Kim, pet photography is an interesting niche market. I do both outdoor environmental portaits and studio portraits. I have yet to have a big sale on a dog running outdoors, like the lake shot. Artistically, it is a wonderful photo. Possibly very saleable as a stock photo

I find action photography much easier than portaiture. With action/event photography, you just wait, watch and shoot when the action is going on. Shoot enough, you will come out with some cool stuff

Portraiture and posed photographs add in a much different level of photography. If you have ever had strangers dogs to photograph that were not trained to do what you need them to do(aka sit still at all) Or a terrified animal, or a person who is nervous and doesn't like to be photographed, you see the new challenges

With show dogs, the people want specific things. I don't find this as hard as true pet portraiture. Those clients are usually very good at setting their dog up. Those dogs are usually quite used to standing still. The true skill there comes in knowing WHAT people want.

I do agree with Jim, the most challenging of all is true posed portraiture. There is so much one has to get right

Kim

Thanks for all your comments and insight. I think this forum is a bit unique as many of us fit into different individual niches. I am a wildlife photographer but learning classic pet photography. It is only natural for me to start my learning process shooting animals in the natural environment; I do not think it is easier, just different. But I am also learning the studio work.

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In the business of "pet photography" most people are willing to pay for formal or informal portraits. You might even be able to get someone to pay for candids of your dog running on the beach or in a dog park. But the portraits require more sophisticated posing and baiting techniques than simply capturing the moment.



The last sentence of the above paragraph seems to reduce candid style photography to nothing more than "snapshot" work that requires little in the way of technical, creative or artistic competence???

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On the contrary, I think capturing the moment takes excellent technical, creative/artistic competence. But making the moment takes all that plus more. And that's why I believe that formal portraits are more difficult overall than candids. And also why they are more marketable.

Jim

Thanks for your replies! I was worried that my posts might be interpreted negatively...glad to see that they weren't

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On the contrary, I think capturing the moment takes excellent technical, creative/artistic competence. But making the moment takes all that plus more. And that's why I believe that formal portraits are more difficult overall than candids. And also why they are more marketable.

Jim

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But are they more marketable or just more marketable within certain circles eg show people, breeders, some of the pet crowd?

Returning to the studio/portraiture vs candid dicussion...not all candids are completely "candid". I have set up scenes (action scenes) with the intention of getting a certain behaviour or expression from the dog...so I'm both "making" and "taking" the shot, if that makes sense. It's not at all easy to do because I am both eliciting the response from the dog and assessing the composition of the shot, tracking the dog, recognizing the correct moment to release the shutter (I don't use burst shooting) all within a matter of seconds (or less!!!). Of course, the overall goal is to make the shot look authentic and natural even though there has been some staging.

I think the pet market is very much multi-faceted and that there is a market for candid style photography that hasn't been realized or tapped into yet?

Visceral Image...perhaps I liked your photo so much because it is exactly my style of photography See attached!

Geez...attachments did attach Perhaps this forum isn't for me

Trying again...

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But are they more marketable or just more marketable within certain circles eg show people, breeders, some of the pet crowd?

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Kim, when I say more marketable I mean there is a known market for the shots, there is demand for them, there is a market price already established and there is a sales process in place that does not have to be invented.

For example, I was hired to photograph several dogs on the Florida Circuit of dog shows. The people who hired me were owners, breeders and handlers. They wanted specific shots taken in the ring as opposed to formal posed photos. We established a shooting price and a per/print/file price and I then went and shot them. And those photos are currently being used in ads that others create.

These types of shots range from moving shots which demonstrate the structural soundness of the dog to informal shots to show how the dog reacts with its handler. Here are two examples:

First, a classic moving shot.



And candid "beauty" shot.



For candid shots of non-show dogs, the market definition is just too big for me to get into focus (pun intended). Is it all dog owners? All dog owners that go to the beach? All dog owners that take their dogs to dog parks? Unless I know who they are, I can't market to them.

