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Filling Out Those Photo Backs!
by Coreada Kelly
March/April 1999 DHR
You know, as I sorted through my pile of photos after they came back from Nationals, I came to the rather disheartening conclusion that many of them need retaken! I attempt to be many things in this hobby - painter, sculptor (read "attempt" particularly strongly here! ha), and now club masochist - I mean president. However, I am no photographer. And photography is like life's blood in this hobby. Without it many of us could not show at all, nor see what gorgeous models there are out there. A lot of thought goes into the front of a photo - but what about the back? The information you provide on the back of a photo is, next to the model of course, the most important thing you're going to provide for the judge! (Don't get me wrong - judges like to see the entry fees and SASEs, too!) But your communicative link to the judge is the back of you photo. Just as it is a real horserider's responsibility to have their horses properly groomed, saddled, and trained for the showring, so is it our responsibility to make sure the information we provide about our models is clear - both in content and legibility.
The backs of our photos should contain at the bare minimum this information: the model's name, breed, gender, owner's name and address, and the classes in which the model is entered. While this is the bare-bones minimum of what is required, almost everyone I know adds a lot more than that! Other features might include a foaling date or age, color, registration numbers, sire/dam, and the make, mold and/or mold number. You may also mention if the model is a special run or the artist who customized it, including how much customizing was done. It is common courtesy to list the customizer, even if it is yourself. Some people also include the name of the tackmaker, if appropriate, or the photographer (particularly if it was someone other than the owner). Another option is to type a brief description of the photo's class on the back - for example, "halter/showmanship" for halter photos with tack, or "English pleasure."
Since most of my models are named in Arabic, I also include a translation of the model's name.
Just to perhaps spark some ideas, here is an example of one of my photo backs:
Faron Al Ahraam
"Pharaoh of the Pyramids"
(Ansata Halim Shah - r x *Amalaa-r)
1984 black Egyptian Arabian stallion
Photo at age 6
OF SR Breyer Proud Arabian;Stallion
Owned by: Alzahraa Egyptian Stud
Coreada Kelly, 200 Hattie
Collinsville, IL 62234
You will no doubt notice that I don't include all ofthe possible information on the back-it’ll just get too cluttered! My photo backs have just about all the information on them they can stand (they also include AMAHA registration numbers in the upper right hand corner now) - you have to pick and choose which information you feel is most important to represent your models well in the showring. Beneath this information run a strip of tape on which to write class numbers.
Class numbers require particular attention, believe it or not! Since they must be easily removable, we use pencil to fill them in. But pencil smears easily, as we all know - sometimes the tape seems to erase itself on the way back from the show! Care must be taken that the numbers are dark and legible. A judge is not *obligated* to judge your photos just because you sent them, and if the numbers are illegible, the judge has every right to disqualify the photo. Again,just as it is the real horse shower's responsibility to know what classes she's entered in, it is the model photo shower's responsibility to clearly mark her photos for the right classes.
I judged a show once where a photo had an incorrect class number. Double check the numbers before sending out your photos, or your horse may not be judged. Also, mention the horse's color especially if the class is "other colors" or includes multiple colors, like "palomino/ buckskin/dun." Some photos do not capture the horse's color accurately, or the judge needs to know the exact term for the color tojudge the horse fairly I have seen some models and said, "What color is that?" and not know how well the horse represents his color.)
Another feature that some people include on their photo backs is a unique mark of some kind, a brand, if you will, for their photos. When using this type of mark, it is best if you are consistent - use the same mark, the same size,in the same place on the back of every photo. This way the judge can sort your photos out easily while flipping through the stacks of finished classes. The same kind of "branding" can be achieved by using address labels with a particular graphic on them, perhaps a stable logo. Again, consistency is the key for easy sorting.
When you've decided what information you're going to include, you need to decide how you're going to mark your photos. You can write or type directly on the backs of them, though oftentimes that can leave indentations on the front of the photo (if you handwrite the information, please print it so that it is easy to read!). You can also word process the information onto a label (MS Word has a simple function for making labels on Avery brand labels and is really easy to use), then stick the label to the back. This has the advantage of protecting the front of your photos (and being very neat, organized, and easy to read), though it will add weight and postage! Personally, I think it's better to add a marginal amount to the postage as the labels don't damage your photos like typing or writing on them will, but that'sjust my opinion.
And there you have it! My humble thoughts on organizing your photo backs. Before you enter your next show, check out those photo backs!