Equine Photography Business Mentoring with Cara Taylor Swift of Fast Horse Photography

Image curtesy of Kim Beer Photography

When you started your professional equestrian photography career, I’m guessing your goal was to get as many people and horses behind the lens as possible. You marketed the heck out of yourself. And found you were pretty dang good at taking horse photos and drawing in customers.



Pose, shoot, digital download, next… 



You quickly learned that squeezing all those equine photo sessions into your week took a toll on your family and home life, messing with your sanity. 



Never in a million years did you think this part-time business would take over your life. 



You considered scaling up and going full-time to meet your client's needs but couldn’t fathom making the space in your schedule.



How could you work more?



Photographers shooting at the Dryhead Ranch in Montana

If you’re thinking, “Hey, that’s me!” I am here to tell you your experience doesn’t have to be this way. You CAN build an equine photography business that fits your current life goals.




You REALLY can be a successful professional equine photographer. And, still spend time with the people you love, doing the things that make you happy.




What if I told you it’s possible to: 

  • Level up your equine photography business with less hustle and more income.

  • Move from a high-volume/low-cost business with little to no customer experience to a low-volume/high-value model where you take care of your customers throughout the entire lifecycle of your relationship.

  • Build a career that fits your work/life goals

  • Develop a strong mindset around pricing and product options

  • Find your ideal client and market to that client 

  • Elevate your customer experience from start to finish

  • Grow a professional photography business that you love and doesn’t cause burnout. 




Let me teach you how.

Learn From My Experience

I started Fast Horse Photography seven years ago. I learned early on that I didn’t have the time to shoot as many weekly sessions as needed to make the business financially worthwhile. I also knew I wanted to have a personal life, spend time with my family, and ride my horse. 





I knew I needed to do something different than other equine photographers to build what I wanted for my career. So, I set out to run my horse photography business with a low-volume and high-value model, taking on fewer clients and giving them a luxurious experience. Rather than pushing clients through and sending them on their way with a digital file, I created my professional equine photography business to pamper my clients. 





My process begins with an in-person creative consultation and ends with hand-crafted works of art hanging on my client's walls. 





Using this in-person sales process guarantees my customers high satisfaction. Not only do my clients have a great experience, but our relationship also brings them back year after year.





My in-person sales model focuses on relationship building, offering an elevated service, and having the confidence to set my prices for the value of what I offer. 

Image curtesy of Penny Whistle Photography







I’m sure you’re thinking… “Cara, that sure sounds great. But how do I transition to the low-volume model and create a photography business that gives me my life back while providing an adequate income?”







That’s where I come in!

Customized Solutions For Your Equine Photography Business

Over the past year, I created a specialized mentorship experience for equestrian photographers like you. I designed this program to give you the tools you need to shine in the industry while making room for life outside your business.







I’ll teach you how to reach your professional threshold—what you want your business to look like and how to get there. 







You’ll learn how to create a consistently elevated customer experience and build your in-person sales process when you work with me. I’ll teach you how to develop a photography business that makes your clients want to work with you repeatedly.







The core of my program will show you how to:







  • Develop a process and complete customer flow to create a full-service experience, from initial concept to finished one-of-a-kind equine décor.







  • Discover how selling your work as high-quality finished art through in-person sales begins from the first client inquiry—followed by “closing the sale” through an intimate, personal, and professional photo reveal and ordering appointment.







  • Create a process that reflects the values and goals of your equine photography business, from customer onboarding and creative consulting to preparing clients for shoots and the final reveal.







  • Design a custom flow that expresses your style and your business goals. 







In my one-on-one mentorship sessions, I’ll help you go from burnout and struggling to keep up with the fast pace of high-volume photography to creating a business you’ve always dreamed about. 

Photographers shooting at the Cottonwood Ranch in Nevada.









Together we will formulate a plan to balance your work/life balance. 









Trust me. I get that your business is an emotional investment, and I know how much you want your equine photography business to celebrate your clients and their horses. But, you also need to protect your time AWAY FROM work.

Private Mentor Sessions For The Win

My mentorship program starts with determining your work/life goals and what’s working and not working with your business—followed by an assessment of your current workflow and procedures. Once we get that figured out, mentoring begins with me teaching you to raise the standard of your client’s experience. 









I’ll train you to use an elevated level of service to work with your clients every step of the way. You’ll learn how to build a relationship with your clients at your first meeting. I’ll explain how to answer questions about photography needs, discuss image ideas, and determine how your client hopes to use their photos. 









You’ll learn to:

  • Navigate questions from potential clients

  • Build value during the initial conversation

  • Use compelling language to discuss your process

  • Solidify your sales funnel

  • Set your pricing to reflect your value

  • Strengthen your mindset around pricing

  • Set boundaries and know when to say “NO.”

  • Plan and stylize your client’s wardrobe

  • Create a successful tack flow during your shoot

  • Plan for property or location needs 

  • Identify contract options 

  • Understand liability issues

  • Design model releases

  • Find helpful software tools

  • Construct product offers

  • Successfully correspond with clients









And much more!

What Makes My Mentoring Different?

Helping your client at their viewing appointment is a significant part of my service. Ponder this idea for a second. How many times have you taken an excellent photo and wanted to print it and put it on your wall? But when it came time to find a frame or decide where to put the picture, you needed help. 









I’ll teach you one of my specialties—how to measure the spaces in your client’s home, barn or office for the art pieces they hope to create. 









I will coach you through the critical points of a viewing appointment, helping your client choose their favorite images and decide on the type of product that works best for their space. 









I’ll explain the digital tools I use to design and show the finished artwork on my client’s walls. I’ll show you how I order the artwork or the pieces I need to put together in my studio. I’ll help you develop a lavish packaging and delivery system to make your client's experience memorable.









My elevated level of service doesn’t stop there. I will teach you how to support your client and their horse throughout their photo session, so they feel heard and unique. 









Let’s work together to build your confidence, create excitement, and give you the tools you need to offer an elaborate customer experience through in-person sales. Reach out today and get started.









Don’t worry if you don’t live in my area—all session meetings are through ZOOM. 

What Are You Waiting For?

Are you an equine or equestrian portrait specialist looking to change how your business runs? Give my equine photography business mentoring program a try. My systematic approach and relational focus will dramatically change how you do things. 









Hear what my mentees have to say:  









If you're even remotely on the fence about starting a mentorship or working with Cara, allow me to persuade you to do it and do it quickly. I've been a photographer for several years and Cara taught me more in those sessions that I ever could have learned on my own. My only regret is not having found her and her program earlier on in my career. I could have saved some time and energy. She is generous with her knowledge and materials and is always ready to not only answer questions but offer up support and encouragement constantly. Her work is incredible, she takes the time to listen to your questions and maps out a great plan to help you be successful. I will always be grateful to Cara for sharing her experience and helping me shape and manage my own photography journey. 









~Karen Quinn, Photographs by Smooch









Cara is an honest, trustworthy, and experienced photographer, and I would highly recommend her to any equine photographers who are interested in developing an in-person sales process for their business.









~Marci Johnson, Marci Jo Photography









Connect with me today to create a customized solution to help your equine or equestrian photography business THRIVE









Cara Taylor Swift