Out on a limb

I remembered receiving my 2010 Congress edition of the Equine Chronicle in the mail last year... if you haven't had the pleasure, think Sears wish book, and almost double it again.  It's big, and glossy, and beautiful, and with six hundred and seventy some pages, it's a heavy duty read.  Of course, though, I shamelessly, thumbed through the pages until landing upon the ad I had created.  There, amongst all the biggest names in the business, was my work.  It was a thrill, to say the least.  I smiled, right out loud!

This time... I wanted to be different.  So, instead of looking to the magazine for inspiration, I looked at my favorite home magazine.  Clean, and tidy, and when the idea struck, I went with it, I was worried that my clients would think I had lost my mind, but I trusted that they wouldn't go with it unless they believed in it.

So here, is our ad, for the 2011 Congress Edition of the Equine Chronicle, can't wait to have this one in my hands!  Thanks to Taylor, Shauna, Marven, Troy, and Alicia, Tim & Bev.

Congrats Taylor, and best of luck at Congress!

Gracie | Moncton Equine Photographer

It's a funny thing about time.  It waits for no one, it marches on.  I have been meaning to post this blog for at least a month now, just never finding the time.  I wish I was more efficient in my use of time, or that I could stop being so easily distracted by new things, shiny pretty, fun things.

You see, I've found a new addiction.  It's horrible, awful & distracting.  

It's called Pinterest.  It's a site that allows you to collect all those wonderfully amazing incredible awesome ideas, recipes, quotes, inspirations, do it yourself instructions.  You "pin" them and it gives you quick access to them.  It's like a modern day version of the old school, idea/concept/dream boards.

Remember going through magazines and clipping out favorite things?  This allows you to do it virtually.  It's amazing what you learn about yourself, based on what it is you pin!  And, it totally works, I pinned a totally adorable water/juice dispenser, and voila, I got one very similar for my mothers day gift... coincidence, I think not... be sure to share your link with fam/friends to ensure this happens!!

So, seriously, check it out, they released an iphone version just last week... so it's now mobile... dangerous.  If you need an invite, just email me, I'm happy to send a referral... that's right my friends, it's exclusive, you need an invitation!! (but don't worry about the process, they let me in.. so..)

So, back to Gracie, (see, easily distracted :D)

Gracie and Michelle, two beautiful gals from Double Diamond Stables. This is session 1 of 2, but you'll have to wait til the fall to see those, Can't wait for our next session Michelle.  Thank you for the privilege!  

(How is it that I get so lucky to have such beautiful models)

Thanks for looking, hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

I go back. | Moncton Equine Photographer

Picture it, Moncton, 1989 (or there about). A friend of a friend was getting rid of old horse magazines, my sister rescued them from their fate, the dump (this was before recycling was invented!) In the pile were Horse&Riders, Western Horseman, and a number of Quarter Horse Journals. I couldn't get enough of them, but the Journals were my favorite. I remember looking at the pictures, over and over and over. Stallions at stud, you know, the big ones at the time, Zippo Pine Bar, Impressive, Zips Chocolate Chip, Genuine Doc, etc. Reading the ads for people showing at Congress and Worlds. I remember looking at those pictures, the details, the set ups, over and over, until the pages were nearly falling out. I remember picking out my favorites, and my favorites were in different categories, because, well, that's how nerdy I was/am. Favorites by most original name, colors used in the ad to compliment the horse, and best background. I remember chuckling at unfortunate pictures, you know the ones where you have a side profile shot and someone is standing on the other side of the horse, and suddenly, when you look quick, their leg looks like an appendage that nice horses don't bring out in public. I still laugh when I capture those myself. (by the way, if I have one of those of your horse, it's an easy fix to get rid of it, so don't pass up a good side shot because your horse is showing more of themselves, than you'd wanted!)

Safe to say, I loved those magazines.

Now, imagine my reaction when asked to create an ad for a magazine, just like the ones that I had poured over as a kid. I was immediately nervous, excited, happy, overwhelmed, you name it, I felt it. I worked with Shawna & Marven of MacLean Quarter Horses, from Prince Edward Island, Taylor Fielding, and Edie or "Shes that Sweet". At the time of the design Taylor and Edie were sitting in 7th place in the Nation in Youth 14-18 Western Pleasure, the whole team will be traveling and competing at The All American Quarter Horse Congress this year.

The long wait is finally over, the current issue of The Equine Chronicle was released today, and uploaded to their website. It's a little bit surreal, I've probably overloaded their server with views of it myself, just to be sure that I'm not dreaming, that it's really there!

Here is a copy of the Ad design, if you'd like to see it in the magazine, go to The Equine Chronicle and click on the link on the right hand side of the page to view the digital version. It sits on page 201.

Thanks to everyone involved who made this possible. I can't wait to have my own copy in my hands. It makes me wonder, if someone, somewhere out there, will look through the magazine and be inspired as I once was. It's a nice thought anyway.