I have a huge bichon frise shoot coming up in October. I am planning to use my motorhome as a mobile studio. Whoa, it is TIGHT in there!! I think it will work fine for the bichons, whippets are on the upper end of what can be shot in there

This was a quick try and I had to change my game plan once I was setting things up. Not horrible, but, not exactly as I planned

Hi Julie,

I read, last year, about a photographer who did this in Manhattan. It is a great idea - and honestly, you did a very nice job lighting up the image. It looks a tad stronger on the inside of the frame than the outside of the shot...however, nothing that cannot easily be fixed.

Are these shots done on a table, or are they taking up some furniture that had already been in the unit? Would you be willing to take a photograph of the set-up?

James

This is back in the bedroom, on the bed. It makes me laugh looking at these photos

You can see why one side is light more than the other

This would work in a pinch for sure, good idea Julie!

This guy from Florida travels around the nation in his bus motorhome and does pet portraits. He does a wonderful job and makes a great living at it. I am half tempted to go to Florida and take his seminar.

Granted, his bus is larger than my Class A, and I am sure he has it set up more for this than I have mine set up.

http://www.animalphotography.com/

Julie,
I love the concept and I'm surprised I've never run into Ren on any of my journeys around the show circuits. The bus must give him plenty of room especially if he uses a single light -- although my double-light setup is seldom more than 10 ft apart.

His sitting fees are very reasonable -- $10 for small dogs and $15 for larger ones. Which means he has to move a lot of dogs through his "studio" in a day to make it worthwhile. And he does lovely work.

I'm not sure about being on the road for 8 months out of the year but you could truly "follow the sun" with that rig and go where outdoor shooting is also available.

Now, to figure out how to do that with 6 dogs and a cat in tow . The bus might not be big enough .

I like your mini-studio. I think it works great for smaller dogs. With a tent, you could also create an outside studio adjacent to the RV and still power your lights for larger dogs. Very nice use of space.

Jim

He must be doing well, because he pays his two assistants $1500-2000 a month, gives them room and board and has to pay for the gas in that bus.

His bus inspired my idea to put the studio in the bedroom. Though, a 33ft Class A is not the same as a bus size wise!!

He has done portraits here in town at the Pet safe doggie daycare. He does a really nice job. I have even seen him driving down the interstate! Isn't that funny

I do have a tent and I have thought of doing that too. I think my biggest problem is my lack of kahunas to make a price and stick to it.

Julie,
you know, I think that David Ramey has said this frequently on this forum: it isn't necessarily the skills we lack; it's the marketing. Ren is a very competent photographer. But he's no more competent than you or Dee Dee or James or many of the rest of us. What he's done is create a great marketing concept. Instead of trying to drive a finite number of local people with pets into his studio, he's decided that the entire country is his market and he goes to them. With a rolling billboard. Very clever.

He's clearly made a commitment to his business in terms of investment: bus, people, time away from home. But he's executing a very sound marketing plan and probably making a pretty good living by doing so.

Think about it: given your life and your lifestyle, could you really do what he's doing? Not many of us could. A nomadic marketing concept isn't something many of us could afford to execute if we have a home, children, family and other things tying us to a particular location. In that regard, he's fairly unique. But he's doing something we'd all like to try. Honestly, haven't you just fantasized about traveling around the country photographing pets and making decent money?

Maybe we can't do it quite the way Ren is but the concept of expanding the market by being willing to go out to it is a valid one. At least you have an RV! My mobile marketing facility is a GMC van .

Still, the concept is tantalizing. . .

Jim

I CANNOT do this sort of thing. My kids are SEVEN. It is hard for me to do what I do now, I have many people asking me to do out of state gigs and I have to be extremely selective.

My October is busy with Christmas fundraisers, and my kids have games every Saturday. That is really tough to have to decide what I will make the time for. I feel like a really horrible mother if I miss their games.

Larry and I talk about him retiring(in his 60's), and the two of us together doing doing what Ren does. It would make a nice retirement

This is why I am such a non threat as a dog show photographer. It is something I can make time for maybe once a year. Other than that, I just cannot. So, I have to find a show to assist you at so I do a good job at the nationals I am booked for. Makes me sweat thinking about it!

I think you hit the nail on the head there Jim. Ren is in a good position to do what he does. That is largely why I am not married, I am too involved in my art (and now photography too) and to be honest, I am so neurotic about my dog no one could stand to live with me LOL. But I do like the freedom of working for myself even if it means putting in way more hours for often much less pay and no benefits (my "main" job is computer stuff with my brother, the art and photos are added on but I do get to work from home and set my own hours for each thing). I'm thankful Hallie can go with me on just about any venture I do.

I think that is a great plan Julie to have Larry help you do this after he retires! What fun!!

I just have to figure out how to cram 16 plus hand high Friesians and Andalusians into an RV and still have room for lights. LOL!!