10 tips for taking livestock photography include: being around livestock to learn about them before photographing; deciding whether to emphasize the people or animals; practicing with stationary objects before photographing livestock; persisting to observe animals through the lens without disturbing them; taking candid shots showing a healthy environment; revealing relationships between people and animals; being ready to rapidly capture possible action; standing in different positions; selecting clean backgrounds without distractions; and working safely with unpredictable herd animals.

1. 10 Tips for Taking
Livestock Photography

2. Be Around Livestock
• Be around livestock, ranchers, &
farmers
• Learn about stock before doing any
shooting
• Go to rodeos, stock shows, sales,
auctions, ranches

3. Decide What to
Emphasize
• People vs. animal
– Someone who won an award
– Grand champion animal
– Animal sold

4. Consider Purpose

5. Practice
• Start with taking photos of stationary
objects
• Take photos of livestock, reviewing
photos while in field

6. Persistence
• Observe animals through camera
lens
• Let animals behave normally in
pasture
• Don’t give up too quickly

7. • Stock show &
sale catalog
image tips:
cattle
photographed
uphill, ears,
forward, head
up, from side
view
Katie Smith Photography,
https://www.katiesmithlivestockphotography.com/photography
Persistence

8. Take Candid Shots
• Portray animal agriculture positively
by showing healthy living
environment
• Grooming not priority when
photographing in natural
environment

9. Reveal Relationships
• Establish
common
ground &
discover
what’s
important to
sources
• Show
relationship
between
Legacy Livestock Imaging,
http://www.legacylivestockimaging.com/#!/RING

10. What do you think?

11. What do you think?

12. Be Ready
• Grab camera & shoot rapidly to not
miss possible action
Jamie Lammers Photography & Design,
https://lammersdesign.pixieset.com/landon/

13. What do you think?
Deseret News,
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865687847/Photos-Sheep-herding-
championship-gets-off-to-a-flying-start.html

14. Stand in Different
Positions
• Best images are
extreme close
ups of livestock
– Focus on eye if
capturing
animal’s face
– Focus detailed
fur or coat when
going for fuller
shot

15. • 4 possible positions for photographing
horses that are eventing or in show ring
Stand in Different
Positions

16. What do you think?

17. Select Clean Background
• Avoid visible distractions in image (light
poles, grass, fences, people, trees,
flags, gates, empty feed sacks, rusty
parts, junk, etc.)

18. • Use trees, side of barn, stacked hay or
other simple backgrounds that blur well
behind animal
Select Clean Background

19. • Use upward angle to get more sky
Focus Marketing Group,
https://focusmarketinggroup.net/photography/
Select Clean Background

20. What do you think?

21. Last Thoughts...
• Separate bull in pen for photographing
• Cattle, sheep, & horses are herd
animals
• Animals are unpredictable & can
become nervous
• Don’t work by yourself