Welcome Friends! I am so excited to host you at this year’s Equine Photographers Summer Camp! This weekend has been a labor of love for me and my co-host Mariah and we cannot wait to share a little bit of what we do and watch your creativity go wild. This weekend is going to be jammed packed full of not only fun styled shoots but also time spent at your computer editing, learning new skills, and networking with other photographers. Be prepared to walk away exhausted but the new photos in your portfolio will make it all worth it. 

Let’s treat your creativity!

The retreats I host are designed to let you experiment behind the camera with the models in a judgment-free zone. I will start off by guiding the models into some poses then encourage you all to jump in and guide them as well throughout. The retreats are kept small so you will have plenty of time and room to move around and get the shots you want. I am not a formal person so the retreat will not have any structured classroom type setting however I am an open book and willing to answer any questions you have or demonstrate any editing techniques you would like to see upon request.

Some things to know….

• Our models are real people with their own horses. They are comfortable being in front of the camera but posing may not always come naturally . I choose to work with "everyday" people because they allow your potential clients to see themselves in your portfolio and it also allows for you to practice your posing prompts with real people.  

• Please note that horses have a mind of their own. They may not want to participate the way we wish, however it is important to stay patient with them and our models as we ask things of them. Safety for models and the horses will come before any poses. 

• Due to the shoots being outside and my lack of ability to control the weather no matter how hard I try, the schedule of the retreat events are subject to change in case of poor weather. This may mean times or even day of the school may get moved to accommodate the weather and the models. If models are okay with light rain, rain shoots may take place. 

• We will have shoots in evenings and mornings, including sunrise shoots and will be during traditional meal times so if you need to eat at a certain time for health or hanger issues, please pack a meal or snack for the car. 

• Transportation to and from the shoots will be provided however if you have a locals only ticket you will be responsible for providing your own transportation to/from the shoot locations.

• Iowa this time of year will be HOT and HUMID — expect temps in the mid-80-90s during our shoots and humidity levels 70-90%

Sharing Photos

Each model has signed a release for you to use images from this retreat in your professional portfolio and on your social media. Images from the retreat may not be sold or used in marketing for any teaching/retreats under your business name or others. I highly encourage you to share at least 10 photos with each of the models. To make it easy for the models to access the photos you wish to share with them I have created a google drive for you to upload to. There will be a folder for each model and under that folder will be a subfolder for each photographer. Here is the link to that drive for you to upload your photos to >>>

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CkIGQhydB_oet2hp7oNDFExRo4JAGyuE?usp=sharing

If you have any behind the scenes you would like to share with everyone (phone or professional photos/videos) you can upload them to this link >>> https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sJr3lVxjJxI4vJ--au1gfN0MyoyZRmr_?usp=sharing

When sharing on social media I would love if you tag me so I can easily reshare your posts! I am not a stickler on wording but something along the lines of “Equine Photography Summer Camp by Tisha Pol Photo” would be amazing!

What to Pack….

• Your camera gear 

  • a 70-200mm, 85mm, or 135mm are your ideal lenses for working with horses however please feel free to bring and work with whatever you have. Having a wider angle is also fun to get some creative shots.

• Your computer with plenty of hard drive space

  • I recommend having an external drive ready

• Plenty of memory cards

  • I recommend making sure they have a fast write speed and most people fill 64-128g per shoot. If you are unsure if your cards are ideal please reach out and I can assist.

• Any and all chargers for your gear.

  • I will have canon battery chargers available and provide a power strip for out editing time around the table 

• Comfortable clothing and footwear you can easily move around in on the shoots that you don’t mind getting dirty/wet.

  • I highly recommend getting in water for our river shoot — it is about knee deep right now. It is a sandy bottom so I normally go barefoot and wear bike shorts and a tee.

  • The rest of the shoots I normally wear jeans and a tank but feel free to wear shorts or athletic wear.

• Any special personal care items you may need — the airBnB will supply towels however please do not use them for make-up removal.

