Well, it cut down on the PP because I simply picked the best image or created it from several proofs (replaced closed eyes by the judge, etc.). That put me in a position to get out the final versions to ARC for their newsletter and Purina for their wall of fame exhibit in a week rather than in a month. Which puts me in a better position to get next year's contract. As for the prepay approach, we pre-sold more this year than last year and, so far, we're getting much higher total billing/client on re-orders. And, finally, there's that cashflow thingy: prepayment plus invoices with prints tends to create better cashflow than online proofing/ordering. Plus, since I've shot the last 3 consecutive Nationals (and 8 overall), folks expect me to shoot the next one and they want to make sure to pay me quickly.

The approach on candids tends to bet the ranch that I can get a good candid of every dog I shoot. That's not possible, of course, but I think I only missed on 2 of the dogs out of the several dozen I shot. In most cases, I got several good candids and folks want to use them in their advertising. So, getting them on a CD with a bill is working very well and we'll probably continue to do that even with local All Breed shows. The "gotcha" with candids is being able to position yourself to get the right angles for moving shots. You can't do that at every show because the rings aren't set up that way. At a Specialty, there's only one ring and you can move around it to find the best location(s) to shoot. My thinking is that when the shows move back outside in the Fall, I'll pay a vendor fee and shoot several for candids and environmental portraits. No booth. No lights. Just good old-fashioned "sports" photography and outdoor portraits. If you manage to get good ring shots, folks love them and will pay for them.

Hope that answers your question. If not, ask more specifically.

Jim