Quote:

... photographer for the Lure Coursing at the Borzoi Nationals this year in May .... what do I bring, ... and what do I need to be able to take orders ...

Also do I automatically retain the right to reproduce the photos, even the ones that people purchase? (say if I wanted to paint from one pretty literally, or wanted to sell the image as a photo print).



Sounds terrific opportunity DeeDee and lots of time to plan. You need some good advice from the pros on the forum, I have found their advice invaluable. Because lure coursing is non-competetive here we do not have a "win" situation to photograph. Nor is it breed restrictive, all breeds participate, it is "run for fun". We have similar problems: Paul and I are not geared up to show people results at the event (one-day only, so cannot return the next day with proofs either).

What we do is take a lot of shots, try to get every dog running, and put them onto the website as soon as possible, usually the following day. Sooner would be better. And we hand out lots of cards. We print our business cards on photo-paper. I'd suggest putting a card-holder at the exit-gate so people can find them if you miss handing them out. Only by having our business card do they know to look at the website, so no card is a no-sale. We then depend on people looking at the website and e-mailing or phoning us for price details and ordering. If you opened a pro Smugmug site for your photography, clients can order direct from there. (We don't offer this, being in Australia it would be a bit top-heavy, but the Smugmug photo-hosting is excellent).

Keep your copyright: if you contact a client to tell them the cost of prints, include the information that you retain copyright. If they want a CD, charge for each print at your own lowest rate (our lowest is $10 for a 5 x 7 at this stage) so 10 images on CD - $100. (low resolution so they can only get a quality 4x6 when printing themselves). Consider a pro-lab between now and then because home-printing does not always work out as reliably and is more expensive than a good lab will produce for you. Even if you just get a couple of small items printed by them so that you know how their system works (submit by email or CD or whatever) so they are there for you in a short-notice emergency (ink run out/printer problem).

If you look at the KCC Park lure coursing on our website you will see some mixed results: it is not always the shot you like that sells: it is the one of a dog whose owner is keen to have an action shot of it. That is why we put up everything, distance shots and all. When an enquiry is received we advise that the print will be cropped to increase the image of the dog if possible at no extra charge. Then we email to the lab and collect 'by hand' to package for mailing.

What owners appreciate is simply good action, good clarity of expression. If the dog's eye can be seen, and a highlight in it, that is a real plus. I am surprised that "win shots" would be as popular as action: although people also like starting shots, their dog being held back but anxious to run, a sort of "let slip the dogs of war" feeling.

For equipment, if you are hoping to take many shots, some storage such as an Epson 2000 or 4000 (unless you have unlimited memory cards) is a must, second only to one or two spare batteries.

Hopefully you will get some much more useful responses. We have found the lure coursing photography a lot of fun, and it has generated more orders for us than Flyball competitions per event. (And being all-breeds welcome to 'have a go' are also able to give our own dogs a run).

Another grey area re putting images on website is with-or-without a model release. I rely on the organisers having welcomed us as photographers being an indication that results will be on the website, and do not seek individual clearances. I have only once been asked to remove an image (because the dog's handler considered the shot unflattering of said handler).

I'll be looking at further replies here with interest, as I have a lot to learn on both the technical and the business side.

Edit to add: DeeDee, having now looked at your website, you are absolutely right, do not mix the photography and art on the same site, they both deserve to stand alone, and one might distract attention from the other. Your art work is beautiful, off now to look at your CafePress. Cheers, PC.

Last edited by PossumCorner; 01/31/06 09:06 AM.
PC
www.sherbrookephotography.smugmug.com