How to Scout Horse Photography Locations Without Leaving Home

I almost always visit a location before a horse photography session.

Whenever possible, I like to hold my pre-session consultation at the farm so I can meet the horse, get to know the owner, and take a look at where we'll be working.

It's much easier to plan a session when I've already seen the property and know what I have to work with.

But sometimes that's just not possible.

I've photographed clients several states away, and making a separate trip just to scout the location isn't always practical.

Sure, I could show up early on the day of the session and figure everything out then. But I'd much rather have a game plan before I arrive.

Fortunately, there are several ways to scout a horse photography location without ever leaving your desk.

And no, you don't need expensive software or a drone to do it.

Start by Figuring Out What Your Session Needs

Before opening Google Maps or checking the position of the sun, think about the type of session you're planning.

Different types of equine portraits require different things from a location.

Outdoor Horse and Rider Portraits

For outdoor portraits, I'm generally looking for areas with good open shade, attractive backgrounds, and enough space to position the horse and rider comfortably.

Trees are often helpful, particularly when they're located on the west side of the property for an evening session or the east side for a morning session.

But I'm not just looking for trees.

I also want to know whether there are fences, driveways, buildings, or other elements that might work well in the background.

And, just as importantly, whether there's anything I'd rather keep OUT of the background.

Classic Black or White Background Portraits

If I'm planning black background portraits, I want to know whether the property has a suitable barn aisle, doorway, or other covered structure.

For white background portraits, I may need a location where I can safely set up a backdrop and lighting equipment.

Covered arenas can sometimes be an option, depending on the setup.

I'll also want to know how much space is available, whether the horse can stand comfortably, and whether there are any safety concerns with the proposed location.

Horses at Liberty

For liberty portraits, I'm looking for a smaller, securely enclosed field or pasture where the horse has room to move but isn't disappearing over the horizon.

A 40-acre pasture might be lovely, but it isn't necessarily my first choice when I'm trying to photograph a horse running.

I also want to know what the fencing looks like, whether the ground is suitable, and if there are obstacles or other hazards in the area.

Some of those things can be evaluated online. Others will need to be confirmed with the owner.

Once I know what the session requires, I can start looking for locations that might work.

Use Google Maps to Get the Lay of the Land

Google Maps is one of my favorite tools for scouting locations remotely. It's free, relatively easy to use, and can tell you quite a bit about a property before you ever arrive.

Start With Satellite View

Enter the farm's address into Google Maps and switch to satellite view. Zoom in and start looking around.

I'm usually checking for several things:

• Trees and shaded areas. Where are the larger groups of trees located? Are they on the east or west side of the property?

• Barns and other structures. Are there buildings that might work for black background portraits or provide interesting architectural elements?

• Fields and pastures. Are there smaller enclosed areas that might be suitable for liberty portraits?

• Fence lines and driveways. These can sometimes provide useful leading lines or backgrounds.

• The overall property layout. How far apart are the areas I might want to use? Is there enough space to move between them comfortably?

I also pay attention to the relationship between the buildings, trees, and open areas. For example, if I'm planning an evening session, I want to know where the sun will be relative to the areas I'm considering.

And remember that satellite imagery isn't necessarily current. Trees may have been removed, buildings added, or fencing changed since the image was captured.

Think of it as a starting point, not a guarantee of what you'll find when you arrive.

Check Google Street View

Next, I'll switch to Street View if it's available.

This is particularly helpful for getting a look at the entrance to the property.

I want to know what the driveway looks like, where the entrance is located, and whether there are any landmarks that will help me recognize the farm when I arrive.

Sometimes you can also get a glimpse of the barns or other structures from the road.

It's not a substitute for seeing the property in person, but every little bit of information helps.

Check the Position of the Sun

Once I've identified a few possible areas, I want to know what the light is likely to be doing at the time of the session.

This is where sun-position tools come in handy.

SunCalc

SunCalc is a free tool that allows you to enter a location and date and see the sun's position throughout the day. I generally prefer using it on my computer because it's easier to see the property and work with the controls on a larger screen.

Enter the farm's location, choose the session date, and move the time slider to see where the sun will be.

SunCalc displays time in a 24-hour format, so if you're accustomed to a 12-hour clock, you'll need to make that adjustment.

I use it to get a better idea of which areas might offer the light I'm looking for.

For example, if the only substantial tree cover is on the east side of the property, I may want to consider a morning session rather than an evening one.

SunTracker

SunTracker is another option for checking the sun's position at a particular location and time.

It's designed for mobile use, which can be convenient when you're planning or checking details away from your computer.

Both tools can help you make more informed decisions about session timing.

Just remember that knowing where the sun will be doesn't tell you everything about the light. Buildings, terrain, trees, and weather can all affect what you'll actually have available.

Ask Your Client to Help Fill in the Gaps

Google Maps is great, but it has limitations. It can't show you the inside of a barn aisle, tell you whether the pasture fencing is in good condition, or let you know that the beautiful tree you spotted in satellite view was removed last spring.

That's where your client comes in.

If there's something I can't evaluate remotely, I'll ask the client to send me a few photographs or a short video.

For example, I might ask for:

• A view looking down the barn aisle in both directions

• Photographs of the areas around the barn

• A short video showing a pasture being considered for liberty portraits

• Images of any trees or shaded areas that might work for outdoor portraits

• A closer look at the fencing or ground conditions in a proposed location

It doesn't need to be professionally photographed. I'm not judging their camera skills. I just need to see what I'm working with.

This can also be a good opportunity to ask about things that aren't obvious from a map, such as where horses are typically handled, which areas are accessible, and whether there are any locations they'd prefer not to use.

And, of course, I'll confirm anything related to horse safety before deciding whether an area is appropriate.

What If the Location Isn't Ideal?

Sometimes you'll finish your virtual scouting and realize that the property doesn't have quite what you were hoping for.

That doesn't necessarily mean the session won't work.

It just means you may need to adjust your plan.

Change the Session Time

If the available shade works better in the morning than the evening, consider scheduling the session earlier.

I'd rather photograph in a location with suitable light than insist on an evening appointment simply because that's when I usually work.

Consider a Different Type of Portrait

If the property doesn't have a good outdoor portrait location but has a suitable barn aisle, black background portraits might be an option.

That doesn't mean you should automatically change the type of session your client booked. It's something to discuss with them if the original plan isn't going to work well.

Consider Another Location

This is usually my last choice.

Horses are generally more comfortable in familiar surroundings, and transporting them to another location adds time, logistics, and potential complications.

If the horse regularly travels and is comfortable in unfamiliar environments, another location might be worth considering.

Otherwise, I'd rather see what we can accomplish where the horse already lives.

Have a Plan, but Be Ready to Adjust

Remote location scouting won't tell you everything. You may arrive and discover that a tree casts a shadow differently than you expected, the barn aisle is smaller than it looked in the photographs, or the weather has other ideas about your carefully planned session.

That's part of photographing horses.

But having a reasonable understanding of the property before you arrive gives you a place to start.

You'll know which areas you want to check first, what equipment you might need, and whether there are any potential problems you should discuss with the client ahead of time.

I still prefer scouting in person whenever possible, particularly because meeting the horse is an important part of my planning process.

But when distance or scheduling makes that impossible, Google Maps, sun-position tools, and a little help from the client can make a big difference.

And I'd much rather spend some time doing that research before the session than show up and hope everything works out.