It really is true that a picture is worth a 1000 words and when it comes to hunting, a single trophy picture is probably worth so much more. We all want to remember our hunts and our trophies. Learning how to take trophy photos is a great way to do that. A simple picture can strike up so many stories and great memories of the adventures we have enjoyed.

How to Take Trophy Photos

I am sure we all have some great hunt stories and some great photos from those trips, successful or not. Whether that hunt was on the local family farm, public land or some remote wilderness adventure, the stories are ours. Once that hunt of a life time has ended with the taking of a quality animal, then the work begins.

One of the first parts of that work is taking good pictures so that we can show our friends and family later and they can share in the adventure. A big part of that sharing these days is on social media. Since we are putting pictures out there for the world to see and a lot of those people may not understand or agree with what we do, it is more important than ever that we take a quality, respectful photo of our trophy.

Here are some of our best tips on how to take trophy photos that we have been using for more than 40 years. This will hopefully help you take a great photo. Whether that trophy of a lifetime is your first deer or the next world record, you can be proud of your picture and show it off to everyone you know.

Clean It Up!

First things first, you will need to clean up the scene. It is no secret that an animal was just killed and there was some blood involved. Make an effort to clean up that blood. Wipe off the nose and shot hole. You can use some water to aid in this process and it doesn’t hurt to carry a rag in your pack for this and to clean your hands after gutting. If the animal has been gutted, then take some time to cover up the gut slit with some leaves or crop it out of the picture. Also, please do us all a favor and put the tongue back in the mouth out of sight.

Setting

Next is to pick a good setting. Depending on the animal, that may mean that you can move it to another location, however with larger animals like elk that may not be an option. Either  way, take some time to clear the background of any trash, vehicles, houses, power lines, brush or other obstructions that may detract from the natural setting. The only exception is if you have a nice scene with an old barn or other cool backdrops that add to the picture. When trying to get a good setting try to get a skyline with no brush or trees behind the antlers. It will allow for the antlers to stand out better.

Know your Equipment

Now for actually taking the picture. Nothing can replace knowing your equipment. Just like you should prepare and practice with your weapon of choice you should also practice and be proficient with your camera of choice. We recommend something with a wide angle lens that allows you to get close and still take in as much area as possible. We do prefer a good DSLR or mirrorless camera but phones have come a long way and can take some great pictures if you know how to use them. Take some time to get to know your camera so you can take better pictures.

Angles

As you are taking the picture be sure to take some things into consideration. Get low! This goes for the photographer and the hunter. When the hunter gets low the animal will look bigger, taller and show off his features. When the photographer gets low it will also give a better angle and do the same. Be sure and frame up the animal and the hunter so that nothing is cut off in the picture. Don’t cut off tines or the face of the animal or the hunter. Angle the shot to show off the best features of the animal and try to get all the points in the photo so you showcase everything the animal has. Try to get a natural pose with a happy face, remember we are having fun here.

Clutter!

We all use a lot of gear these days and there is nothing wrong with showcasing some of those items and giving credit where it is due but don’t go overboard. Lets face it, we are in the business of selling all the stuff that goes into the hunt, and those things are important. However do it with class and don’t clutter up the area with every logo on every product that you can. Do it subtly and folks who want to know what you are using will notice. We still believe that the picture is about the hunt and ultimately showing off the animal. Take some time and show some respect to the animal that you have harvested.

We want to finish with a few bonus secret tips that we use.

• One is to use glass eyes. We use this mainly on deer. You can pick up a set from your local taxidermist. They are cheap and make the animal look much better. You can do this for other species as well you just have to get a set for whatever animal you may be hunting.
• Tip two on deer and other similar sized animals is to use a log or rock under the shoulder to help get the animal a little higher.
• Most of all get creative with the angles and have      fun with the process. In this digital age you can always delete a bad picture so take lots of pictures and then pick out the best ones.

It can be a lot of work, but in the end when you have an amazing picture of your trophy you will be glad that you did. Learning how to take trophy photos is an art.  I have told my friends over the years that a picture of your trophy is all that most people will ever see. Very few people will ever visit your home to see the mount and even fewer will be in the woods to share the moment with you. A great picture is all that you will have to help share that story. So this season get out there and have a great time in the woods and capture the memories with some great photos of your animals.