Question......

I noticed something that I have never understood. I was looking at pictures at some of the majors. Can someone tell me why no one smiles? Its almost as if people intentionally DON"T smile. If just won the Grand Champion whatever I sure in the heck would not be stern or blank. Why does it seem that no one smiles? I hate pictures but if I was standing behind national champion female, bull or steer you would see LOTS of TEETH! ;D

I am sure that this is a burning question in everyones mind but oh well.......

The picture should showcase the animal not the person. When I look at the picture I should notice the animal first and foremost. Just like in the showring - when the kids are in the 4-H ring showing their calves the judge shoudl notice the calf first not the kid showing it. I hate those dam kids smiling like idiots at the judge in the Showmanship class. My kids dont do that - go out there and present your animal to the judge so it looks the best it can. Stare him or her down - no smiles - show determination and confidence. In a picture without a banner the person showing shoudl look down not at the camera. Happy or not it is not about you its about the animal.

sjc said:

The picture should showcase the animal not the person. When I look at the picture I should notice the animal first and foremost. Just like in the showring - when the kids are in the 4-H ring showing their calves the judge shoudl notice the calf first not the kid showing it. I hate those dam kids smiling like idiots at the judge in the Showmanship class. My kids dont do that - go out there and present your animal to the judge so it looks the best it can. Stare him or her down - no smiles - show determination and confidence. In a picture without a banner the person showing shoudl look down not at the camera. Happy or not it is not about you its about the animal.

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R  u serious?
I deal with people all the time. There is nothing wrong with children giving a smile while showing in showmanship. As far as pictures. I didn't think anyone smiled that big it would distract from the camera. LIghten up. And it is about me since I may have been the one to select, breed, PAY for the animal. Why shouldn't the owners that accomplished something have some sort of recognition in the photo. The person did the hard work to get the animal to that point. WOW- I guess I never thought it was THAT big of deal. But I guess you gave me an interesting point of view. Thank you ...seriously... as I never thought about it that way. But I guess if you ever see a picture with a grand champion animal and some "idiot" is smiling real big, I hope its me. 

OH breeder, I think it's just the person some people smile or some people are just a bottled up person. I don't smile but that's me I know the girl that shows with us smiles like crazy. Guess it just depends. Sjc are you serious, I'm with you on it's about the animal but, I had a judge tell me it lightens you and the judge up, he told me that he hates seeing every kid in a class looking like someone is holding a gun forcing them in the ring. That's just my opinion

I have to agree with OH Breeder. Isn't this whole showing cattle business about competitive fun? I'm an advisor for a state junior breed association and there's nothing I love more than seeing those kids smile when they win with their heifers. But alas, so many of us cattle people take ourselves wayyyy too seriously.

All our Champion pictures over here taken at Majors only have the animal in them. So you can smile all you like.

I was being serious with what I said. I did say though if you had a banner in a picture you could have a smile - you won its ok to be happy. Usually there are quite a few in the picture so a few smiles are ok. The showman though should never look at the camera i believe - call it a pet peeve whatever - I dislike it. Especially if they are smiling.

With the kids in the ring it is ok to smile once in awhile- Im not that mean of a dad. But the ring I believe is serious . The way to project confidence is to catchthe judge's eye - stare him/her down and make them feel bad for looking away from your animal. Smiling at the judge makes it more comfortable for him to look away from you. You dont want to be his/her friend - you want to place as high as possible in the class. You have to project confidence - I believe confidence is lost in a smile.

It is those kids who have the permanent stupid grin on their face that drives me insane. Usually the same kid is all about being noticed and doesnt have the calf set up properly. How many times have you watched a kid all day not have a smile the whole day and then come back for showmanship class and its a different kid with a big phony smile painted on their face. Every class should be a showmanship class.

Maybe i am wrong and should lighten up - just the way I feel. No disrespect to anyone.

Confidence is lost in a smile? I disagree. I am one of the most confident people you will ever meet. I smile all the time. I see your point sjc but this is kids we r talking about. Anytime you can give them a confidence boost is a good thing. Smile away.  I guess I can see where a kid who is just trying to butter up the judge but I would guess the judge can realize this. Is there anything cuter then a smiling kid with a awesome calf? Instilling confidence in our children is a tough enough task with out being a show natzi and making them be hard core serious. No fun in that. Either is loosing but it only makes you stronger and smarter.

I like the sash on the female - always wondered why usa shows stopped that?

I think that  what is going on in championship pics .... is everyone is holding there breath, listening ever so carefully to the photographer . I dont think it's done on purpose in most cases - I like watching this whole back drop pic production . The " ear getters" and the "half of step ahead nope... nope turn her head just alittle..... wait can you just start over .
I think the lassie always smile?? pretty sure everytime a shorthorn lassie smiles  ;D

this man is smiling. rossette in pocket  195_ fat steer

I have noticed more times than not a judge in showmanship saying something to the kids to get a smile out of them, kids that are trying to win are usually concentrating on the task at hand. I do not agree with staring down the judge, looking at them to know where they are and if their giving direction is part of showing, looking him down like he might be the one that stole your snowcone is a bit much.
The look of determination is good, The relaxed look is fine as well, the constipated look is just as bad as the fake grin in my opinion.

