Ride the Sky Equine Photography

11/07/2026

Nothing means more than hearing this from the people who trust me with what matters most. 💛🐾🐴

10/22/2026

I've been a little quiet around here lately.

Because, well...fall. 😂

It's been a busy few weeks with sessions, and I've had quite the assortment of animals in front of my camera. Mini cows, baby camels, baby goats, dogs, and oh so many horses!

I've got plenty of images to share once I come up for air, but in the meantime, there's something else I'm really looking forward to.

In just a few short weeks, I'll be talking to the Cowgirls with Cameras community about all things image competition!

If you know me, you know this is a subject I can talk about for a VERY long time. I'm excited to spend some time with fellow photographers talking about image competition, answering questions, and hopefully making the whole process a little less intimidating.

Now, back to editing. Because apparently all those animals expect me to do something with their images.

We are so excited to have Betsy Bird joining us for the first of our Cowgirls with Cameras Photographer’s mastery virtual day clinics starting in December!

Put Your Work to the Test: Photography Competition for Confidence, Growth, Recognition & Opportunity

Photography competition can be about so much more than ribbons and recognition. Discover how putting your work in front of professional judges can challenge you creatively, sharpen your skills, build confidence, and help you see your own photography with fresh eyes. Whether you’ve never entered a competition or you’re ready to approach competing more intentionally, this session will explore how competition can become a powerful tool for growth, opportunity, and taking your work to the next level.

About Betsy:

As the owner of Ride the Sky Equine Photography, Betsy spends her days doing unhinged things to make animals look at her (clearly, she’s desperate for attention). Through Unbridled Business, she mentors photographers on building profitable, sustainable businesses without the chaos, helping them get organized, get strategic, and stop guessing.

Her award-winning equine and pet portraits appear in homes and stables across the United States, and she’s a frequent guest voice on photography and business podcasts. She is the co-author of Equine & Equestrian Photography Poses that Sell, and she and co-author Cara Taylor Swift are already knee-deep in their second book.

Betsy holds the Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees from Professional Photographers of America, is a Certified Professional Photographer, and holds her Tennessee Photographic Master and Service degrees from TNPPA. When she’s not helping photographers tighten their workflows or photographing opinionated chestnut mares, Betsy is juggling young adult drama and attempting to convince her Chief Barketing Officer & VP of Sock Acquisition & Retention, Derby, that chewing cords is not a transferable job skill.

Learn more about our upcoming Virtual Clinics at Cowgirls with Cameras online!

Ride the Sky Equine Photography

10/06/2026

You know you're a horse girl when your truck smells like hay and life decisions.
You've canceled plans for the farrier.

You've checked three weather apps before a ride.

You've said "He's being expressive" about behavior that would get someone fired.

And somehow...

You'd still do it all again.

Because when he rests his chin on your shoulder?

That's it.
That's the whole reason.

09/29/2026

Horse girl with a full-time job in East Tennessee...trying to do both well...

You answer emails in your truck.
You change clothes in parking lots.

You drive home in the dark more nights than you can count.

You juggle work and barn and life.

And somehow...

You still show up for him.

You're not doing too much.

You're building a life around what matters.

And that belongs here.

09/17/2026

You go to the barn for “one quick thing” and somehow end up just… standing there

You had a purpose. A very clear purpose.

Grab something.
Check something.
Leave.

And then —
You stop.

Lean on the fence. Watch them move. Watch them eat.
Watch absolutely nothing happening.

And suddenly 45 minutes is gone.

No explanation.

No productivity.

Just… being there.

And honestly?

Worth it.

How long is your “quick stop at the barn” really? Be honest 😂

09/15/2026

if this is the first horse you bought with your own money...

This one hits different.

Not the lesson horse.
Not the borrowed one.

The one you worked for.

The one you budgeted for.
The one you justified.

The one that represents everything it took to get here.

That's not just ownership.

That's pride.
That's sacrifice.

And that kind of story deserves to be seen.

09/12/2026

If you've ever thought, I should really document this season... and then talked yourself out of it...

You tell yourself you'll do it later.

When things slow down.
When he's cleaner.
When life feels less busy.

But this season?

It's already happening.

The muddy boots.
The early mornings.
The quiet connection.

It doesn't wait.

And neither does the feeling of it.

If that thought has crossed your mind more than once...
There's a reason.

09/10/2026

If you've ever stayed at the barn longer than you needed to...just to stand there with him for a minute...You check your phone.

You know you should leave.

But you don't.

Because there's something about that quiet moment...
hand on his neck,
breathing slowing,
world getting a little quieter.

People outside the barn don't always understand that.

But you do.

You're not wasting time.

You're grounding yourself.

And that kind of connection?

That belongs here.

09/10/2026

If your horse was the reason you made it through high school...

She showed up every day.

School. Practice. Life.

And then the barn.
Where everything slowed down.

There were hard days.
The kind no one else really saw.

But he was there.

Steady.
Quiet.
Uncomplicated.

Now she's packing for college.
A new chapter.

But that connection?

It doesn't stay behind.

And the image we created?
That's the part she takes with her.

09/08/2026

🐴✨ If you’ve ever stood in your closet thinking,
“I have nothing that looks good next to a horse,”

I promise… you’re not alone.

As an equine photographer who designs wall art for a living, this is one of the first things clients worry about — and one of the easiest things to solve.

Here’s what photographs beautifully in East Tennessee light:

✨ Soft neutrals — cream, denim, olive, warm browns
✨ Pieces with movement — flowy skirts, structured jackets
✨ Textures that add depth without competing with your horse

What I gently steer people away from:

• Neon
• Tiny busy prints
• Large logos
• Anything that feels overly trendy

Because here’s the shift most people don’t think about:

We’re not dressing for social media.

We’re dressing for the wall.

For the mantle.
For the staircase.
For the space above your couch that you walk past every single day. 🖼️

And here’s the part I want you to hear clearly:

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

We talk through it.
We make adjustments.
We tweak small details that make a big difference.

Sessions are structured — but they’re also fun.

You’re not standing stiffly wondering what to do.
You’re laughing.
You’re adjusting your reins.
You’re resting your forehead against your horse’s neck.

You just show up loving your horse.

I’ll handle the rest. 🐴💛

If wardrobe stress has ever been the thing holding you back, let’s talk about it. It’s always simpler than you think.