i'm new to posting here...just wanted to give an intro & share a picture. i've been lurking for a long time now, have enjoyed all the posts & have learned alot!!

i've been doing pet photography on and off for a few years, mostly as a hobby, but i'm hoping that will change this year & am trying to build my business. i have a big specialty show that i'll be shooting in a few months and i'm hoping i can pull it all off!!

i have a website for my photography here:
http://pawprintz.smugmug.com/

would love to know what you all think of my studio shots. i use colored gels for the background, but am so tired of that now. think i may get some muslins and go that route & see how i like it.

i shoot with a canon xti & have britek pro500 studio lights. i'm looking for a new lens for portrait work & use a canon 70-200 2.8L IS for ring shots. rented that baby a few times before i made the leap to buy it...hoping the investment will pay off. it was an xmas present to myself & will test it out for the first time next weekend at a show! what type of equip. do you all shoot with?

i share my house with 3 bulldogs.
here's a quick picture of the "crew" taken last summer.


male, female, female (pup..she's just about 4 months in the photo)

thanks,
liz
& the bulldog crew!

Thanks for posting and for the link to your images. I particularly love the periwinkle boa with that gorgeous face inside! What a great expression.
Your studio shot look fun.
Welcome to this forum. A great addition.

Looking at your gallery, I am sure you will do fine. I am assuming it is a bulldog specialty and if it is, it looks like you really know the breed.

My one piece of advice is to get your prices in line with other show photographers. Yours are really really low. No reason to give what you do away. It is good work

thanks

yes, it's a bulldog specialty. i know & love the breed! will be trying to show my own pup at the show too, so it should make for an interesting weekend! lol

i'm not really sure what the other photographers are charging for ring shots?? what's the price in your area?

thanks!!
liz

$25-$35 is standard for win shots. Pretty much across the board. I think I usually write a check for $30-$35 for every one I have ever bought.

What you charge to begin with will follow you, so, charge what you are worth. Which is a professional wage. I don't offer 4x6's anymore unless they are bought within a package. I got tired of people buying 3 4x6's and nothing else. That was the best thing I have done. I think standard for 5x7's is $10-$20 for dog shows. That would be more for ringside candids though.

hi! Great to see another bulldog enthusiast. Love your shots! I'd like to get into studio work, but haven't any idea about lighting, there seems to be so many different types of lights! Does anyone know of any good links to read up on lighting?
thanks and welcome, look forward to seeing more of your photos

Lots of stuff on the web...

http://www.studiolighting.net/

http://super.nova.org/DPR/

http://jzportraits.home.att.net/chapter-01.html

And the strobist blog. I don't know the addy for it though