Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Dawn Ebeling.
Hi Samantha Dawn , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My path into photography is a little unconventional, mostly because it lives in a very specific world.
Horses have always been the center of my world. I honestly cannot think of a specific moment where my horse love began… it just simply existed. I had been riding and surrounded by horses for as long as I can remember and everything in my life both quietly and loudly orbited around them. Literally everything.
I was raised primarily by my dad, who was self-employed and poor guy had a horse obsessed kid who never stopped talking about them (or anything.). At some point, he handed me a camera and Photoshop, likely as a strategic move to keep me busy with something away from him. It worked, but not in the way he probably expected. I photographed everything I could. Flowers, dogs, cars, anything that would sit still long enough. However…the subject I always returned to was the one closest to my heart. Horses.
When my brother gifted me an intermediate Canon DSLR in high school and something clicked. After graduating, I explored every genre imaginable. Seniors, weddings, engagements, car shows, horse events. I was learning, experimenting and searching, even if I did not yet realize what I was searching for.
At this same time in my life, photography was not my original dream. I once believed my future was in music. I was pursuing a professional country singing career, traveling, competing, winning competitions, and recording original songs out of Nashville. I’ve sang the national anthem at some huge events here: National Finals Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Rodeo Days, and even the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint cup here in Kansas City. Eventually somewhere, it became clear that the life I thought I wanted was not the one meant for me. I still sing, but I no longer chase that path.
Through odd jobs across the Midwest and Texas, photography stayed with me quietly. It was more of my side passion, something I carried in my back pocket. In 2015, I met my now husband while he was in the military. He became one of my earliest and strongest supporters, often coming along to sessions and encouraging me to keep going. No matter what I photographed, horses continued to pull me back. I eventually knew that was where I belonged.
In 2017, after watching me come home unhappy day after day from a traditional job, my husband asked a question that changed everything. He asked if I would be happier doing photography full time. I remember laughing and asked how we could possibly afford that. His answer was simple. We would figure it out. My happiness mattered more to him.
A lot of people thought I was making a mistake. Some said it outright and direct to me….in not so nice ways. Quitting a stable job to photograph horses did not make sense to them. I could see something they could not.
The early years were not easy, they were brutal at times. There were setbacks, closed doors and plenty of no’s. Still, I kept going. So…racehorses wear blinders to stay focused on what is ahead and looking back, I think I had my own version of them on. By 2018 and 2019, that focus carried me across the United States and internationally, photographing horses and building the career I once only imagined.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has never been a smooth road. Not in life, and not in photography. Yet….who’s is?
Long before my career took shape, I experienced personal loss and family struggles that forced me to grow up early. In 2014 I lost someone very close to me when my military boyfriend took his own life. That kind of loss changes you. It reshapes how you see time, purpose and honestly what truly matters. It also teaches resilience in ways nothing else can.
Professionally, the challenges never really stopped. Building trust as a photographer is difficult, especially in the early years. Having knowledge and vision without a long resume to prove it can feel like standing on a cliff asking people to believe you will not fall.
Photography is also an industry where learning never ends. Even now I am still learning constantly! In 2027 I will reach ten years as a professional photographer and I still see myself as a student of the craft. That mindset never changes.
There were also very real business struggles. Doors that closed without explanation. Being undercut on pricing. Watching others try to replicate my work or my path. Navigating expensive gear, evolving technology, inconsistent income and moments where the future felt uncertain. The ground never felt stable…sometimes even now it doesn’t. There were seasons where the work was scarce and the doubt was loud.
However none of those things stopped me. Each challenge sharpened my focus and strengthened my resolve. The road was long and rough, but it taught me discipline, grit and an unshakable sense of direction. Every obstacle became part of the foundation that supports the career I have today. Looking back I don’t think I’d go back and change anything – maybe I’d ask for more education when I was younger.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am Samantha Dawn Ebeling, however, professionally known as Samantha Dawn. I am a full time equine photographer. I specialize exclusively in photographing horses with a particular focus on what I lovingly call the fantasy breeds; Gypsy Vanners, Friesians, Andalusians and Lusitanos!!!
I see horses as they have been seen for centuries, as living art. Throughout history, horses have stood at the center of humanity. They carried us through wars, mythology, labor and legend. Their image has been preserved in sculpture, painting, literature and photography across every era of man. Through my photography, I aim to honor the enduring allure horses have held over us and bridge the gap between their historical significance and modern day enchantment.
I am also known for the way I use social media (particularly Facebook and Instagram) as an extension of my work. I have intentionally created a space where personal hardship is transformed into something meaningful. Instead of letting difficult experiences weigh me down, I use them as fuel to connect with others. A “You were given these mountains to climb to show others they can be climbed too” type of thing.
Through my platforms I am able to reach people not only with beautiful photographs of horses but with thoughtful writing and quotes that encourage reflection, conversation and emotional connection. My goal is always to inspire, to move people and to create work that feels human and honest – not JUST visually striking. Especially in a world full of AI…being authentic is something very important to me.
What I am most proud of is not JUST the career I built but the way I fought for IT and never let that fire die. I refused to accept no as a final answer. In an industry (and a world) that often encourages women to stay small, I chose to claim space with my dream and commit to it fully.
What sets my work apart is the balance between artistry and correctness. I aim to create images that feel timeless and cinematic…while never losing sight of the fact that the horses I photograph are also OFTEN part of someone’s livelihood. These animals represent breeding programs, sales operations and years of careful work. Every angle, every detail and every decision I make as a photographer matters. My goal is to honor the horse as art while responsibly representing it as the valuable, purposeful animal it is.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m a bit of a weird one in this aspect… I am constantly on Spotify! I listen mostly to movie scores and music that feels inspiring and moving. I have a whole playlist for this and I add to it constantly!
When not on there I will find random podcasts to listen to on YouTube…and then when all of that bores me…. I find Netflix (or another streaming platform) and watch Hallmark Christmas movies. They are such feel good movies and make great background noise for when I’m working.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.samanthadawnequinephoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthadawn_equinephoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Samanthadawnequinephoto
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/samanthadawnebeling/
