About Kate

Hi, I'm Kate Snodgrass. Thank you for stopping by!

An equestrian first, a photographer second

Horses have been part of my life since I was eight years old, back when I begged my parents to sign me up for horse camp. That early love turned into a lifelong pursuit. Over the years, I've gentled a mustang, competed in both English and Western disciplines, ridden bareback and tackless, spent time in parades, leased three horses, owned two, and even tried my hand at barrel racing. Today I own my horse, Reggie, an Arabian who has taught me more about patience and partnership than I ever expected.

That background matters in my work. I understand horses, not just how to photograph them. I know how to read their body language, when to slow down, when a horse needs a moment before the camera comes out, and when the perfect time to click the shutter button is! That understanding lets me capture images that feel authentic and carefully captured.

How photography found me

I picked up my first camera in 2018. My aunt, a photographer herself, took me out one afternoon and showed me the basics. How to hold the camera, a few tips on composition, and where to find good light. We spent that day photographing ducks at a pond near my high school. One of those photos, a mallard floating across still water, ended up being entered in the state fair. That was the moment I realized photography could be more than a hobby.

The following year, I took a photography class in high school and learned the fundamentals I still rely on today. It didn't take long for me to realize I wanted to photograph people and animals rather than still objects. I started bringing a camera to the barn, photographing my horse and a friend's horse whenever I could. The early photos were far from perfect. Dark, blurry, and a little rough around the edges, but I kept showing up and kept learning.

Eventually I invested in my first real camera and began taking on small sessions, first for free, then for a modest fee as my skills and confidence grew. Somewhere along the way, a friend asked me to photograph her senior portraits, and that experience made the decision clear: this was what I wanted to do.

Building the business

The last few years have been about growth, both behind the camera and in how I run my business. I earned a professional photography certification through eCornell University, invested in the gear I use today, and learned how to value my time and craft properly. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to travel to Wellington, Florida, the winter equestrian capital of the world, to attend a workshop led by photographer Jesse Klein. It was a chance to learn from other professionals and sharpen my eye even further. To this day, I continue my education daily to give my clients the best possible experience.

What keeps me going

There's nothing quite like the message after a session that says, "This is even more than I was hoping for," or a photo I took becoming someone's favorite profile picture. One of my favorite moments is seeing a portrait printed and hung in a client’s home. It makes me feel that the journey is complete, and what it took to get there! From booking the shoot, traveling, taking the photos, editing, and eventually going to the print house and delivered to the client’s home. Those moments remind me why I do this work.

I'm always learning and always refining my craft, with one goal in mind: giving you images you'll treasure for years to come.