency.  She has also been supporting and encouraging my work since the early days so she knows my style, and to top it off, she is a horse person too.  In other words, she was the perfect person for me to collaborate with.  Oh, and she knows Poppy too.

The morning started with getting Poppy glammed up - which meant whisker trims, scrubbing her white markings and really grooming her coat.  Her tail also got a trim and deep conditioning.  I think she thought she was going to a show.  Next my bridle and saddle got a deep cleaning.  And then came the wardrobe consult for me. 

We settled on traditional breeches - though in navy rather than beige (better to hide any...err...flaws).  I also polished up my boots and added spurs.  Luckily Allison brought a bag full of options for the top - including the red coat we settled on using.

Next was a quick session with Allison on how to use my camera and with everything in place, we headed out into the snow.

 

After the session, I did all of the usual post-session uploading, sorting, archiving and editing - making it a true collaborative exercise.

At the end of it all, I got some really great images of Poppy and I.  And I have to say, it wasn't so bad being in front of the camera - though I still prefer to be the one behind it.

Thanks for convincing me Allison!

Equine Photographers' Network member

This year is the year.  I will be putting more focus into my photography and continuing to build my business.  In other words, I am getting serious. 

I wouldn't be going down this path without the unwaivering support of all my friends and family who keep encouraging me to press on, even on those days where I am not sure I can do it.  I am grateful for this, and I am also grateful to be able to say that I honestly LOVE this job.  How many people can actually say that they love what they do?  I would be willing to bet not many.

I have lots of ideas and plans for the coming year so stay tuned.  And for the first time, I have gotten myself organized about what I am going to do.  I am one of those people that will get things done, if I have committed them to paper. 

One of my first orders of business was to apply for professional membership in the Equine Photographers' Network.  This is an amazing group of professional equine photographers from around the world.   This group has a long list of accomplishments among them and I am sure any horse person will recognize many of the member names. 

This week my portfolio was accepted for membership!  It's an honour to have my work recognized among those whose work I have been inspired by and through the resources the organization offers its members, I am sure I will be learning a ton in the coming year.

You can visit my profile page here.

 

The right words

I was recently asked to describe my work in just a few words.  Easy said than done.

I played with words.  I got out the thesauraus. I wrote down a word, then scratched it out, then wrote another.  Eventually I realized that I was getting too much into the marketing-speak, and was just putting words down on paper that were what I hope people feel when they look at my work.  This whole exercise was taking me too far from the emotional side of art and how it makes people feel when they look at my work - which is really what matters to me as an artist.

I don't know about you, but I always find it easier to describe someone else's work, than it is for me to describe my own.  So I figured, I could sit here and try to figure it out, and maybe, or maybe not, get it right, or I could ask you what you think. If you were to describe my photography in just 3 words, what words would you use?

 

 

The perfect winter day | Equine photography

Last weekend offered the perfect winter day for a photo session.  The snow was still stuck to the trees from the snow storm the night before and, while the skies were grey, the light was absolutely perfect. The girls and their pony were all beautifully presented and looked like snow princesses.

This session also provides the perfect inspiration for what to wear for a winter session with snow.  How gorgeous is red against the snow?  And having the girls similarly dressed in pea coats, but not identical, added some interest to the shots and also let their presonalities shine through.

Winter sessions continue to be my very favourite.  They are a little more challenging to schedule as I am reliant on the weather, but the effort is well worth it.

I still have space for winter sessions this season so if you are thinking about Christmas cards for next year, and you want snow in your images, then I would highly recommend getting in your session now.  It seems each year we get less snow before Christmas, so it's best to plan ahead. 

 

 

 

 

 

Poppy in the snow | Horse photography

Finally we have gotten some snow!  I had a fantastic session this morning (more on that later), and then decided to get some photos of Poppy out in the snow.  I think her herd really wanted to come in so they kept mobbing me in the field.  And between that and the heavily falling snow soaking my camera, I was only able to grab a few quick shots.  Either way, there is something magical about horses in the snow.

Just a reminder, if you are hoping for a snow session, drop me a line to get your name on the list.

5 years of images | Horse & Dog photography

I was fortunate enough to be able to take a vacation over the past couple of weeks to catch up on many things - like revisiting some aspects of my photography business, spending time with Poppy and generally just recouperating from a busy 2010. 

Another thing I found time for was going back through my archives and pulling together just over 90 of my favourite images from the past 5 years.  It was tough narrowing down the images, so the way I did it was to include images that stick out in my mind, as well as those that have been favourites from my fans.    Overally, I found the process really energizing, and it got my creative mind working a bit.  Hopefully the next 5 years will bring even more images like these.

Be sure to click on the "Open publication" link below to see the album in full screen.  Enjoy, and let me know what you think. 

Were there any images that stand out in your mind that I didn't include?

What's your favourite image from the album?

Open publication - Free publishing - More photography

Kizmet | Equine photography

Where did December go?  As always, it's been a busy month but I am finally enjoying a bit of down time between Christmas and New Year's.  Unfortunately, we haven't had any snow to speak of, so it's been a disappointing month for photo snow sessions. It seems every snow storm has gone around us this year.

I was able to sneak in a quick indoor visit with Kizmet and Arko.  And, despite there being almost no light, and a foal that didn't stand still, I was able to capture a quiet moment between mare and foal.  Poor Arko is due to be weaned this week so it was also one of the last chances for a mom and baby shot.

One nice thing about grey mares is how they pop out from a dark background.  Here's Kizmet, likely trying to escape from Arko.

 

Gift certificates and snow

If you are already in mall-avoidance mode, let me help!  Silver Lining Gift certificates are available in any denomination and don't require a trip to the mall. 

Snow sessions

Just a reminder as well that winter photo shoots are available - and often result in magical photos for both dogs and horses.  I still have a couple of more spots available so if you are interested, let me know and I will provide you with more details. 

The Francolinis | Pet photography

Despite the chill of winter this morning, I had a great session this morning.  It can sometimes be tricky to mix dogs and horses, but everyone was on their best behaviour today.  And what a treat to photograph 3 labs - a chocolate one, a yellow one and a black one.  And then there was Monty who was a complete gentleman.

It was fun to capture the pets and the family interacting and sharing a ton of laughs along the way.

Here are just a few of my favourite shots.

 

Fall portraits | Equine photography

Well, I am just back from a long weekend with some time away from the computer.  It's something I highly recommend from time to time. 

Before I went, I had a great fall session with the very last of the leaves.

KC is a repeat client whom I have been shooting since he was just a newborn.  I have the best job!  It's been such fun watching him grow from a baby, to a "teenager", and now to a horse. 

This year, I had the pleasure of photographing his sister as well.  She is absolutely lovely - and another draft cross too. 

Here's just a sample of this year's images.