Capturing the Perfect Chicken Photo: A Beginner’s Guide

As a hobbyist photographer I love taking pictures of animals. Chickens make especially fun photo subjects with their fluffy feathers expressive eyes, and quirky personalities. However, capturing the perfect chicken picture takes some preparation and skill. In this beginner’s guide, I’ll share tips to help you get fantastic shots of chickens that you’ll cherish for years.

Finding Photogenic Chicken Subjects

The first step to taking a great chicken photo is finding birds that enjoy interacting with people. Backyard chickens raised as pets usually fit the bill. Visit a friend or neighbor who has friendly chickens used to being handled. Make sure the owner is present during the photo shoot for safety and to help wrangle the birds.

Baby chicks just a few weeks old also make precious photo subjects. Their tiny, fluffy bodies and big eyes capture hearts. Try posing a handful in a basket or box for maximum cuteness. For these shots, temporarily remove chicks from the brooder under the watchful eye of the owner.

If you don’t have access to tame chickens, visit a children’s farm or petting zoo These facilities often have breeds like Silkies bred for their calm personalities Just be aware the birds will be more skittish than chickens accustomed to people. Work slowly and gently when posing them.

Choosing a Picturesque Setting

When deciding on a backdrop, go for a location that adds context and visual interest. For portraits of individual chickens, pose them against a colorful wall, in a bed of flowers, or amid greenery. Capture chickens doing natural behaviors like dust bathing, foraging, or roosting in coops.

To show off a chicken’s feathers and personality, photograph them isolated against a plain background. Situate hens on a clean wooden floor or have someone hold smaller breeds against a wrinkle-free solid curtain. For chicks, line a basket or box with a soft blanket or tea towel.

Outdoor locations like barns and pens work beautifully too. Capture chickens scratching in dirt yards or perched on fence posts. Position them so the setting remains visible but doesn’t distract from the subject. Side or backlighting creates pleasing rim lighting around a chicken’s edges.

Getting Great Expressions and Poses

The most captivating chicken pictures feature active, expressive subjects. Get on the animals’ level when shooting. Sit or kneel so you can interact eye-to-eye. Many chickens will turn to look curiously at a camera lens or person. Capture their profile or 3⁄4 view for an appealing angle.

Use sounds, gestures, or treats to provoke natural reactions. For example, you can:

• Gently ruffle a hen’s neck and back feathers to fluff them up.
• Mimic a clucking noise to catch their attention.
• Rustle a basket of mealworms or oats to trigger foraging behaviors.
• Allow a broody hen to remain sitting on her nest.
• Hold out your hand for a chicken to peck at your fingers.

Avoid stressful handling like squeezing hens upside down. The goal is a relaxed, happy bird displaying normal behavior. Patience pays off to get authentic, lively shots.

Using Props

Add visual interest to chicken pictures with fun, themed props. For example:

• Pose baby chicks in an Easter basket surrounded by colored eggs.
• Let hens wear ribbon collars or funky leg bands.
• Suspend single feathers from string for hens to examine.
• Place chickens next to saddles, boots, and hats for a farm theme.
• Include blooming flowers like daisies and irises for a spring vibe.

Nesting boxes, feed buckets, and water dispensers also make great props that fit a chicken’s environment. Avoid confining birds inside restrictive containers for their safety. Only use cages or enclosures when owners supervise and limit time inside.

Capturing Crisp, Well-Lit Photos

Crisp focus and ample lighting brings out fine details in chicken photos. For crystal clear shots, set your camera or phone lens to a low aperture like f/2.8. This creates a shallow depth of field so backgrounds blur while your subject remains razor sharp.

Shoot during the golden hours after sunrise or before sunset when lighting is soft and warm. If photographing at midday, avoid shadows and direct sun by posing chickens in shaded coops or under portable pop up canopies.

If using flash, diffuse the light by bouncing it off ceilings or using a flash softbox. Add reflectors to fill in dark shadows caused by direct flash. A touch of flash typically improves shots, but avoid bleaching out the scene with overpowering light.

Post Processing and Printing

After a successful shoot, you’ll likely end up with a surplus of photos. Select the images with the best focus, lighting, and expressions. During post-processing, perform basic edits like cropping to perfect composition. Carefully adjust color saturation and temperature to look natural.

I recommend printing your best chicken portraits to hang on walls or send to friends and family. Professional photo labs can print images on canvas, metal, or archival photo paper for long-lasting display. Nothing beats seeing your chickens framed and immortalized for years of enjoyment.