Marketing Overview | Advertising | Photography

Photography hints

I am no expert, but after 30 years of trying to capture the perfect stance I have at least had plenty of practice. I have thousands of shots of foot prints and cattle disappearing into the sunset to prove it.

1. ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME. Set aside a couple of hours and don’t even consider a photo session unless you are in a relaxed frame of mind!

2. RECRUIT SOME HELP. While you are getting ready to snap your helper can ease the animal forwards, backwards or sideways then come around to the front to capture his attention.

3. PICK A CLEAR DAY. A bright cloudy day is perfect….no shadows! If bright sunshine, always have the sun at your back and avoid shooting 2 hours before and after mid day.

4. ALWAYS FILL THE FRAME. A zoom lens is essential. The subject should always fill the frame. Chances are if you get too close he will take off just when you are about to snap!

5. PICK A FLAT, EVEN PADDOCK. It is almost impossible to get a balanced photo if your subject is standing up or down hill or with a foot in a hole.

6. CONSIDER THE BACKGROUND. A solid background is ideal. Look out for telegraph poles, crooked pence posts and other unwanted animals.

7. CONSIDER THE FOREGROUND. 3 inches of grass is ideal; somehow it gives your animal tremendous depth! Look out for scotch thistles and stray dogs!

8. CORRECT STANCE. A leg in each corner with near rear foot slightly back, head up looking forward and slightly towards the camera, alert and ears forward, should just see the tip of the off ear.

9. CORRECT CAMERA ANGLE. Crouch, looking up at your subject and always side slightly to the rear of centre.

10. PRINT QUALITY. Ask for your photos to be developed in gloss, they reproduce much more clearly.

11. DON’T WRITE ON THE BACK OF YOUR PHOTO. Write details of your subject on a sticky tab first then apply to back of photo.

I hope these tips are of some use. Good Luck!

Or look under theNZPBB website for the Beef Prints Help centre