The equestrian photography job is one of the rarest professions in which a hobby can be turned into a business. One of the best Americans in the field is definitely Floridian Mary Phelps who runs a photo and videography business with her husband JJ Hathaway.
Besides covering her routine Dressage in Florida shows, Mary and JJ often travel abroad to cover international events like the European Championships and CHIO Aachen.
Most people only see the superficial, positive side of the job. "Being up all day, standing on your feet for twelve hours, walking from one side to another, these are only the positive sides of the job," Mary commented. Ordering negatives, arranging prints, scanning and sending out photos to magazines and of course keeping your records straight; this can sometimes overshadow the joy of handling a camera. However, the best antidote is an occasion on which celebrity riders and trainers visit Mary and JJ's display and compliment them on their terrific job. In Bad Honnef, Germany, it was German Chef d'Equipe Klaus Balkenhol who came over to adore Mary's work from Aachen and Arnhem.
Mary's husband JJ Hathaway captured this picture.
Related Link
Mary and JJ's website: http://horsesdaily.com