As far as with a banner, you're darn right they should have a smile, even the pros smile after they win a game. For some it may be the one and only time they get there, be happy about it. It is a picture, taken after a win, time to relax and enjoy. Because after the photo, back to work, time to breakdown, wash, rinse and blow out, and if it is like our shows, load the trailer and muck out the stalls before you leave.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I know in ours (Logan does smile in most of them) we pick out the best picture of the animal, you will normally have 3 to 5 pics to select from and your looking at ears and tilt of the head and small things that will make a difference in how the promotional pictures will look, the people are just background to the animal. 
Don't know why most of them aren't smiling, we normally are on cloud nine with any win and are still smiling the next day!

vc said:

As far as with a banner, you're darn right they should have a smile, even the pros smile after they win a game. For some it may be the one and only time they get there, be happy about it. It is a picture, taken after a win, time to relax and enjoy. Because after the photo, back to work, time to breakdown, wash, rinse and blow out, and if it is like our shows, load the trailer and muck out the stalls before you leave.

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Are champion photos are normally taken the next day another reason no owners are in photos (hangovers). Usually we just fit up the photo side.

Jill said:

I can't speak for anyone else, but I know in ours (Logan does smile in most of them) we pick out the best picture of the animal, you will normally have 3 to 5 pics to select from and your looking at ears and tilt of the head and small things that will make a difference in how the promotional pictures will look, the people are just background to the animal. 
Don't know why most of them aren't smiling, we normally are on cloud nine with any win and are still smiling the next day!

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<party>  ok to post that smiling kid pic here JILL.... 

sjc said:

The picture should showcase the animal not the person. When I look at the picture I should notice the animal first and foremost. Just like in the showring - when the kids are in the 4-H ring showing their calves the judge shoudl notice the calf first not the kid showing it. I hate those dam kids smiling like idiots at the judge in the Showmanship class. My kids dont do that - go out there and present your animal to the judge so it looks the best it can. Stare him or her down - no smiles - show determination and confidence. In a picture without a banner the person showing shoudl look down not at the camera. Happy or not it is not about you its about the animal.

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That's about the craziest thing I ever saw!  


Smiling is infectious,
You catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner,
and someone saw my grin,
When he smiled I realised,
I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,
Then I realised its worth,
A single smile just like mine,
Could travel round the earth.
So if you feel a smile begin,
Don't leave it undetected -
Let's start an epidemic quick
And get the world infected!

all our kids smile like crazy, i don't think i could get them to stop, Smile On ;D

When people are my backdrop pics they better smile or at least look somewhat happy with a grin or smirk

sjc said:

The picture should showcase the animal not the person. When I look at the picture I should notice the animal first and foremost. Just like in the showring - when the kids are in the 4-H ring showing their calves the judge shoudl notice the calf first not the kid showing it. I hate those dam kids smiling like idiots at the judge in the Showmanship class. My kids dont do that - go out there and present your animal to the judge so it looks the best it can. Stare him or her down - no smiles - show determination and confidence. In a picture without a banner the person showing shoudl look down not at the camera. Happy or not it is not about you its about the animal.

Click to expand...

i disagree very strongly with you. showmanship is all about the person NOT the ANIMAL! so the kids should smile and have fun while they are in the showring. and when you do win it is nice to have a nice smile on your face. it shows that you are proud of what you did. the animal didnt raise and work itself. you did

My kids are usually grinning like a **** eating dog if they do good enough to get a photo made unless...........

1.  The kid has been trying for 30 minutes to get the calf set up just like the photographer wants (not the way the kid has taught the calf to set up for show) all the while its worn out and wants no part of standing next to that spooky brightly colored curtain.  And while 15 other calves are waiting in line to get their picture taken.  And while the parent either in the photo or just outside of it is growling through a fake smile telling the kid to hurry up d****t!

2.  The adults standing behind the calf aren't smiling because they are too busy watching the calf's back leg closest to them because said calf is tired, doesn't like the spooky curtain, and is ready to kick the crap out of the closest target it can because it knows it has done it's job and is ready to go back to the stall and lay down.

9176 members on steerplanet... imagine if you had to pay  a fine for "not smiling in a back drop photo" ???
- Oh breeder could chair this whole thing. We could fine you five dollars and the funds would go to some charity.... All members of steerplanet  would police all of the breed shows everywhere..  i see a large charity fund in the works ????

Hey did any one check - do all of the shorthorn Lassie's smile???  This post makes me laugh - thanks OB

;D