About

Photographer. Horse Lover. Lifelong Equestrian.

From an early age, horses have held a sacred place in my heart. I was that horse-crazy girl who spent her summers on horseback, completely in love with these incredible animals.

Before photography became my full-time career, I worked as a graphic and web designer at a small advertising agency. 25 years ago, I started my own freelance design business, picked up a camera, and began photographing everything: weddings, families, architecture, headshots, you name it. But my heart always belonged with the horses.

In 2013, after a traumatic brain injury made the physical demands of wedding photography too challenging, I made the leap into equine photography full-time. Now, I have my dream job helping brands tell powerful visual stories that connect with horse owners and equestrians on a deeper level.

As both an equine photographer and a horse owner, I’m not just behind the lens. I’m living and breathing the very lifestyle my clients serve.

Caring for my own three horses has given me personal insight into the challenges of equine health, nutrition, and daily horse care. I understand the needs and concerns of horse owners because I share them. My passion for optimizing my own horses’ well-being helps me to create work that truly resonates with the equine industry’s target market.

When I’m not behind the camera, you’ll find me in the barn or in the saddle, constantly learning, caring, and deepening my connection with my own beloved herd. For me, there’s no better place in the world.

Want to know more? Read my full Photography Journey

Behind the Scenes

“”Shelley Paulson is the best and easiest photographer I have ever worked with! She quickly understands what we’re trying to accomplish, brings thoughtful ideas and creative suggestions to the table, and then moves into action without missing a beat. The photos we get back are always amazing and consistently exceed our expectations.”

Dan Buttrick
WF Young / Absorbine

How We Can Work Together​

Every project is a little different, but most of my commercial work falls into one of these categories. If you’re not sure which fits, just reach out and we’ll figure it out together.

Custom Photo Shoots

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Whether it’s a targeted ad campaign or a full media library build, I’ll work with your team or agency to help plan, shoot, and deliver the images and video your brand needs.

And I always make sure the horses on set are comfortable and happy, because that’s when you get the best images.

Product Photography

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Not every shoot needs a full production. I can photograph your products here in Minnesota with real horses, real riders, and real settings. 

Just ship me your products, I handle the rest: casting, locations, styling, and delivery. It’s a simple, efficient way to get authentic lifestyle and product images without coordinating a large-scale shoot.

stock library

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Need images right now? My Equine Stock Library has over 20,000 images and videos, all shot by me, with real horses and real people. No AI.

Searchable by breed, discipline, season, and use case. License a single image or purchase a pack. And if you can’t find what you need, just ask. I’m happy to do a custom search for you!

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I also capture video clips on most shoot days. If your brand needs short-form video for social media or web use, we can build that into any of the projects above.

Have a project in mind?

SELECT CLIENTS

COMMERCIAL

  • Nutrena
  • Boehringer Ingelheim
  • Absorbine
  • Tribute Feeds
  • Farnam Horse
  • Triple Crown Feed
  • Kentucky Equine Research
  • Tough1
  • Alltech
  • Haygain
  • US Rider
  • Weatherbeeta
  • Spalding Labs
  • Kent Feeds
  • Custom Equine Nutrition

STOCK

  • Purina
  • Absorbine
  • Chewy
  • SmartEquine (SmartPak)
  • Zoetis
  • Covetrus
  • Bluebonnet Feeds
  • Unbeetable
  • Mrs. Pastures Horse Cookies
  • State Line Tack
  • Straight Arrow (Cowboy Magic, Exhibitors, Mane and Tail)
  • Manna Pro
  • Equine Network
  • Valley Vet Supply
  • Back in the Saddle

EDITORIAL 

  • Horse Illustrated
  • TheHorse
  • AQHA Journal
  • Western Horseman
  • US Equestrian
  • AAEP
  • Young Rider
  • Horse & Rider
  • Chrome
  • Chronicle of the Horse
  • EquiManagement
  • NRCHA Reiner
  • Practical Horseman
  • Speedhorse
  • Barrel Horse News

RECENT AWARDS

2024 Equine Media Awards: 1st place in Freelance Editorial Photograph, Published on the MDRN Creative Blog

2023 Equine Media Awards: 1st place in Self-Supported Publication Equine Media Editorial Design, “Journey to Iceland” Photo Story, Published in Horse Illustrated

2022 Equine Media Awards: 1st place in Editorial Human-Animal Bond Photograph; 1st place in Editorial Action Photograph, Published in TheHorse

2021 Equine Media Awards: 1st place in Freelance Editorial Photo, Published in The Competitive Equestrian; 2nd place in Editorial Action Photograph and Freelance Editorial Action Photograph, Published in Horse Illustrated

2020 Equine Media Awards: 1st Place, Horse and Human Bond, Published in Horse Illustrated; 2nd place in Equine-Related Editorial Series (writing and photography), Published in Horse Illustrated

2019 Equine Media Awards: 1st place for Best Equine Related Non-Fiction Book, Published by Amherst Media

“Working with Shelley is just easy. Her deep knowledge and understanding of horses, paired with her instinct behind the camera, really set her apart—and it shows in every shot. Working with Shelley has genuinely made me a stronger producer when approaching equine shoots. She’s insanely talented and just amazing at what she does.”

Heather Bonneson, Producer
Broadhead / Boerhinger Ingelheim

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