THE 2023 WINGS MENTORSHIP IS FULL.

If you want to know when the 2024 Wings Mentorship is open for enrollment, join the Waiting List!

If you can't wait, a standalone version of the course will be available for a limited time. It includes all the lesson videos, homework assignments you can complete independently, quizzes to check your knowledge, and resources and downloads for each lesson. Scroll down to learn more and purchase.

Transform your Equestrian Photography and soar to new heights!

Have you ever felt unsure or insecure about your photography and photo editing skills? Maybe you have all the equipment, but you don’t know how to make the most of it to create the kind of equestrian photos you dream of.

You’re in the right place. I created Wings, a 3-month online learning and small group mentorship experience for Equestrian Photographers like you. It’s the program I wish existed when I was first starting out as a photographer. 

Whether you’re a professional or a passionate amateur, Wings will help you grow as a photographer with the guidance of a mentor who cares about you and your success and a community of fellow photographers cheering you on along the way.

The next Wings Mentorship starts January 2, 2023, and runs through March 27, 2023.

"I now feel 1000000x more confident!"

Taylor Kos, Gold Horse Media

“Prior to the mentorship, I was drowning in work and self-doubt. It would take me weeks to edit photos because I wasn’t sure anyone would like my style or edits, and I had no idea how to organize my workflow. I now feel 1000000x more confident! My photos have improved incredibly, my bookings instantly increased and so did my confidence.”

"I'm much more confident in my photography and business now!"

Ashley Aldrete

"I would get nervous/anxious before a session since I felt like my skills were still lacking and I was nervous the photos would not come out good. I'd always get some good photos but I felt like it was more luck than skill and I couldn't pinpoint what I did to get a good photo. The Wings mentorship changed that! I'm much more confident in my photography and business now!"

"The best investment you can make in yourself and your business."

Jessie Collins, Jessie Collins Photography

"It is the best investment you can make in yourself and your business. This mentorship is on a level teaching that brightens your soul, evokes your creativity, and silences your fears.

Working with Shelley is like working along a sister who really wants to see you at your fullest potential and supports you even on the days you may not be able to support yourself."

Wings is for you if...

  • You have questions about all sorts of equestrian photography-related topics and wish you had someone you could go to for the answers.

  • You love taking photos of horses but aren't as confident behind the camera as you would like to be.

  • You want to be able to walk into a photo session and know exactly what to do, even in less-than-ideal conditions.

  • You wish you knew more about how to edit and retouch your photos to make them look consistent and bring out their true beauty.

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

  • You purchased online courses but never completed them or struggled to apply what you learned.

  • You want personalized feedback on your images so you can create even better ones.

  • You want to be part of a small community of like-minded photographers who will support you and cheer you on as you learn.

  • You would like to sign up for Pegasus, but aren't sure your skills are up to speed yet.

The Wings Mentorship Includes

  • Online Lessons

    Teaching is done in an Online Lesson format, so you will have time to digest and apply what you've learned before we discuss the topic as a group during our Group Coaching Calls.

  • Small Group Coaching

    Wings is a fully interactive cohort-based course. There are 12 online group coaching calls (Mondays at 7 CT) where we discuss course content and assignments and answer any questions you have.

  • Accountability

    To ensure you understand the lessons, I assign homework, give individualized feedback, and am available to help if there is anything you don't fully understand. There are incentives for completing every assignment!

  • Community

    You will have access to a private Facebook group where you can interact with and learn from other students, ask questions, and receive feedback on homework assignments.

  • Resources

    You will have access to digital resources such as eBooks, my Lightroom presets, Photoshop actions, recommended gear, favorite podcasts, and more.

  • Pegasus Circle

    After the mentorship, you'll have the opportunity to join Pegasus Circle, my monthly membership, where I provide ongoing coaching and the opportunity to attend in-person retreats.

"Learning from Shelley and the other members was such a huge boost for me."

Alyssa Smolen-Falk, Alyssa Smolen Photography

"I was struggling with the decision to continue pursuing equine photography full time. I was *very* close to throwing in the towel and being done with charging for photography sessions.

Learning from Shelley and the other members was such a huge boost for me, and was a great way to build connections and create a support system. I highly, HIGHLY, recommend taking the leap and joining this mentorship."

"I have learned new skills in every aspect of the photography process!"

Ramie Shelton

“Before Wings, I had been a little nervous to dive into more editing. Shelley taught me how to make small changes that no one would notice yet bring the photo to a new level!

From posing and camera settings to editing and putting all the finishing touches together, I have learned new skills in every aspect of the photography process! I am so much more confident in my abilities!”

"I can see a huge difference."

Becky Finney, Becca's Images

"Before Wings, I was struggling with reading the light, and not I can see it all over the place, it’s now strictly light over location 100%!! My editing was weak, and now it is a lot stronger and I can see a huge difference."
Watch Intro Video

An Invitation to Grow

Learn about my mentorships and why I want YOU to be part of them!

What will you learn?

