Photography 101 To Flash or Not (NOT!!!!)

I've no photos to attach to this post, but I think it's a very important message to relay regardless.

I look forward to Spring and Hunter/and new adventures: Jumper and Dressage competitions because they're outside. For my "Up and Coming Photographer" friends (Janie and Tia and Tayloe...you ride so you know) and for family and friends of riders who use a flash when attending indoor shows or events, and I've seen you do it, do us all a great favor: Please don't. Maybe your daughter or son's mount has become acclimated to the flash, other horses and ponies have not. You never know how a participant's best friend will react.

As much as I would love to flash indoors (and this is part of being a professional equestrian photographer and how I make a living), if I don't do it...you shouldn't either...it's not worth the potential consequences. Get it? Got it? Good!

All the best,

Susan and Aladdin (who was spooked when my cell phone light went on and he's still acting "iffy" a week later)

Guess Who's Getting Hitched?!!!

I'm so very pleased to announce here at "It's Time To Ride!" that Tara Lane and Will Kinnamon are getting married this October! Many of you know Tara who owns Virginia Horse Imports and shows her beautiful ponies at many of the Hunter Shows in our neighborhood!

Now Will is not YET a horsey person, but it's my guess that he will be! You may have seen the three of us at Hazelwild this past weekend where we got these photos (and many more that even Tara and Will haven't seen...so I've got to make this post short so I can get them to the happy couple!). Tara grew up riding at Hazelwild; the vest she is wearing actually belonged to Ms. Morrison and was given to Tara when Ms. Morrison left this world to go her big beautiful equestrian farm in Heaven...

Back to photos, and thank you so much to Will and Tara for inviting me to shoot, not only their engagement photos, but the BIG day in October. I have grown very fond of them, and I'm honored to be a part of the celebration! Congratulations to you both, with much love from Susan and Aladdin.