Taking Donor Pictures

[herefordfootball]

Ok, so I need everyones opinions on what time of year and what type of weather to take pictures of cows. Sun at your back or from another angle??Sunny days? Cloudy? Afternoon? Morning? Any and all info is appreciated. Im new to taking pictures and can use all the help I can get. Thanks in advance!!! This is just a picture I snapped of her this summer out in the pasture. I know it needs iimprovement. Thanks again!!!

Chris

Edit: Forgot to add the picture. lol

 

[SPL]

I just had Chris Mitchell picture a couple of my donors last Saturday.  This time of year is not ideal because the background was sort of dull because all the trees had shed their leaves.  We pictures them from around 9:30 to 10:30am.  It took a little time to prep them before we took pictures.  Ideally, you want the cattle heading slightly up hill and have the sun to your back.  It definitely gets more difficult in the afternoon this time of year, due to the short afternoons.  Spring and Summer gives you better afternoon opportunities. 

 

[herefordfootball]

Thanks for all the advice SPL, I'll definitely take it all into account next time before I take pictures.

 

[Freddy]

I'm not sure what caused it, but isn't she longer than normal or distorted, I have had this also happen an don't remember exactly what caused it.  Take plenty of pictures now an you will learn alot before your wheather is ready to take good pictures, the  more you use it the more you will learn about your camera an your picture program..

 

[herefordfootball]

Ya, I'm not sure what happened there. I had to resize it to make if fit for the upload size and I'm still kinda new at that, would that have affected it?

 

[jamesgang892]

Cloudy days are always best for any type a photography. It's softer lighting with out shadows.

 

[SPL]

Any time we have ever taken donor pictures, we have cancelled because of cloudy days.  We have always shot for sunny days, mid-morning or early aftenoon (2-3pm).  12 noon is not good because the shadows will be directly under the cows.

 

[SPL]

Here are the pictures we took last Saturday.

 

[herefordfootball]

Looks good. Thanks for the advice everyone

 

[ZNT]

If you have the option, try to get pictures of your donors while they are heavy bred. If she has a really good udder, about 2-3 weeks before she calves to get the udder nice and full of milk.

 

[SPL]

If you have the option, try to get pictures of your donors while they are heavy bred. If she has a really good udder, about 2-3 weeks before she calves to get the udder nice and full of milk.

That is true.  The Angus cow in the above pictures has a calf on her side.  I should have held it off over night to let her udder fill up a little more.  We've been flushing the other cow for the past year, so she has been open for a while.

 

[BCCC]

I personaly think the cows would look better in the picture if their front ends were just a little farther from you than their rear.

 

[herefordfootball]

Thank you all for the good advice. I will take all of this into account next time I do pictures. Hopefully I'll be able to get a few good ones with your advice.  <cowboy>

Chris

 

[braunvieh]

Another item to consider is your background. Some people have built a "picture pen" that has a beautiful background in it that is not distracting. Not all of us have that option but think about your background is all I am saying. I will attach a couple pictures I really like...in the one you can see the photographer faded out the background to make it less distracting. With photoshop you can remove a lot of unwanted things in the background too. Good luck and have fun with it.....

 

[herefordfootball]

Thanks for posting the pics of the donors. I see I have some serious improving to do. Thank you all again for the advice and suggestions, its greatly appreciated!!!!

Chris