THE Irish weather and long days are not a challenge for me, but an opportunity to become creative and get a different shot,” explains photographer Tori O’Connor. This young woman is a familiar face at equestrian events across the country, having spent the last eight years building up an impressive portfolio, which includes events and private commissions.

Although Tori wasn’t born into a family steeped in equestrian history, her love of horses saw her pursue a career surrounded by them. “No one in my family rode or had an interest in horses. I started at the local riding school and loved every minute of it. I went to events with my friends and I later went on to get my own horse and do a bit of amateur dressage. I have a 10-year-old horse now but I have no ambition to jump 1.30m or even close,” she says with a laugh.

“I never really expected to pursue this career, but it just fell that way. I loved photography and I began working alongside Jim and Carol Prime from Prime Photography. It was while working alongside them, I learnt my trade and I really enjoyed it.”

Photographer Tori O'Connor with her horse \ Chris Semple

Finding the right angle

For Tori, being able to ride and be confident around horses is a major advantage when it comes to getting the right shot.

“At events, a lot of getting the good picture is knowing where to place yourself. I always walk the course, so I can find that right spot.

"In particular in eventing, you need to get a feel of the course. This is sometimes the case in the jumping as a particular fence can be more challenging. It’s not just about standing there and getting that lucky shot, you need to do your research,” she says.

Over the years, Tori has expanded what she photographs. “It’s great covering the events, but I also like the private commissions. I really enjoy going into different yards and seeing the horses and the dynamics in the yard. It is with the private commissions that you get to meet the people, get to know them and tell their story.

“I love seeing how people react with their pets. When you study this relationship, you can get in their world and just capture their love or the animals.

“I also do quite a few stallion shots, and for this you really need to be comfortable around horses. A nervous photographer would not work here, as you need to know where to place yourself.

“The weather in Ireland can go either way, but for me, it provides me with a different backdrop for what I hope will be that beautiful image. I find that people that have horses also have dogs and I have seen an increasing demand from people to have pictures with their pets too. I travel all over Ireland on these types of commissions.”

Creative sense

The variety of the job is what Tori believes keeps her fresh and helps her with the creativity. “I also do a good bit of commercial work for brands and catalogues. This brings in another element to what I do.

“Wedding commissions is another big part of my business and I really enjoy this part of my job, as it is your chance to make real memories for people. I never mind the change in surrounding or different types of commissions as it’s an opportunity to showcase what you can do. In meeting the people, you build a story before you take the picture.”

Tori is well-known at The Meadows Equestrian in Lurgan, where she is their resident photographer.

“The opportunity came up one day to work at one of their events and I have been there ever since.

“I really enjoy it there and I am grateful for the opportunity. Likewise, while I was working for other photographers, I got the opportunity to go to the big events. Tattersalls was without a doubt one of my favourites. There were just some many elements to capture, from the trot-ups to the cross-country day. No one day was the same! I also really enjoyed Dublin Horse Show and again it was a different experience. I would at some point love to cover some events outside Ireland,” she adds.

Many would think that once you take the picture, that your job is done, but that is only part of the job, Tori explains. “Yes, the right photograph is the key, but 50% of your time is spent in the office. After the event you need to upload the pictures and then there is quite a bit of admin, and depending on the job, there may be editing, which is also time-consuming. I also offer a lot of different options for printing and collages, and this all takes time. I really appreciate my customers and I want to make sure that they are happy with what they purchase.”

Expensive outlay

In terms of choosing this line of work, there is a lot of expense in this type of profession. “I have built up my equipment over the years and because it’s expensive, it takes time. The software is also an investment, but to be serious about the job, you need to have it. I think people are showing more respect in terms of copying your work on social media. In the past it was a real problem, but I think now because people know how reasonable it is to purchase an image suitable for social media, they will pay the fee.”

Looking ahead

Without a doubt, the pandemic is having a huge effect on Tori’s business, but she is realistic about the future. “Yes, it is affecting me as there are little or no events. We have got to believe that the end is in sight and things will improve. The main thing now is to do whatever we need to do to keep people safe.”

Once Tori is around animals, she is in her world. The sometimes long days of 9am to 7pm on her feet in an arena does not faze her. She takes pride in what she does and every shot is as important as the next.

The lucky shot is rare, and she is first to admit it, but telling the story of that moment is what she is looking to capture. Regardless where she is working, be it in a yard or over a fence, the opportunity to be creative is always there.