“I couldn’t not take photos,” recalls Tina Fitch of the heart strings that eventually tugged her toward becoming a professional photographer.
As a kid growing up in Maryland, Tina knew that horses or art would be her life. “My high school guidance counselor was horrified. ‘How will you ever make money?’” Tina recalls the counselor asking. Yet, she followed her passions.
Horses won out as Tina’s livelihood for much of her 20s.
In her early teens, she started riding and became a working student at an eventing barn. Later, she galloped racehorses on tracks up and down the East Coast. It was that work that brought her to California in her late 20s.
Racing Resume
“I was living in New York when I decided I wanted to see California,” Tina recounts. “Bobby Frankel was one of the incredible trainers I worked for. One day, he asked me if I could leave for California in 5 days. So, I packed what I could into Rubbermaid bins and started driving.”
“I thought I would be here for six months, and I never left.”
In addition to the good weather, Tina loves the people in California — the interesting mix of backgrounds and a general open-mindedness. California’s diverse geography is another plus.
Tina continued galloping racehorses and began working for HRTV, the broadcasting arm of the Santa Anita Racetrack. She worked her way into a feature producer role and sometimes modeled for items sold in the track’s gift shop.
In the course of all that, Tina had the transformational experience of working with renowned photographer Katey Barrett. “Her work was like nothing I’d ever seen,” Tina reflects. “Her use of light was captivating. I looked up to and admired her, but I don’t think I realized in the moment how amazing it was that she was taking my picture.”
Tina purchased several of Katey’s photographs before Katey passed last fall, at 91, and they are cherished inspirations.
The Camera Calls
In the early 2000s, Tina bought herself an Off-The-Track Thoroughbred and returned to sport horse riding. She left her career on the track in the late 2000s and began working as a saddle fitter and sales rep, bringing her back into regular contact with the eventing and sport horse community.
She toyed with taking photos at shows but tucked away the idea of doing it seriously for several years. The itch to capture special moments is as powerful as the itch to be with horses, and Tina didn’t resist it long. She began shooting her equestrian friends.
A business coach wondered why she wasn’t doing it professionally, and “slowly things started to evolve.” A good nudge came from Maria Morgan of Captured Moment Photography. She noticed Tina taking photos and explained the negative impact on her business when photos are given to riders for free.
Show photographers have major investments in equipment and time being on site all day capturing, sorting and editing riders’ special moments. Modest profits come from selling those images. Since the advent of digital photography and its transformation of the mechanical aspects taking photos, making a go of professional horse show photography has gone from financially tough to tougher.
Maria recruited Tina to her team part-time. “She taught me the basics and I slowly moved up in the quality of cameras I bought,” Tina shares. “Maria took a chance on me and I really appreciate that. I look at the photos I took back then and I’d like to think I’ve come a long way.”
Seeking another mentor, Tina cold-called noted show and artistic photographer, Erin Gilmore. “She’s been my most influential mentor. She critiques photos for me and is always available for my questions.”
Internationally renowned dressage photographer Terri Miller is another mentor, for whom Tina shoots on occasion.
It’s Official!
The role of Official Show Photographer arose when Marcus and Kelly Greene of MGO Photography stepped down from working with several West Coast organizers, including Robert Kellerhouse of Galway Downs.
Robert asked Tina to take their place in 2021. Tina now serves as Official Photographer for Galway Downs’ spring and fall Horse Trials and for eventing competitions at The Horse Park at Woodside.
Assembling a terrific team has been key to the success of Tina Fitch Photography. “I look for people that are willing to work hard and, first and foremost, they are hungry to be a professional.” They will also have good quality camera equipment. “Having bad gear can hold you back,” Tina notes. “Plus, you have to love what you are doing. We’re not making a ton of money at it.”
The majority of Tina’s crew are horse people. They enjoy being at the shows and recognize the right moments. Cross-country day epitomizes the team aspect of show photography. “We really get to know the cross-country course,” Tina explains. “I want everyone to have a vision, because when we are shooting the same horses and riders, it’s important to get something exciting – something that conveys the drama of what’s going on in the moment.”
Equestrian event photography’s many challenges include identifying points where the horse and rider will make the most dramatic effort, then factoring in lighting and potentially distracting objects in the frame. Equipment that allows for remote camera operation is an exciting addition to Tina’s toolbox.
Like most competitions, Galway Downs has a policy of allowing only the official photographer to take and sell photos from their events. It’s a difficult policy to police, and the situation is compounded by the ease of grabbing photos posted on social media.
Tina sees the threat of unofficial photographers encroaching on her revenue potential as motivation to create irresistible images. “It’s an incentive to do better!”
Long days are part of a show photographer’s life. Her team shoots all riders throughout the day, but Tina does the editing herself – often staying up ‘til 11 pm or midnight most show nights.
Expanding Portrait Business
When she’s not shooting the 7 shows she’s currently contracted for, Tina maintains a portrait photography business based at her studio in San Diego County’s Julian. Professional head shots, senior portraits, family treasures, glamour photography and personal branding images are all on the menu there.
The interviewing skills she learned as a video producer for HRTV serve Tina well. Earning her subjects’ trust and enabling them to feel confident and relaxed is key to capturing them in ways that best reflect their personalities.
Most importantly, Tina enjoys working with her two OTTBs. Forks of Ivy is competing at Novice now, with hopes to move into Training by year’s end. And Rocketcent is coming back from a minor injury.
Tina and her husband, Jamie White, live in Julian. He is a retired professional guitarist and a luthier. Making custom musical instruments and beautiful photographs have similarities, Tina shares. They both require artistic sensibilities, intense craftsmanship, time and effort. In most cases, customers want their instrument and photographs right away, too!
While it took Tina a while to jump feet first into show photography, Galway Downs and its exhibitors are glad she did!