Well, James - you did it again.

Excellent interview with Steve. (Though it might just be this one is older and I only now read it...)

The review on the DVD was very good - it was the DVD review which led me to Steve's interview. I like that the DVD review was unbiased and offered some suggestions for improvement - that angle is a great way for me to better understand what may be "missing" from the DVD - not that there is anything missing, as it sounds like a solid resource. I like Steve's approach to the workshops.

As for the interview itself, you are clearly a very good listener. Using actual phrases Steve said as the basis for questions is fantastic - a bit difficult to manage on the fly, and a clear sign of a good listener. It clearly works as a way to get the interviewee to expound on a thought.

Your three-part approach to these interviews is a great way to handle it as well - who they are, the business side of things and their thoughts on the environment.

Excellent work.

I'd like to add that I appreciate your time and the direction you take these interviews in - having written for magazines myself, I know it's not a simple, or quick, task to construct and article or interview.

I'll throw in a question - maybe this IS already covered, and I've simply missed it - and it could be totally irrelevant, but here goes:

Is there a place to ask the interviewees for some advice for those starting, or thinking of starting, from the business side? I recall one interview touching on this, and we could simply 'follow the interviewee's tracks", but it might be nice to flat out ask:

"If you could give one peice of advice for someone starting a pet photography business, what would it be - what one thing is important enough to make a difference for them starting out?"

~ replace "pet photography business" with whatever is relevant
~ the advice could be "become technically proficient", "use good gear", "take a business class" - which I've seen mentioned, etc.

Like I said, this could already be in your thoughts while doing the interview, and I may simply be missing it as I envision a defacto, structured, question along these lines.

Regardless of MY thoughts, please keep up the good work.

Duane

"Is there a place to ask the interviewees for some advice for those starting, or thinking of starting, from the business side? I recall one interview touching on this, and we could simply 'follow the interviewee's tracks", but it might be nice to flat out ask:

"If you could give one peice of advice for someone starting a pet photography business, what would it be - what one thing is important enough to make a difference for them starting out?"

Hey Duane,

Thank you for the thoughts and kind words. I would like to do more interviews with pet photographers. So far, the only interview I have is with Ken. While it is a very good interview, it was one of my older ones, and I don't think quite as indepth as my current interviews.

I want to ask the questions you are asking - it just requires a benefactor, LOL. I get the impression that pet photographers are still an under-represented group on the web. There are tons of people who photograph THEIR pets...and lots of wedding and portrait photographers who add pet photography on the side, but very few who see it as a large part of their business. I recently sent a soliciation to Ms. Amanda Jones, who has a lot of really good work on her site.

The problem is that I see pet photography as really two different business models that are both dealt with. The first is the actual client work and advertising. The second is well covered in our current interviews (i.e. the stock photography market..different subject matter, same means to an end).

If you guys have folks that you like who are doing this professionally, I will gladly approach them.

James