Well the Santa shoot has come and went.

Thank Heavens!!

The shots aren't super traditional but I didn't want to go out and buy a bunch of props I will probably never use again. My Step Mother's tree didn't get peed on! Although Santa did...as you will see in one of the shots if you take a gander. Heh.

It was fun but I'm ready for a break for a bit, bad weather is coming so it means much more time to paint!!

The main thing I see was we should not have switched the brindle mastiff from the right side, to the left since that put him in front of the tree and he gets lost there. But I guess it was logistics of which dog went where as it was quite as struggle to get all 4 of these guys to stay put and pose. Any other criticisms would be most welcome! Oh and I was aware of the crotch shots that were mentioned here a while back (I was calling him Santa Crotch) and I did angle him at one point a bit but honestly didn't know just what to do about it. So I suggested he set dogs between his legs there!

Here is a link for anyone interested, I really appreciated the advice for this one. The best part about it...I got free Santa shots of Hallie! She loved Santa!

http://www.murryphotography.com/events/santa_nov_07/santa/index.html

Dee Dee,
these are very nice overall. Love the Corgis and the Bullmastiff puppy is gorgous! I'm sure that folks will be very happy with these shots. They'll make great Xmas cards.

Some problems with getting ears up -- especially on the Rottie -- but I have the same problem even when I use rude mouth noises. Sometimes, there's nothing you can do.

Santa was great with the dogs.

Let us know how well it works from a business standpoint. How many orders, etc.

Jim

You did an absolutely wonderful job! Especially with the groups of saints and mastiffs. I would expect you will sell the heck out of these!

Thanks Jim the rottie (who has a tail!!! Loved it!) walked up, got a load of Santa, hit the floor and went BAWHOOOWOOWOOOWOOOWOOOOOO. LOL it was all we could do to get him within touching distance. Santa is a handler and owner of the training center here so he was really good with the dogs (that helped tons). Ears were a problem on several of the dogs even with people practically doing gymnastics behind me. Good entertainment overall! As usual, after seeing the photos I see things I kick myself for not noticing at the time. And causing me a lot of extra photoshop time.

Thank you Julie! I didn't have much confidence in these so nice of you to say. I was really worried looking at the original shots, there wasn't enough backdrop for the larger groups so had to photoshop that in too which left a lot of empty space often. Like you I'm not a fan of the 4 x 6 format which this is so I helped it by adding the vingnetting. Still, should have a better background set up.

The people were all super nice and it was fun but I am really disenchanted with the studio shots and this will probably be my last one except for special ones of animals I would like to paint. (I usually do a trade of free photos for a release to paint them). And of course taking my usual millions of shots of Hallie! It is a ton of work to set up and take down, for one person and one little weiner dog, and I've never made nearly enough to make it worth while. I am already getting emails asking how much for all of one dog on a CD (even though the prices and things I offer are on my web site and that isn't one of the options) and so far everyone who has asked that, ends up not buying anything even after I lower the price. So now I have to stress over what to charge and be sure I tell everyone the same thing, and since I offered it for one person how to I tell everyone else so they won't be mad one person got it and they didn't know about it (my ordering systems doesn't easily allow changes like that for only one thing...I couldn't offer it for every event but it has to be across the board and my brother/business partner has to help me with it since he programmed additional ordering and we're way too busy with our computer work for me to ask him to help with that now).

It has been ok til now while I was learning but other than of course always needing to experiment, I know how to take the shots so no longer need to put so much time into learning the basics. So in the end it's a ton of work and time when I should have been home either working on the computer or painting. Then having to post process and get everything online to sell I am losing my shirt.

I don't know how you guys make $$ at this? I guess if it were a side thing and I didnt' have two other careers I am juggling (only 2?? Seems like more LOL) it would be OK. I am only talking about the studio and event shots, I am thinking it makes more sense to just take ones that I can use for art...

Dee Dee,
a piece of your analysis has to include whether you enjoy this type of thing. If it's arduous, then maybe it's not for you.

You also have to consider how you do your costing: if you are looking at your time based on what you make/hr. in your other job(s), then it won't make any economic sense.