• Rain gear just in case — a few of the shoots we will shoot rain or shine.

• I will provide sunblock and bug spray however if you have a brand you prefer feel free to bring it.

AirBnB Location

3950 Northeast Casebeer Drive, Altoona, IA 50009

arrivals may start at 4pm on Thursday 6/12

Tentative Schedule

Thursday 6/12 

4:00p guests may start arriving at the house

6:30p Group dinner catered to the at house

Friday 6/13

7:00a relaxed morning

10:00a headshot swap — either at my house in the pasture or local farm…tbd

12:00p optional group lunch — order in or find local restaurant to visit

2:45p optional group editing session + business chitchat

I will demonstrate anything you would like to watch me edit and be available for all questions. This is an unstructured learning environment. 

4:00p Fine Art Equine Portrait Bonus!

We will head to Indalacio’s farm early for an afternoon of photographing several of his horses with white/black backgrounds as well as at liberty. We will have several props for the horses to wear so that you get portfolio/social media images for all the big holidays throughout the year.

7:00p Shoot One — “The Headless Horseman”

This shoot will include a man dressed as the headless horseman on his black Friesian horse who preforms tricks and can rear and walk on hind legs. We will also include a bonus family photo set including his wife and children with their horses.

Model — Indalacio Macedo

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/macedoindalecio/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/indalecio.macedo

Horse — Duke, Friesian

Location — Steamboat Rock, IA

9:00p Return to Airbnb 

Saturday 6/14

6:00a leave for shoot

6:40a Shoot Two — “Lust + Leather”

A cowboy in his wranglers, chaps, and handlebar mustache alongside his Clydesdale horse. Think those old western romance novel covers! His beautiful girlfriend will also be included in some with a summer dress and there are also baby goats and a nice cattle dog to also throw in some photos too!

Model — Jake Schlepp, girlfriend Tori Pliler

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/jake.schlepp

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/schlepp_j/

Horse — Nevada, Clydesdale

Location — Waukee, IA

8:40a Return to Airbnb

10:00a optional group editing session + business chitchat or we can go to the Des Moines Farmer’s Market (one of biggest markets in the country and really nice)

I will demonstrate anything you would like to watch me edit and be available for all questions. This is an unstructured learning environment

12:00p optional group lunch — order in or find local restaurant to visit

1:00p optional group editing session + business chitchat

6:00p Leave for shoot

7:00p Shoot Three — “Letters from the Heart”

A vintage styled engaged couple with their Belgian draft horses on the river banks and in the river. It will include a 1940s style vintage outfits, a picnic set on the riverbank, and playtime in the river with the horses. Think Notebook vibes!

Model — Devan Donato + Sam

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/wildroseranchllc/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/wildroseranchllc

Horse(s) — Jet + Ted, Belgian Draft Horses

Location — Booneville, IA

9:00p Return to Airbnb 

Sunday 6/15

5:00a leave for shoot

5:30a Shoot Four — “Horses Before Homeroom”

A sassy girl and her bay Quarter Horse styled like the iconic Cher from the movie Clueless and will include two different looks at a fun location.

Model — Kaydee Bennett

Instagram :

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/kaydee.bennett.294385

Horse — Cash, Quarter Horse

Location — Des Moines, Iowa

8:00a Return to house

10:00a optional group editing session + business chitchat 

I will demonstrate anything you would like to watch me edit and be available for all questions. This is an unstructured learning environment

12:00p optional group lunch — order in or find local restaurant to visit

1:00p optional group editing session + business chitchat

6:30p leave for shoot

7:00p Shoot Five — “Pink Pony Club”

Chappell Roan themed shoot at a unique set location complete with the over the top hair and make up, an outfit Chappell herself would gasp over and a trick horse.

Model — Bailey Brewer

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/bailey_brewer01/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/bailey.brewer.12139

Horse(s) — Maggie, Black + White Paint Horse

Location — Bondurant, IA

9:00p return back to airBnB

Monday 6/16

10:00a Check out of Airbnb and head home :(