Graduation is a major milestone in a young person’s life, especially for those who have dedicated their high school careers to 4-H and FFA projects. These students spend years getting up early for morning feedings before school, and spending their evenings washing, practicing, and feeding again. And spend almost every weekend in the spring and fall at a show, it is important to capture them with the animals they have worked so hard to raise.
Here are a few ideas to help you do just that!
Chickens in the Rocking Chair
This was one of my absolute favorite shots to capture! To pull this off, we needed a few extra sets of hands to hold the chickens and the turkey. Once I got into position, I counted "1, 2, 3!" and the helpers quickly stepped away. I used a high shutter speed and "burst mode" to catch the exact millisecond the birds stood still. I also loved that we did this right in the middle of the show ring; by framing the shot carefully, I was able to remove the gates and other distractions from the background for a nice, clean picture.
This is an idea you can adapt for almost any location. We set this one up in front of the auction ring, but you could also use a livestock trailer, a stall, the side of a barn, or even hay bales. The possibilities are endless!
To get started, gather all of your awards. You will need some props to help with the display—like paint cans, brushes, or wire—just be sure to use something that won't ruin your ribbons when you hang them. We also used feed pans and pallets to add an extra layer of volume to the scene. In this shoot, the graduate wanted to include all of her show heifers from over the years, so she honored them by including the stall signs she had kept.
Cowgirl Up!
This was such a fun, creative shoot! We found a great spot with cows off in the distance, set out a cute antique rocker, and started shooting. For a personal touch, we swapped the graduation cap for a cowgirl hat! We looped the tassel through the band of the hat to get it to stay in place. If you plan on doing a "hat toss" photo, keep in mind that it usually takes a few tries to get the perfect shot—and try to pick a day that isn't too windy! Finding a tree with beautiful colors will also help make these pictures pop.
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