Don't make your good animal look terrible. You must see what is really in the photo you are about to submit. Our judges won't have the luxury of seeing him as you do... all they have is that one single photo you submit. Plenty of other people will see it as well. It makes sense to present your animal as best you can, both in the Online Show and on your own website.

SCANS Photos are automatically scaled to 250 pixels wide during the entry submission process. When you scan a printed photo the "crop" function of your scanner must be used - otherwise the photo will be surrounded with "white space". This white space is included as part of the 250 wide scaled image that the judge sees. Here are two examples showing the difference in the display between cropped and un-cropped scans. Judges would most likely disqualify the un-cropped entry because it shows the goat too small to properly view.

Cropped Scan 250 pixels wide

Un-cropped Scan - Note the "white space"

1. Keep the lens of the camera at or below the animal's eye level. Unless you're 4'3", if you are standing upright when you take that photo, it will show him at a disadvantage, making him appear shorter to the ground than he might actually be. Take a bucket to sit on, or squat down until that lens is at or below his eye level.

2. Avoid taking pictures in full sunlight, especially between 10 and 2. The harsh sun can wash out all of the shadows on a white animal, making him appear smooth and devoid of muscle definition. Also be sure to keep the sun to your back or off to one shoulder. If the animal is between you and the light source, then the shadows will prevent muscle definition from being shown.

3. Catch the animal's attention prior to taking the shot. An easy way to accomplish this is to take something the animal is not used to along with you. When your goat is standing in a way you want, take the object (a hat works great) and toss it out to the side and in front of the goat. His head should snap to attention as he focuses on what just flew by, and you'll have a few moments to get a great photo. Be sure to throw it to the side, rather than at him. You want him to pose, not run off!

4. Be aware of your animal's body condition when you take the photo. If your buck has been breeding 50 does or your doe just weaned off triplets, he/she may have lost a great deal of weight and will not fare as well against an animal during it's off season. This goes back to seeing what the camera sees and not what your memory sees. Be sure to take the photo when your animal is at it's best, not it's worst.

5. Be patient and wait for that shot! We have received photos of animals grazing, lying down, chewing a hind leg, facing completely away from the camera, and belly deep in grass. Generally they wind up last because they simply aren't presented well enough to be fairly judged. If he's in deep grass, herd to him a bare spot. If she's facing away, move to her side. It only takes a few more minutes to get a photo that will let everyone see the animal you know you have.

Once you've got those perfect photos ready, please read our Submission Faq before submitting your entries.