By now I have a decent grasp of poses and posture when it comes to photographing people. What matters when it comes to a cow looking good in a photo, I had no idea beforehand. And unlike a model, cows don't take direction.
Brushing, Styling, Ring
Before the actual show, a lot of effort went in. Washing, brushing, trimming tail and hair, brushing again. By the end every animal looked immaculate, almost styled for a runway. What I found particularly interesting was how much care goes into the preparation, for an audience that probably only registers a fraction of the details consciously. It fits, though, that raising these cattle involves plenty of passion and effort in itself. Makes sense, then, that owners want them to look their absolute best.
Inside the ring, things got more demanding. Up to eight cows or more at once, some of them quite large, and me right in the middle of it. I have no particular fear of cows in general. But in a ring that tight, a certain respect crept in regardless. Add midday sun, harsh overhead light, and animals with zero interest in my composition. They turned away, dropped their heads at exactly the wrong moment, or simply walked off.
Next to me stood a photographer working for a trade magazine, who knew exactly what mattered: the topline, the raised head, the leg positioning, all according to fixed criteria. Her instructions to the handlers were impressively precise. My own approach was simpler: get the whole cow in frame, the handler included, the winning ribbon visible, and not too overexposed in that light. After a while I just started waiting until she had the cow positioned right, then pressed the shutter myself.
Like a Fashion Show, Just With Different Models
When the first category entered the ring and the round began, spectators all around, that slightly festive atmosphere in the air, I briefly thought back to the Munich Fashion Week 2025. The rooftop terrace, the light, models styled down to the last detail backstage before stepping out. The thought didn't come from the animals themselves, but from the sequence of it all: a lot of preparation, the big appearance, and an audience waiting for the perfect impression. Except here it ended with an award.
Not meant as a joke at anyone's expense, more an observation that made me smile: the choreography of a cattle show and a fashion show turn out to be more alike than you'd expect.
In the end, it was an experience I hadn't had before. I've photographed cows plenty of times, sure, out on a hike, grazing in a field. But cows as models, with direction, styling and a winner's photo, that was new. And who knows, maybe it stays an exception. After this experience, though, it wouldn't surprise me if I end up standing at another ring one day, waiting for the perfect tilt of a cow's head.
