DeeDee,
congratulations on the Rally Novice title! I'm starting my two elder Rotties, Annie Fay and Rowdy, later this month. Both are retired Conformation Champions and they love the working relationship that Rally provides.

In all candor, most professional show photographers would have noticed that sign thing. I find that the regular show photographers seldom shoot Rally or other Obedience Trials, Agility or other non-conformation events. Primarily because each venue requires different skills and most of the show pros are interested in big volume. A typical Show provides between 200 and 400 orders.

Frankly, I love the other venues. Both as an exhibitor and as a photographer. Plus, the people are more real. The more you hang around Conformation folks, the better you'll understand what I mean by that And, yes, I would have asked you and the judge to kneel.

When you look at show photography as a business and not just a hobby, you have to focus (pun intended) on where the greatest revenue potential is. Traditionally, that's been Conformation formals. As David Ramey has pointed out, Agility is getting very popular and this specialty area has great potential too. But it requires the skills of a sports photographer and not everyone has the timing or the equipment. David obviously does.

Also, traditionally, the folks exhibiting in the working events have been less willing to spend money on photos. They tend not to breed or advertise their dogs and while there is demand for the action shots, here in Florida it's always been for snapshot sizes. Hard to make a living selling 4X6 prints.

All this is the stuff of marketing plans and business plans which we can talk about in a separate thread.

Hallie is gorgeous!

Jim