Profile On: Shelley Paulson, Equestrian Advertising & Editorial Photographer

Another person I recently reached out to on LinkedIn about being profiled was Shelley Paulson. She was kind enough to provide some incredible detail for budding equine photographers! Read on below.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I live on an acreage and care for my own horses, and my work is 100% horse-related. So I would say at least 75% of an average day is related to horses.

What is it exactly that you do?
Primarily, I am a Commercial Equine Photographer. This means I work with brands and businesses to create photos and videos to help them market and communicate their value to customers. I also have an extensive Equine Stock Library companies and magazines use when they need images for publications, social media, and marketing projects.

Secondarily, I have a mentoring and education program for Equestrian photographers. I offer small group mentorships, standalone courses, and many free resources. This is to help equestrian photographers grow in their skills and gain the confidence they need to take better photos and grow a successful business.

Multiple Income Streams

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earning a liveable income?
Yes, but it can be a challenge. I live in Minnesota, so the season when I can offer portrait sessions is painfully short. This is what led me to create multiple income streams to help me continue earning money throughout the year. Depending on where people live, they may find the same issues and struggle to have a full-time business unless they plan to travel to warmer states to work in the winter.

The other challenge is that many photographers start out doing it as a hobby they are passionate about and aren’t trained in how to run a business. This generally leads to undercharging and burnout from working too many hours for too little money. Pricing for profit and understanding how to run a successful business are two strong predictors of success for equestrian photographers.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
If someone is still in high school and considering becoming an equestrian photographer, I recommend finding a college with an entrepreneurial or small business major. Photography itself can be learned outside of the college setting, but business education is harder to find.

Profile On: Shelley Paulson, Equestrian Advertising & Editorial Photographer

Favourite horse memory?
Last summer, I added a beautiful dunskin Morgan filly to my herd. She was born at a friend’s farm just a few minutes from where I live. So I spent as many evenings with her as I could from the day she was born. I remember one evening in particular when she lay in the grass and let me lay next to her with her head curled under my arm. I’ll never forget that feeling.

Future goals?
Last summer I went to Iceland for an equine photo tour. I returned renewed from the experience and with a beautiful portfolio of images. I would like to plan more trips like that where I get to photograph horses and experience parts of the world I’ve never been. In 2024, I’m hoping to visit South Korea and photograph horses there.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
I recently asked photographers who have been through my mentorship WHY they do Equestrian Photography. Not a single person said they did it for the money. I love that my profession is driven by a love for horses and their owners.