And even if I can figure out who they are -- let's say a significant segment are those who take their dogs to dog parks -- how do I sell to them? Do I go to the dog park and advertise my products? Do I charge for a shooting session or just for any images I might get of their particular dog? Do I proof on the camera or do I post proofs online later? What are my costs of doing this kind of selling and shooting? What is my revenue potential from it? Is it profitable? Is it worth my time?

You may have the answer to all those questions and you may feel that it's a significant market segment for what you do. That's great. Go and be as successful as possible. But for me, it doesn't come together as easily as that. Maybe I'm too into the dog show world to see it. Maybe folks in Florida are different from folks in the rest of the country -- check that, folks in Florida are DEFINITELY different from folks in the rest of the country . Maybe I'm too entrenched in my thinking to see the possibilities.

The formal side of non-show pet photography is a little more clear to me. Again, it's still a hard market to identify and reach but there are some hints about who they are based on other professions: groomers for example.

Anyway, that's a fairly long-winded way of saying that "more marketable" doesn't necessarily mean a better market; it just means it is more clearly defined in terms of who, where, how, how much, etc.

Jim

The attachments attached and it is a really nice photo. beautiful color and details.

Having worked with both, show, competition(race and coursing) and pet people, I can say that photos like that will be saleable, but, you will probably be limited to people buying a 4x6 or 5x7. As an art print, or as a stock image, you may have more financial success. I don't think people would pay a session fee just to have you shoot candids and then spend what one would want after the session. Someone might, but, I think you might starve if you were counting on that as your income

People hire pet photographers to get shots they cannot. Just like people take their children to photographers to get portraits, not candids.

I know Jim has been doing this much longer than I have. I started out with natural light outdoor photography and it is still my favorite. I still have many people who want portraits outside. Which, I am more than happy to do. Most want posed or semi posed portraits. Most want something they can hang on their wall.

I do well with candids at dog shows. Candid refers to simply non posed. It doesn't mean they weren't set up. I have some *beautiful* candids that could be portraits, but, they are still candids.

It just depends on what your goal is. Artful prints for ones own enjoyment, stock images, selling to owners or something else. I have had *by far* the most financial success with posed portraits. Hour for hour, they are the most likely to bring in a decent paycheck

Jim & Julie...is photography how you earn your livings or is it a side business? Just curious

I do see your point(s) and agree that candids are not likely to draw much of an income in comparison. And Jim, yes, marketing this type of photo to the pet population would be a challenge as well as time consuming.

I probably have some "tunnel vision" as well as I am a dog sport person (don't show or breed). As a consumer, I am an event photographers dream...I buy pictures willy-nilly, even when they have no real photographic merit (this is true of most dog sport people). Getting good action shots and outdoor candids of my dogs behaving in ways that are natural to them is the reason why I bought a DSLR. I have never hired a pro to do formal portraits.

Anyway, just in case you're wondering...I am most definitely an amateur hobbyist but have a keen interest in photography and aspire to be "good" one day

As far as selling photos...I'm considering dabbling in dog sports this year, only because I'm already there participating and shooting out of interest. People seem to like what I'm getting, I spend a lot of time on it, so why not? The market IS there for dog sports...no real marketing efforts required.

I suspect that, from a business perspective, I'd benefit more from the potential tax write-offs than in drawing an income. I'd be happy if I could make enough money to cover entry fees/gas/hotel etc. I'd be even happier if it allowed me to upgrade my equipment.

I've attached a coursing afghan for interest sake...

Kim;

I agree there is a market for your work; we do much the same type of pet photography, although I am learning the more formal portrait pet photography. Nevertheless, I do agree with others that the market may be difficult to make a living but certainly large enough to cover your entry fees and some equipment.

The life of a professional photographer is very difficult. Like physicians, most of us are very specialized, mostly because we sell to a segment of the market. Most of my sales are to magazines and books. I want to do some pet photography to make a few extra dimes and also to spend time with the animals. I am a wildlife photographer, I do not plan to become a full time pet photographer but I believe I can do a quality job (once I complete my personal practice sessions) and add a few extra dollars to my income gross.