Cowboy Action Photography

With Cowboy action photography and/or video projects, we frequently use real cowboys as the talent. There are situations where we will need professional talent: The client needs a certain look, there needs to be some level of acting or there are lines that need to be spoken and acted. For this there needs to be a casting.

However unless the action is riding a horse at a dead walk, we will only cast for people that "know how to ride". This is very different than someone sitting on a horse on a guided trail ride, you are not really riding the horse, it is the horse giving you a ride. Big difference and very different safety wise.

When shooting cowboy lifestyle, casting for talent (models and/or actors) is very important and we spend a lot of time in model and/or talent agencies to find the right people for the job. Location scouting and casting are two of the most important pre-production items we do. On major projects we'll set up a “test shoot” to see which model(s) or actors work the best for the project.

Steve says, "I have been on a project where the client hired the models and we were shooting on a breeding and training ranch. One of the models was allergic to horses, one was petrified of horses and none of the other models had ever been around horses." He goes on to say, "This brings many issues, the most important of which is safety. A lot of people look at horses as big dogs, they do not realize that circumstances can lend it self to a dangerous situation, like walking behind a horse. If the horse is startled or feels it is threatened it may kick, leading to an injury or even death." Injury is very unlikely, but possible.

We always will try to hire talent and crew that have been around horses. This is not always possible, when faced with this, Steve will stress to the crew and talent the dangers and how to avoid them.

The Photographer and/or The Director:

When we are shooting for a client, either the shot list, the layouts or direction from the client will help shape the imagery and the time of day. Generally speaking the director or the photographer will have a lot of sway, but the number of images that need to be created will dictate a lot of what can be done in the time allowed.

The Crew:

Once the director or photographer tells the crew what they are wanting, the crew will tend to setting the lights, reflectors in place cameras with lenses ready for the photographer to ask for them, or the photographer/director may pickup a camera and just say to the cowboy, cowgirl, model or talent, "Stand there and look at the camera" and not need anything.

For some cowboy lifestyle photography, or video, it means some light make up, simple hair styling, wardrobe styling, and the styling crew will do all of this based on what the client is looking for. Cowboy wardrobe will depend on the era, 1890's, early 1900's, 1950's, contemporary etc. and all of it needs to fit the talent and match era wise. With clothing there is some latitude but with hats, slickers, boots and tack to the horse is more specific.

When shooting cowboy lifestyle photography or video, whether it is for branding, advertising or editorial use, brings different challenges to the photographer and/or director. Normally the biggest challenge is directing the talent in a way so the action does not look like it is forced or look like they are "Posing" for the camera.

All of the people: Models, actors, cowboys or cowgirls, used for these images have been through a casting process to help insure we have the right look for our clients. The other qualities we look for are models that are comfortable with themselves, that move but not too much or exaggerated to the point it looks forced.

We are based in Los Angeles, California, Atlanta, Georgia, both in the USA, & Milan, Italy, and serve the nation and travel worldwide for projects, both video and stills. On average we travel 175 days a year from all over the USA, to Singapore to Japan, Europe and the Middle East. We are normally in Europe 2 or 3 times a year, mostly Italy and Germany, shooting for clients there.

If you would like to use this image, or any of my images for mock or comp use, please just ask. There is never a charge for this service. Educational use is permitted without charge, unless published, but please ask first. All commercial use is available only with a limited copyright release prior to use from the copyright holder, Steve Thornton.  Thanks for looking!