The Weight of the Herd is a short documentary that follows John Badger, a Highland cattle farmer in Quebec, as he shares the emotional, ethical, and physical complexities of raising animals meant for slaughter. Through intimate interviews and textured, cinematic visuals, the film explores the quiet intensity of farm life, the bonds between human and animal, and the weight of responsibility that comes with both. Shot over several months, this project documents not only the routine of the farm but the deeper meaning behind it—why John chose Highland cattle, what it means to care for something you might one day lose, and how farming is as much about emotion as it is about survival. This film was created as part of my final portfolio in Dawson College’s Professional Photography program, blending documentary storytelling with a grounded, honest aesthetic.