Highland Cow Photography Tips
Highlands often lick their nose after grooming or eating. In order to get that ‘classic coo’ photo with its tongue stuck out into its nostril be ready to grab the shot if you see them licking their fur or raise their head from grazing.
It can be easy to forget a background scene when you have a lovely Highlander in front of your camera. However, the background will stand out once you’re looking at a still image. Before you start taking pictures of cows, look out for elements you definitely want to keep away from your compositions. Examine your full surroundings rather than a specific area, as the animal will likely move around during the photo shoot.
Getting on their level and shooting from in line with their eyes creates photos that are more attractive, engaging and also induce empathy. This is especially important when working with subjects that are much smaller than you, such as the calves. Of course, that doesn’t mean that every single one of your cow pictures should be taken from the same perspective. Simply keep your natural, standing-up viewpoint for a few, selected shots.
Having patience is the key to paradise… and to amazing highland cattle photography. Unlike human models, who understand what you are trying to do and how they can help, livestock can’t follow specific instructions.
You can’t tell a highlander to lick their nose. So you’ll just need to be patient enough until the desired expression finally happens.
Light can make or break a photo so pay attention to where the sun is. Harsh light can cause glare often ruining a photo. Where as strong shadows can sometimes work in your favour to create interesting shots with an extra dimension.
Avoid using flash. Flashes of light usually startle animals enough to ruin the shot, and can even hurt the vision of younger animals.
Always be ready! Cuteness can happen when you least expect it to. For the entirety of the session, except during interactive parts of the experience, make sure to have the camera ready at all times. You don’t want to miss out on the perfect photo because you were busy checking previous shots on the back screen.
Nail the focus. Eyes are the window to the soul - and the key to a great photo. Having the eyes in focus is a must for any type of portrait, but like everything else, it becomes a bit more complicated with animal photography. The main reason behind this is, of course, that the animal will probably not stay still long enough for you to comfortably find the ideal focus.
Don’t be afraid to try new things. Look for close-ups and explore how you can break photography composition rules. Focus on specific details rather than on the eyes. Seek textures and contrasts. Use different lenses and see how they affect each composition. Diversifying your shots will keep you engaged and can lead to some fun, creative results that you can develop into your unique photography style.
Choose the right lens for the desired shot. There isn’t a “best lens for animal photography.” Just like everything else, your gear will be determined by the style of photo you wish to achieve. Each type of camera lens will come in handy in different situations. A telephoto lens is great for getting close-ups of cows further away. A fast lens (wide aperture) will help to blur out the backgrounds, making the main subject stand out. Using a wide-angle lens results in interesting perspectives that can give extra character to your photos.
Overshoot! Animals are in constant movement. They blink, turn their ears, lick their noses, and look away at the most inopportune moments. These moves are sometimes so fast that they can go unnoticed during the shooting. However, there isn’t a worse feeling than going home after a session and realizing that most shots are not good enough. To avoid this, set your camera to burst mode and capture numerous shots of the same scene. This might mean you’ll need to spend more time on your photo editing software, but you’ll be happy to have that safety net once you see how many cute cow pictures it created.
We all know the more you practice the better you get. The more animals you photograph, the better you’ll understand how to work with them. You should also practice your non-photographic skills – that is, simply spending time with them. Without a camera in front of your face, it will be much easier to read their body language and learn what each movement means.
Share your work, whether it’s on your website, Instagram, Twitter or dedicated Facebook groups.
Our own Facebook group is a great place to start https://www.facebook.com/groups/highlandcowsofthepeak/
Follow Farms, Folds and other photographers for inspiration.