Are you an experienced equestrian photographer ready to love your business as much as you love photography?

Pegasus is the program for you!


Perhaps you picked up a camera because you love horses and wanted to capture that love in photographs. Over time, your photography has improved and your hobby has grown into a business, but you weren’t quite ready for that. 

You’ve been feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for actually running a sustainable equestrian photography business. How do you price and market your services? Do you need a website, or, if you have one, is it good enough? Is it possible to have a successful and profitable photography business if you aren’t doing it full-time? 

The good news is you’re asking all of the right questions. You are why I created Pegasus, a 6-month advanced mentorship experience for equestrian photographers wanting to grow their business and learn high-level photography skills. 

This exclusive group of only 6 photographers will grow together through online course content, private and group mentor sessions, and an all-inclusive retreat!

"I feel so much more confident now."

Leigh Whittington

Pegasus helped me get a framework for a business into place. When I tried learning on my own before, there were so many things that were new to me, that even if people had good suggestions, I didn't know how to put it all together and felt overwhelmed. 

I feel so much more confident now. I feel comfortable with my services and pricing. I had a potential client recently tell me that my prices were too high and I felt completely okay with that. I know what my services are worth now, and I know my path forward to grow this business for the future.

Your success matters to me. I believe a successful photography business is one that’s built around your strengths and works for you. Despite what you may be seeing in the “hustle and grind” culture we live in, not everybody wants a 6-figure photography business.

Every photographer has different goals, and that’s okay. Your goal may be to make a certain amount of income or build a full-time business. Or, it might be to find that sweet spot between doing sessions and raising a family or working a part-time job.

During the Pegasus Mentorship, I’ll help you figure out what success means to you so we can design your business around that.

This customized approach is what makes Pegasus different than other photography mentorships.
Join the 2024 Waitlist

The Pegasus Mentorship Includes

  • 1:1 Mentor Sessions

    Monthly personalized video coaching calls with me where I help you make a plan for your photography and support you as you work to reach your personal goals.

  • Exclusive Retreat

    You will enjoy a 5 day, 4 night, all-inclusive retreat in Minnesota. We have healthy and delicious chef-cooked meals, bonding time, and hands-on instruction at nearby stables.

  • Online Lessons

    Bi-weekly lessons are taught in online video format so you have time to digest and then apply what you've learned through homework assignments.

  • Group Coaching

    Two group coaching calls per month where we check in with each other, discuss course assignments, and answer any questions you might have about what you've learned.

  • Community

    You will have access to a private mentorship Facebook group during the mentorship where you can discuss lessons, ask me questions and get input from others.

  • Resources

    You will be given access to digital resources such as eBooks, Price lists, presets, templates, actions, and more.

  • Pegasus Certification

    Upon completing the mentorship, you will receive a badge for your website stating you are a "Pegasus Certified Equestrian Photographer," which links to a page explaining the training and qualifications you've received through the mentorship.

"I now feel like I can DO this!"

Becky Finney

Shelley devotes her full attention to her students throughout the mentorship. It was the best program I have ever experienced. I have done other workshops and they are strictly online with no personal interaction. I am one who likes personal interaction and being able to talk to people, not just read about everything. 

My confidence has grown tremendously, I now can talk with pride and confidence about my business, also I am now calling it my business. I now feel like I can DO this!! And that is a great feeling!

Pegasus is for you if...

  • You are an experienced equestrian photographer ready to grow your business into something you love that fits your personal goals and lifestyle.

  • You struggle with imposter syndrome and are ready to finally shake that off and become a confident photographer and business owner.

  • You know you have the talent and the passion to be successful in your equestrian photography business, but you aren’t getting the results you want.

  • You are looking for personalized mentoring from an experienced photographer you can trust and who cares about you and your success.

  • You feel isolated and are looking for a small, safe community of like-minded photographers you can build relationships with.

  • You've taken a bunch of online courses, but they haven't made a real impact on your photography or your business.

  • You are getting bored with your photography and are looking to learn advanced techniques like off-camera lighting and documentary photography.

  • You are ready to be challenged and do the sometimes uncomfortable work involved in stretching outside your comfort zone in order to grow.

What will you learn?

  • Who are you and who is your ideal client? Defining your style and brand so you can stand in a crowded market.
  • Pricing and Sales: Finding the best pricing and business model for your lifestyle.
  • Make Your Website Work for You: Creating a website that works FOR you to attract the right clients.
  • Marketing and Client Experience: How to market your business to the right clientele and create a memorable client experience. 
  • Client Workflow: Creating an efficient and seamless flow from the first inquiry to final product delivery. 
  • Enhance your Sessions with Video: Increase the value of your portrait sessions when you learn my simple process for adding videos using the gear you already have. 
  • Off-Camera Light and Studio Photography: Level up your photography by learning to add artificial lighting to both natural light and studio settings.
  • Working with Brands and Licensing Images: Learn the pricing, photography, and client expectation differences between portrait and commercial photography. 
  • Storytelling Behind the Lens: The elements that go into telling a compelling photo story with photographs.
  • Grow Your Business with Email Marketing: Set up a lead magnet and email newsletter so you can market directly to warm leads.
  • Time Management/Deep Work and Work-Life Harmony: Secrets for being massively productive and doing better, deeper work.
  • The Power of Practice and Personal Projects: Why you need to create images to feed your soul and develop your skill set. 

Meet Your Mentor

Hi! I'm Shelley, and I give equestrian photographers the skills and confidence they need to take better photos and grow a successful business.