The answer is: EVERYTHING you need to know to create and edit consistently beautiful, high-quality equestrian photos!

  • Week One - Horse Behavior and Safety at Sessions
  • Week Two - Tools of the Trade and Optimal Camera Settings
  • Week Three - Natural Posing for Horse and Rider
  • Week Four - Finding the Light, Finding the Magic
  • Week Five - Composition for Better Storytelling
  • Week Six - Workflow that Saves Time and Money
  • Week Seven - Lightroom for the Equestrian Photographer
  • Week Eight - Perfecting Your Images with Retouching
  • Week Nine - Black Background Fine Art
  • Week Ten - Full Session Editing and Retouching Demo
  • Week Eleven - Critique Week, Are you ready for Pegasus?
  • Week Twelve - Wrap up and Final Q&A

View the Full Curriculum

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 business. 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!”

"I don’t feel like just a number when I work with Shelley."

Kayla Morse, Kalya Norene Photography

"I highly recommend this mentorship to anyone in the beginning stages of their photography business. Shelley is extremely knowledgeable and genuinely cares for each student. I don’t feel like just a number when I work with Shelley, I feel like a friend and student and I know that she is not only here for me but here for my business and wants to see us succeed.

If you’re considering it, take the jump and invest in yourself because you won’t regret it! Now that I’ve worked with Shelley all I want to do is continue to be mentored by her! She really helps you grow and develop into the best photographer you can be!"

"Shelley is very thorough, easy to understand, and I love her positive attitude!"

Jennifer Norman, Real Images Photography

"Before the mentorship program, my edits didn’t look professional. I used to get so frustrated with my camera. It was totally operator error—I don’t think my camera settings were correct a lot of the time. Now I know how to use my camera much more than before. I even know how to use light to my advantage and I’m more confident in my skills!”

"The Wings Mentorship provided more accountability than a standalone course."

Leigh Whittington

"I'm so glad that I signed up for Shelley's Wings mentorship! As an introvert, it was a little outside my normal comfort zone, but I improved so much more by pushing past that. The Wings Mentorship provided more accountability than a stand-alone course, and I also learned a lot from questions that other people asked as well as from discussions in our group sessions."

Investment

The Regular Wings Mentorship is $1500
or $575/month for 3 months

  • 10 Video Lessons (reg. $2250)
  • 12 group coaching/teaching calls (reg $1200)
  • Resource Library (reg. $400)
  • Circle of support (priceless!)
  • Priority for the 2023 Pegasus Mentorship
  • OVER $4000 Value!


🏆 NEW! The VIP Wings Mentorship is $2450

  • Everything in the regular Wings Mentorship
  • Three 1:1 Video Mentor Calls with Shelley during the mentorship 
  • Swag Box with:
    - Emma Emmerele Photo Halter
    - Wings Hoodie Sweatshirt
    - 2023 "Horses of Iceland" Calendar
    - Horse Lover Mug
    - Signed copy of Shelley's Book "Horses, Portraits and Stories"
    - and more! 
  • Immediate access to online courses "Video for Photographers" and "Rapid Workflow"
  • First priority for the 2023 Pegasus Mentorship
  • OVER $5400 Value!

Wings Standalone Course

If would like access to the Wings Course content to study at your own pace, you can purchase it as a standalone course without mentoring or group support. This is only available to purchase for a limited time.

The Wings Mentorship Starts in

  • 00 Days
  • 00 Hours
  • 00 Minutes
  • 00 Seconds

FAQ

  • How many people do you accept into the Wings Mentorship?

    I limit Wings to around 20 members yearly to keep the community small and intimate.

  • When will group coaching Zoom calls be?

    Because many of those doing this mentorship work another job, video calls will be scheduled on Monday evenings at 7 pm Central Time.

  • Do I have to be an equestrian photographer?

    Yes. This mentorship is for photographers whose focus is horses, specifically portraits of people with their horses.

  • What gear and software should I have for this mentorship?

    A DSLR or Mirrorless Camera Body and a lens at least 85mm long. A 70-200 lens is recommended. For software, you should have Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

  • Will you be covering business or marketing topics?

    Not in this mentorship. The focus of Wings is to help photographers grow in their craft. If you are interested in growing your business and learning more advanced topics, then you would want to do the Pegasus mentorship. I still suggest you go through the Wings mentorship because Wings participants have priority for Pegasus, and there are a very limited number of spots available.

  • Will you run this again another time during the year?

    Due to a very busy summer and fall schedule, I can only run this mentorship from January to March each year.

  • Are there 1:1 calls included with Wings?

    Only for Members who signed up for the VIP Mentorship. However, Wings members receive 20% off 1:1 Zoom mentoring calls.

  • Will there be retreat with Wings?

    Wings is an online-only mentorship. If you are interested in in-person learning, join the Pegasus Mentorship.

  • I'm not from the United States, can I do Wings?

    Yes, Wings is all done online, so anyone from anywhere in the world can participate. If the calls are not at a good time for you, you can also opt to purchase the Wings content as a standalone course without the interactive aspect.