Quote:

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Dog show formal is documentary, not really creative. A whole other set of skills involved in it.

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Julie,
I resemble that remark !! BTW, also can't see your image. Dog show formals require that you know how the dog should be set up, that you light everything properly (which usually means flat) and that you capture the image with the dog and the people not looking entirely like deer in the headlights. Maybe that's not creative but it is difficult.

On the other hand, we also do advertising photography/creative and that is a totally 'nuther game creatively. You can use dramatic lighting. You can go for beauty shots or dynamic moving shots. You can show the personality of the dog -- something almost impossible in show formals.

So, yes there are differences between show formals:



Advertising shots:



And portraits:



But each type of photography is creative in its own way. Event photography -- like dog show formals -- is much more demanding of time, energy and processes than the other types and the amount of $$ earned never seems to match the amount of time/energy invested.

I have a cover shoot this afternoon with our Dane client, Drake, at his owner's compound in Palm Beach Gardens. I'll share some of the images over the weekend. This should be a really fun/creative shoot.

Jim

My photo should be showing now. Smugmug is back up. Its where I host my web images for posting

I have done everything from horse shows, to equine portraits, to pet portraits to advertising portraits to being the national specialty photographer.

I will do the whippet national again in '11, but, it will be limited to win photos, and private portraits only. I figure I will make the same or more by doing this and save my sanity vs doing it all like I did last time!

Lot's of interesting discussion here for sure.
Yep, your photo is showing now Julie, nice.

I think one can absolutely be creative even during events like agility.

Here is on example:



Most handlers went down the other side of the dog walk or were way to the viewers left on to the next obstacle (not the tire, dirty trick in course design here), but when this lady stuck close, I had a great shot.

Even the images of the dogs on the dog walk centered in the tire went over well, but this one was a favorite for me and several others who saw it in my slide show of images from the event.

Jim G - Great post! I swear if I had to shoot shows or agility people would pay me to leave and give the spot to someone who knows how to shoot!

Like the conversation that's rolling on the Fidojournalism post, it's all about finding our market I guess. I've been working really hard at finding mine and am glad I get to shoot what I like.

However, as Stephen mentioned on the other post, you don't know how many clients you're NOT getting by having a "style" that is a bit out of the box!

Jim Poor- I was going to make the next meeting until the date changed. I am out of the country for the new date. Hopefully next time!

Bev

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the error with the link. I pulled a 1d10t act and named the .php file incorrectly. Thanks for the heads up that the link was not correct.

Again, thanks to Bev for taking the time to do this interview.

James

LOL, I think you are referring to what used to be called a "Pbkac error."

James

So...how did the workshops go?

The Workshop was fantastic. Learned so much. Barb, Bev & Teresea each have their own style and were more than happy to share with us what works for them. Had great dogs to photograph both inside and outside. We did marketing (very informative), pricing, products, etc. etc. My mind is full. Truly enjoyed the weekend.