Event Photography: Kelsey Hellmann — The Freelance Remuda

Today we’re talking with Kelsey Hellmann of High Cotton Promotions. Kelsey has been photographing horses since 2009—stallions and portraits since 2012 and shooting on her own since 2016. Kelsey primarily photographs stock horse events including cow horse, reining and cutting; as well as livestock shows and 4-6 breed shows a year. She is located in Weatherford, Texas, and focuses on events in the southern United States: Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.. We’re excited to share her interview with you as the third installment of our equine event photography series.

Don’t miss previous interviews with Primo Morales and Lisa Dean.

What was your path to doing equine event photography?

I have had a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember. Starting with photographing friends showing their livestock and playing sports. I began second shooting livestock shows as a senior in high school and photographing as a second shooter at horse shows followed shortly after. It wasn’t until I started working with a new National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) affiliate on marketing that I began shooting their shows, strictly for marketing materials. Once people started asking to purchase the photos, I worked it out with show management to be their Official Photographer. From there I started second shooting, handling image management or running the booth for many of the major event photographers, learning from anyone and everyone I could. Heck, I’m still learning and helping many of these photographers, even as I’m starting to get my own larger shows.

Can you share a bit about how you structure prices?

My pricing structure make many other photographers cringe. But I will fluctuate my pricing based on the level of event I’m shooting. I photograph several 4-H and Open shows a year that get a very, very special low rate, because I know what it was like when I showed at that level, once upon a time! I push to sell mostly digital images and large prints. In general, my pricing starts at $30 and goes up from there.

How do you handle web/ad/social media photos? Are they priced differently?

My digital images are social media, high resolution (personal license), and high resolution (commercial license), each of these are priced differently and depend on the type of event I’m photographing. I try to push digitals a little more than prints because as an ad designer too, I hate seeing people trying to scan their prints to use in ads. I try to make it more beneficial for people to get a digital.

Here is where many others don’t agree with what I do. I offer an “All My Horse” package, this is all of an exhibitor’s photos for a show at one set price. These are all social media/web images for one horse/one rider combo. Most other photographers dislike this structure and tell me I am leaving money on the table, but let me tell you, it has been wonderful for me and the youth and non pros seem to really like it!

What are some challenges equine event photographers like yourself are facing?

I personally feel the biggest challenge is finding good help! Many of the shows I photograph aren’t large enough to hire a big-name photographer as a second. So, I try to find people eager to learn about event photography to add to my team, but it has been a struggle!

What do you enjoy about your work?

I haven’t shown a horse since 2010, and the biggest draw I had to show photography was being able to still go to shows! Of course, watching amazing cow horse runs is a huge perk!

What is something you learned the hard way about this job?

As a newbie, learning about contracts and liability stuff was my biggest lessons. I didn’t ever have anything big happen just some little things like people not wanting to pay in a timely manner for sessions or a client getting stepped on by their horse. This made me realize that I need to get myself totally covered in the aspect of getting paid and not getting pinned responsible for someone else’s horse acting up and getting hurt.

Thinking about new show photographers, what advice can you give them about breaking into this industry?

Start shooting for other people. Photographers are almost always looking for second shooters and booth help. Watch and learn from these people you work for, even if it’s a lesson of what not to do, that is still an important lesson.

What are some things they should avoid doing?

Avoid over booking yourself! Leave days between shows if you don’t have reliable help to fill your orders. You want to make sure you take care of your customers, and that means getting them their orders in a timely manner.

Most important thing they need to have/know to get started?

You have to know your sport or industry. You can’t just jump in there and say you want to be a breed show photographer if you don’t understand how to read the horsemanship patterns or know leads.

Do you have any recommendations of resources to learn more?

I think Olie Moss’s Equine Photography School has good information. But the best resource is interning for a photographer who’s style fits your own.

Is there anything else you want to tell aspiring show photographers?

Learn your sport. For example, if you want to shoot cow horse, learn the rules and how things work at a show. This will help you to know what images the exhibitors are looking for. It will help you to understand what your customer means when they say it’s a cool shot but they are late on the cow. It will help you to grasp the ideal in position shots.

Anything else we haven’t talked about that you want to mention?

Be kind and help others! This is a difficult industry to get in to but if it can continue to be built as a community it will continue to grow and thrive.

Can you share how people can follow you online?

HighCottonPromotions.com @highcottonpromotions #cowhorsephotographer