I have combined my deep love of horses with my passion for making heartfelt images to create a thriving full-time career that has lasted for over 18 years. My work has been published worldwide and can be seen in various equestrian publications and in advertising for major equine brands such as Horse Illustrated, Western Horseman, Nutrena, and Farnam.

As I’ve led workshops and mentored photographers for more than 16 years, my goal is always to make sure my students learn the concepts and are able to successfully apply them to their own photography and business.

My approach is concise, positive, and encouraging. I believe there’s no such thing as a bad question, and I like to keep learning fun! My favorite phrase to say while teaching is: “Good Job!”

How is Pegasus different than other photography mentorships?

While the entire Pegasus experience is created with you in mind, there are two main elements that set it apart from other mentorships.

All-Inclusive Retreat

Pegasus is the only mentorship of its kind that blends both online learning, personalized mentoring, and an in-person retreat. 

Members stay in an Airbnb in the heart of Minnesota horse country. There are six hands-on learning opportunities, including natural light portraits, a full studio setup with off-camera lighting, a video shoot where you learn how to film and edit your footage, and more!

There is also downtime for relaxing and connecting with others, editing demos, guest speakers, and LOTS of amazing food made by a talented local chef.

1:1 Mentoring

In our monthly private Zoom calls, you will have me all to yourself. You will be able to ask me anything photography or business-related.

Because Pegasus is limited to 6 students, I am able to focus on discovering your unique strengths so you can build a business around those. Whether you are aiming to create a full-time or part-time photography career, you want to do it well and make good money for the amount of time you’re putting in. That’s why I’ll give you the framework, tools, and skills you need to build a photography business you love just as much as you love taking photos. 


Certification

The only program of its kind in the industry, the Pegasus Mentorship, offers certification to everyone who successfully completes the mentorship. Members receive a badge for their website stating they are a "Pegasus Certified Equestrian Photographer." The badge links to a page explaining what it means to be a Pegasus Certified Equestrian Photographer. 

"By far, the best value I have ever received for what I’ve spent on education."

Jill Brammer

After starting my photography journey in group classes and then trying to complete numerous online courses I finally decided I needed a mentor to take me from where I was to where I wanted to be. Shelley and her Pegasus Mentorship Program were exactly what I needed!

Shelley's professional knowledge and patient one-on-one sessions helped me to work through things I know I needed help with and many I hadn’t even thought about. This was, by far, the best value I have ever received for what I’ve spent on education.

Investment

Like any personalized education experience, a mentorship like this is an investment. I know sometimes it’s hard to invest in yourself. You ask, "Will it be worth it? Will my business grow? Will I make back my investment?" I believe the answer to all these questions is YES! 

Being part of Pegasus will help you grow your business, make you more profitable, and give you confidence and fulfillment as a photographer and business owner.

As one member said, "Thanks to Pegasus, I was able to raise my prices to a level that was profitable and sustainable for the long term."

  • 6 Private Mentoring Sessions with Shelley (reg $1770)
  • 12 Online Lessons (reg $2400)
  • 12 Group Coaching Calls (reg $1200)
  • All-inclusive Four Day Retreat (reg $4200)
  • Digital Resource Library (reg $800)
  • Circle of Support (priceless!)
  • OVER $10,000 VALUE!

You get all this for a one-time payment of $5600 or $995/month for 6 months

Are You Ready to Join Pegasus?

If you're ready to create an equestrian photography business you'll love, then apply today!

Join the 2024 Waitlist

"The knowledge Shelley provides is unmatched, and her guiding support will give you the necessary tools to succeed."

Alyssa Smolen

Before the Pegasus Mentorship, I felt like my photography was okay/decent. I felt like my business skills were lacking, and I didn't know where or how exactly to improve.

During the mentorship, I learned valuable and actionable things to apply to my business and photography, so now I feel more confident about being successful as a full-time equine photographer

If you want to truly level up your photography business and create something that you love while being sustainable, you need to join this mentorship. The knowledge Shelley provides is unmatched, and her guiding support will give you the necessary tools to succeed.

FAQ

  • How many people do you accept into Pegasus?

    In order to give each photographer a fully personalized experience and foster a strong sense of community in the mentorship, I limit Pegasus to just 6 photographers a year.

  • How will you decide who gets accepted into the mentorship?

    Wings Mentorship members will have first priority for Pegasus. If any spots are still open, you will fill out an application and answer a number of questions that will help me decide if I feel the mentorship is right for you.

  • Are there any prerequisites for this mentorship?

    Yes. You should be able to use your camera in manual and show a consistent level of technical and compositional skill and the ability to use light well in your photographs. If you are unsure if you qualify in these areas, feel free to email me and I can take a look at your work.

  • Do I have to be in business or starting a business?

    Yes. Much of what we cover will be relating to the business side of photography, so if you are only looking to improve your camera skills, then the Wings Mentorship would be a better fit for you.

  • What are the dates of the retreat?

    2023 Dates are TBD, but will likely be the 3rd or 4th week of July.

  • Is my flight to Minnesota for the retreat included?

    It is not, but once you get here, I will take care of all the rest!

  • When will Group Coaching Zoom calls be?

    Because many of those who will do this mentorship work another job, video calls will be scheduled on Monday evenings.

  • Can men join the mentorship?

    In order to create a safe environment for the participants both online and at the retreat, this mentorship is limited to just women.

  • If I'm not a good fit for Pegasus, but still want to learn from you, what are my options?

    You can consider booking a 1:1 video mentor session.