What Gear To Buy As A Beginner Equine Photographer
recommendations from a full time equine photographer
One of the top questions I get on both my personal + business social media pages:
”What camera should I buy as a beginner equine photographer?”
Above all, understanding how to use your camera will ultimately determine your success with a camera. You could hand someone the highest quality camera in the world, but if they don’t understand how to use it then it doesn’t matter how fancy the camera is. Understanding ISO, Aperture + Shutter Speed will play a bigger part in achieving quality images vs a fancy camera. I recommend looking up YouTube videos on how to shoot in manual and understanding the exposure triangle!
CAMERA BODY
The Canon Rebel series is a great entry level option for people to start with, but if you plan on growing a business with your camera I would recommend looking into a full frame camera. Full frame camera bodies will have an advantage in low light situations and help achieve a crisper, sharper overall image. The #1 tip I give everyone: if you’re working within a budget, invest in used higher quality camera vs brand new lower end camera. If purchasing from a reputable site, used camera gear is an excellent option (think of it like buying a used car!). One of my favorite sites is www.bhphoto.com for both new + used equipment.
Depending on your budget I would recommend looking into a Canon 5d Mark IV, III or II. These are a popular option among professionals and when a new body style comes out the prices on the later models become more cost friendly. You can find a used 5d Mark II for around $550, a used 5d Mark III for around $900 and used Mark IV’s for around $2000 (as of March 2022).
LENSES
When photographing horses, it’s most common and most flattering to use a telephoto lens (a lens greater than 70mm). While they are beautiful, our equine partner’s long bodies can get very awkward on camera so a longer lens helps minimize distortion. The most commonly used lens in equine work is the 70-200mm 2.8, but other popular options include the 85mm, 105mm and 135mm.
Using a quality lens can be a huge game changer in image clarity. Like camera bodies, purchasing higher end used lenses can be a great option vs buying a lower end brand new lens. Lenses with lower aperture capabilities are typically going to be higher quality glass.
Depending on your budget I would recommend looking into a Canon 85mm 1.8 (around $400 used), Canon 135mm 2.0 (around $800 used) or Canon 70-200mm 2.8 II (around $1,300 used).
When you’re just starting out, invest in 1 body and 1 lens that suits your budget best and then feel free to add more later if needed. Don’t feel like you need a large variety of lenses and camera bodies to achieve beautiful images. Find the staples that work best for what you want to photograph and go practice with it!
meet the photographer
Rachel is the gal behind the lens at Rachel Reilly Photography. Specializing in equine, wedding + senior portraits, she has built her built her business from shooting friends for free to traveling all across the country to clients.