I have some shows coming up in Miami December 7, 8 & 9; 2 All Breed shows and 9 Specialties. It's a 3.5 hr drive to Miami and 2 nights in a hotel plus meals. I'll set up my backdrop for Groups and change the backdrops for each day. I'll also shoot in the rings for the All Breed shows.

The Specialties will probably give me 6 - 8 images each to sell. The All Breed shows, because it's the end of the year and many Specials are retiring and won't need prints for advertising, will give me 100+- prints each. At roughly $25 per order it's pretty easy to see I won't make a lot of margin on these shows if I add in my "hourly wage". But if I look at myself as "free" labor that would be home mowing the lawn otherwise, then the cashflow starts to make sense. As long as I cover my out-of-pocket costs and still make some margin, it's worth it. Plus, I'll be showing my two old doddering Rottie Veterans in the Specialties so this will pay for their entries and handler's fees.

On the other hand, I enjoy shooting shows and I love the dogs. So to make a little money doing it is more than worth it. And it will buy some Xmas presents for the dogs (not to mention Linda).

I think your first question to answer is what type of shooting do you like to do. If the location stuff you do to feed your painting is what you really love to do, then forget about the studio stuff (except for Hallie of course )

If this is a business question -- what type of shooting will give me the most payback -- then you have to look at whether your photography is a stand-alone product or just an adjunct to your painting business. And which one gives you the better payback for your time.

Can you make a living as a pet portraitist? Yes, but you have to build up tremendous marketing velocity to keep feeding it enough clients to be a good business. If you can build it up to a $60,000 or $70,000 per year gross income business, it can keep you and Hallie in Milk Bones. Otherwise, you'd better have a day job.

Just my opinions as usual.

Jim

Those are great and very helpful thoughts Jim, thanks! As I answered the questions you posed it reinforced what I've been thinking.

The bottom line is, I have to make a living since I'm the only one doin' it. (Hallie just won't flip burgers! ). My "main" job is computer work, and I try to put in at least 10 hours a day on that (doesn't always happen but I try). We are always swamped and on top of it we have just made a deal with a company to do a sequel to one of our computer games we made in the 80's (I feel old!) which is exciting but going to be a ton of work.

Then there is my art "career"...which I try to paint at least a couple of hours a day. I am very driven and love to paint and have all of my big dreams there. I don't know if it could pay the bills alone since I don't have a chance to try it full time, but I feel very grateful I do make a living doing the things I love and get to stay home with the Hallie Child!

So the photography, as far as income, comes third and is pretty dismal in comparison. LOL. I do enjoy it a lot (still talking studio and events...I am not questioning the outdoor photography Hallie and I are out shooting every nice day at some point, mainly to paint from but also just for the joy of taking photos). But life is short and only so many hours in the day so the scheduled photo jobs have to go for the most part. I always enjoy the actual photo taking and the people and dogs but it's been stressful anticipating them and the work of setting up and post processing and the time it takes from other things. Plus I hate having Hallie sit there in the X Pen for hours, even though it's right next to me. I try to make every minute with her literally the best we can have and I'd rather take an hour or two off in a day and take her to class or a show (we do walk every single day too) and be able to focus on just her and enjoy our time.

OK I'll stop now LOL but thank you VERY much for your post, it really helped to talk this out, of course as I am writing this I just got an email from someone from the shoot saying this was their best santa shoot ever..(argh!) and asking me to do Easter and everyone saying can't wait til next year....sigh.

Oh great, now an email saying they want to do Valentines Day as well as Easter!! LOL I better go write an email....

"Oh great, now an email saying they want to do Valentines Day as well as Easter!! LOL I better go write an email...."

Hey Dee Dee,

That is spectacular! That is the best sort of ringing endorsement you can get. Great job!

James

Hi James
I got a call from one of them tonight also saying it was the best shots they've ever gotten with their dogs...(although much of that can probably be attributed to the excitement of seeing new photos of their dogs and will wear off!) I don't quite see it but it is making it harder to tell people I'm "retired"! They wanted to put Santa in a cupids outfit for Valentines but I told them I think I'd either need a permit or permission from my parents to take photos like that. Ha.