Gone West Media

07/27/2026

Yes, these are family photos.

No, I still don't 'do' family pics. I know, I know. It's probably the number one request I get, and my fastest "No".

It's not my jam. Cows are my jam. Horses are my jam.

But, I've been shooting Jenn's cattle since before either of us moved west. I've watched this couple fall in love, watched their herds come together. Now I'm watching them build a family.

And as we all know, the cattle business is a people business. And gosh I love these people.

So no, still not a family photographer. Just someone who cares about the people behind the cows too.

(And side note, before it's Christmas, update that family pic for your bull sale catalogue.)

Welcome baby Nova, and congrats Jenn and Devon.

07/17/2026

Despite a declining finished cattle complex which has seen a $20/100 drop in the last 2 weeks, we had a very strong sale on our load of 550 wt Limousin feeder steers.
Stewart Farming Ltd of Big Valley, Alberta (Eldon, Winnie and sons Rick and Sonny) outlasted a heated bidding war to own the October delivery contract at a robust $7.55/lb.
Our thanks to contending bidders, St. Helens Meat Packers of Toronto, Ontario.
Our thanks as well to Jill Renton of Gone West Media for her great video and images along with Diane Van Essen of BSSA and the gang at DLMS for handling the sale.

07/15/2026

Four lots of Limousin influence calves are on DLMS’s direct sale tomorrow, and what a set they are.

Reputation programs, quiet dispositions, big hips and natural muscle, exactly what gets us excited over here.

This is what I love about shooting commercial programs for direct sales. Getting to tell the whole story behind the calves, not just letting the buyers guess as they run through a ring. Showing where they’re raised, what they eat, how they’re handled, the expression on the cattle, the cows they come from. The whole picture so buyers know exactly what they’re getting, no guess work.

And it’s really nice showing these programs on green grass this year! Thank you to the Andrew Ranching, TL Andrew Livestock and the Berry’s for having me out.

Tune in to DLMS tomorrow. https://dlms.ca/Report/AuctionLot?AuctionId=106812

06/29/2026

Sponsorship is literally how we do -all- of this.

Every rodeo, horse show, junior show, 4-H event, sale, every event on your calendar exists because someone in this industry said yes. It’s one of my favourite things about ag.

I spent the weekend filming for Krystina Lynn Photography at a horse show. After enough time behind a lens there are things you just do — shoot in available light, find your angle, nail your timing. And make sure those sponsor banners are in as many frames as possible.

But I got thinking this weekend. And I’ll put my hand up because I’m guilty too.

Someone asks us to sponsor an event. We look at the budget, say yes or no (based on demographics, not just because — that’s a whole other post), send a banner, and wait for the clients to roll in. Easy peasy.

But, did I send a banner anyone can actually read from the stands? From 80, 100, 120+ feet away?

Did I cram every word that describes my business onto it? Or did I keep it simple and just my logo.

Did the event even tell me what size to send to make the best use of the arena panels?

If you’re running an event — please guide your sponsors. Give them specs.

If you’re the sponsor — make sure your banner is doing its job. Give it the ‘squint’ test at least.

We’ve all got a busy summer and fall ahead, full of events that exist because of some incredibly generous people and businesses. If you’re hosting, attending, competing, or sponsoring — take a minute to actually look at the banners. Take in the reason you’re all there.

And if your banner needs a refresh before the next one — that’s kind of my thing, let’s talk!

Shot at the 2025 Nanton Ranch Rodeo Open Ranch Horse Competition.

06/23/2026

Love being apart of this incredible group of women here at The Keeley Collective in Nanton, AB. If you haven't checked out the page, go give it a like to keep up with all the happenings in this historic building.

✨ Meet the Collective ✨

Did you think we were done introducing everyone within The Keeley Collective?

We've talked about healing, wellness, and self-care. Now it's time to introduce the woman behind the cows, horses, and camera.

Today, we're introducing Jill Renton with Gone West Media. The "no crystals, just cows" member of The Keeley Collective. 🐄📸

Jill Renton is the owner and creative lead behind Gone West Media. She helps purebred beef producers, western performance horse breeders, and trainers promote their programs through photography, videography, and graphic design. Her services include sale photos and videos, catalogue and print ad design, as well as logo and branding work. The only rule is that it has to involve horses or cattle.

Jill has been behind a camera for nearly 20 years, photographing a little bit of everything, but she always finds herself returning to her passion for livestock promotion.

06/22/2026

At this point in my business, I don’t invest in how to take a better picture and gear wise my kit is pretty well set. I do make a habit of investing in how to run a better business, but more importantly I invest in how to be a better stockman. Last week was my most recent opportunity to do just that.

This was my second time attending the Ultimate Stockmanship Clinic and Challenge, this year held in Pincher Creek, AB. Hosted by Ranch Hacks Malcolm MacLean, this year it also featured Dr Tom Noffsinger, DVM at People and Cattle and Lucy and Shane Morrissey of Morrissey and Friends Livestock Services. Two days of learning at one of the most picturesque feedlots in Southern Alberta, followed by the challenge day at Pincher Creek Rodeo Grounds.

After doing this for so many years, seeing individual bulls one-on-one as they come in a pen, I pride myself on reading pretty quickly exactly how much pressure they need, (or don’t need) and tossing out directions right away. I don’t always have the right words on how to communicate that though, and this is why I dive pretty head first into learning as much about stockmanship (and specifically low-stress) as I can. Every clinician has a different set of tools, and I want my own toolbox to be full.

I went into this one pretty confident, and chasing a buckle. What I came away with though, was a lesson in humility.

I was the second one to go in the challenge. Four heifers were sent into the arena, and the goal was to work them, as a herd, through a set of obstacles. On foot. Across the arena, into a pen, sort two off through a gate, then the other two. Put them back together and send them through a gate, around a circle, weave some poles, and back through an alley. 15 mins. Piece of cake.

Ha. I think I spent 12 mins just getting the girls to group up, let alone get to the other side of the arena and into the pen. Frustrated, I forfeited and asked for help. I wanted to leave that arena with some kind of accomplishment. I think I got them half way down the arena and then lost them back to the pull of the in gate and waved myself out. A little embarrassed, and a lot humbled, watching other competitors succeed the rest of the day, I started to wonder what the ‘why’ was for this experience.

Cattle will humble you, competition will as well. And truth be told we all need that sometimes.

Friday, I was back out in the bull pasture at Bar 3 R Limousin in Marengo, SK. Six mature bulls, three needing pictures. Back reading bulls, sorting them out, stepping them ahead and stopping them, in a pasture, this time with some new tools in the tool box and a bit more refinement. And that’s the why.

This livestock picturing gig is a unique one, and we get to experience and learn cattle in very different way than most. I’m grateful the opportunities keep coming up to learn from these great clinicians, and to humbled by competition, so the next pasture or picture pen is just a little bit better than yesterday’s, for the clients and for the cattle.

06/18/2026

You just have to answer. ✨

06/05/2026

Newest ad for Pinnacle View Limousin(Livestock) is heading to print, and wanted to celebrate Erin and her crew.

This is what year-round marketing looks like (not just the month before the sale) and this doesn’t even include the catalogue, the show stall displays, or the in person and social media marketing.

Consistently showing up all year round, two brands, every ad with a job to do. Get. Eyes. On. The. Cattle.

All of these photos in these ads were taken at the Open House in 2023, or during sale bull photo day, showing just how important those content days are, and how multipurpose they can be.

If your operation is ready to show up like this 👉 gonewestmedia.ca