I'm new here, but not new to photography
I'm a full time portrait & event/show photographer based in Portland, Or ... shoot agility, flyball & specialties about 49 weekends a year and do family, kids, boudoir and other portraits on weekdays (in my free time)
I have 3 websites, so you'll see two of them on my copyright (the 3rd is for boudoir)

here is a sampling of my stuff

Hi Nina,

Welcome to NWP. I love that first shot - completely adorable.

What is most of your work, portraiture or event?

James

James
by quantity of images ... dog agility
by days spent doing a certain thing ... dog agility
by $$ earned ... portraiture

about every 4th agility trial I set up a portrait booth
plus do the booth at all specialties I shoot

Welcome!

Diana

Hey Nina,

That's interesting. How much of your portrait business is coming from dogs you are shooting at agility meets? Do you get charged a separate vendor fee?

James

James ... shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
No, I don't ... I'm the official show (agility) photographer, so I get to set up my area, and sometimes that includes a booth

as long as I stay in the agility barn the shows don't bother with it LOL

when I shoot specialties, it is in my contract, so I supply the coverage for everything, and do the portrait booth (yes I hire assistant photographers)

I'm in my own little niche around here ... portrait photogs cant shoot moving dogs, agility photogs cant do studio quality portraits and show photographers can shoot agility ... because I can (and am equipped) for all 3 I do what I do

Nina,

Quote:

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I'm in my own little niche around here ... portrait photogs cant shoot moving dogs, agility photogs cant do studio quality portraits and show photographers can shoot agility ... because I can (and am equipped) for all 3 I do what I do

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Yes, but that gets into the assistants: if you have the individual skills to do all three, that's great. I've done it as well and it is a rare skill among show photographers. But finding assistants to handle any one of those photographic areas is difficult enough. To find those that are capable of shooting two or three is almost impossible. So you get to the point where, as an individual, you have to focus on what you do best/can make the most $$$ doing.

I love shooting performance events but I don't see the payback in $$ for the time invested here in the Florida area. Lots of trials and folks don't really spend a lot. Plus, there's some pretty decent competition. On the portrait side, I find I can make more outside of the show circuit here in the studio or at the homes of dog owners. So I've focused on Show Formals at dog shows despite very tough competition in this market. Large Regional Specialties and Nationals are my best market and I'm willing to travel all over the country which helps.

It's interesting to hear how things are done at the total opposite end of the country from us. You folks on the left coast are always doing things a bit differently .

Jim

Welcome Nina. Glad you decided to join. I swear I've seen that coffee cup planter before...

And a question. What sort of decision making did you go through as you were deciding to brand your portrait work one way and your show work differently?