Birk Photography
Owner: Don Birk
Family: Wife, Linda Birk
Hometown: Stockton, Mo.
History: Don graduated from the University of Missouri in January 1970 with a degree in animal husbandry.
While at the university pursuing a master’s degree, he received the opportunity to coach the livestock judging team, which won the American Royal. It was at the American Royal that Don was offered a job with Drovers, selling advertisements and working sales.
“I got into working the sale management business with National Cattle Service out of Oklahoma. That is when I started doing photography,” explained Don. He worked for National Cattle Service for four years until he established his photography business in January 1982. Don started by shooting pictures of Hereford cattle and continued to expand to other breeds as his contacts grew.
“I have traveled all over the United States doing this crazy business,” he exclaimed.
Changes in the Industry: Don has witnessed many changes in the industry throughout his 35 years in livestock photography.
“When I first started, you did everything with film, pre-one hour, it was slow and tedious,” he remarked.
Since then Don has transitioned to digital photography and video.
“When I switched to digital I had to learn the computer and Photoshop. I taught myself,” he explained. “Digital is the greatest thing to come down the pike; I have cut my expenses so much. Now everything is digital.”
Don will shoot pictures of cattle for online and print sale catalogues and has expanded into shooting videos in the recent years. Don’s method of working with the cattle to get the best shot is straight-forward. “I always tell people this is a simple game plan. There is just one play in the book. Do it until they do it right,” he said. “I try to keep them as authentic looking as possible,” he said.
Don was inducted into the Livestock Marketeers Hall of Fame at the National Western Stock Show in Denver in January.
“It is a great honor,” remarked Don. “I like doing this, I don’t know what else I would do.
“A lot of my best friends are my clients and have been for a long time.”
