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11/01/2005 03:41:45 PM · #1 |
SO far it has been spend, spend, spend, and dream dream dream. Reality has arrived and the stress is about to begin.
Do I really want to be professional photographer?
Shortly after I got my Rebel (jan 04) I got the idea, which seemed good at the time, was that if I could make money with my hobby, then i could afford more toys (lenses, flash, etc, etc). This dSLR thing can get rather pricey!
It took a few months to focus on what avenue I wanted to pursue (events & weddings mostly). It took until July to actually shoot anything, and then it was more for portfolio use (no income, no pressure - FUN!). I have been acquiring equipment for 7 months now! Just bought a lens yesterday. As for income, well I have a maybe senior portrait in the works, but she keeps postponing -first she needed clothes, then there were zits, then no money and now she thinks snow shots would be cool. She may graduate first!
So now I get to see if i really have what it takes. Thru a coworker's good word, I am partnering with a pet grooming business to do holiday pet portraits. I am in charge of the fee schedule and up selling, the photography (duh), the set/backdrop/props. They handle advertising, promotion, appointment scheduling and space. They are hoping for 200-250 portraits! I'll be happy with 60. (they have a client base of about 1200 regulars..I figure 5% will go for it, they figure 20%). At 3 an hour 250 is a LOT of hours!
man, the details are crazy. I was preparing to use my flash for weddings and have not acquired enough triggering equipment, and my flashes do not have modeling lights...no biggie, right? You gotta have a dark room for flash to work properly (no color cast), but how do you get a pet to sit still in the dark, or see or focus for that matter. Man, I thought I was so ready...WRONG! Maybe the flash will overpower the room lights...custom WB is a given. This should be, umm, interesting. Black dogs, little ones, big ones, white ones, more than one.
We don't have to talk backdrop, do we? If we can use the spare store, it is perfect. If not (cause there is carpeting, and nervous pets pee) then we have to use a hallway...and i'll have to deal with all kinds of issues then.
Hmm..small pets need a table. Big ones stay on the floor. Head shots then?
Tonight I set up and shoot stuffed animals. Friday I get to schlepp my gear there, setup and shoot live critters for the ad. That will be the real test! I asked for non-black, non-white dogs. I think they have a basset hound, a long haired chihuhua, and an airedale lined up.
It's like your first day on the job. BUT yo have no one to show you the way or even ask for help, and failure carries a bigger penalty than just getting fired!
I will update this thread as the week goes on, if anyone is interested in the nightmare that is unfolding. Right now I actually feel confident and excited. My coworker built me up quite a bit. I do not want to dissapoint and ruin what (inflated) reputation i have! |
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11/01/2005 03:45:50 PM · #2 |
Good luck and just breath. You will do fine.
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11/01/2005 03:45:50 PM · #3 |
| Good luck and best wishes!!! |
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11/01/2005 03:50:13 PM · #4 |
i would ask to be able to meet the pets prior to the shoot ( a different day ) - so they are familiar with you. double the hours - but also the likelihood of more quality results.
you'll have to learn from the owners how the dog responds.
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11/01/2005 03:52:50 PM · #5 |
This is my first time responding. I can empathise with your issues. Firstly I shoot mostly outdoors therefore the issues you are faced with go away mostly. The other thing is that you don't really need a flash gun to fire. Digital shots are very forgiving with the light source and colour cast is less of an issue. I use halogen lamps with a dimmer switch installed so I can control the light source a little better. Focussing with the digital in low light is an issue and hunting is very distracting (not to mention possible lost shots). The halogen lights on a stand are very cheap and a good (portable) alternative.
Its just a suggestion. I too shoot a lot of animals but prefer to work in their space and in their time without a penalty for failure. Animals and children will give you what they give you and I don't believe that forcing their hand gives you much satisfaction.
Keep thinking it through. It seems that its an evolution.
Regards
Elzorro (from NZ) |
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11/01/2005 03:57:59 PM · #6 |
| Don't forget to bring squeeky toys. You'll want to get those ears perked up. Good luck! |
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11/01/2005 04:03:19 PM · #7 |
i use one of those - woot woot whistles to get their ears perked - if that makes sense - sometimes you find them as a kit with a balloon.
the different ways you blow through it makes different tones, and pitches.
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11/01/2005 04:51:54 PM · #8 |
I've got two kinds of squeaky toys and a bell (cat toy type bell). I'll have treats too. I've been around dogs (and cats and horses) my whole life, so i have some clue.
The shop owner was a show person so he has some techniques for getting the critters to respond when needed, so to speak.
Outdoor will not work here. It has rained 9 or the last 11 days, and it gets dark by 5:30 pm. I have used hot lights (the worklight halogen type) and for still life they work OK. But once you have used strobes you find out there is no comparison. For working with live subjects strobes are the only way to go.
I went with Lumedyne strobes, battery powered ones. The other option was alien bees, but they are less portable and require being plugged in. Cords are always a problem.
The backdrop / set worries me the most, probably cause I lack experience in this area. I have used black and shite BGs, but they are not particularly festive.
I know I can throw the BG OOF, but how far back, how OOF, etc I need to actually test and find out. My home studio (AKA basement) is not wide enough, but the depth is good. I have my black BG up and christmas lights on it - perhaps if I can get decent bokeh then that will work. Of course then this means i must take my (old) laptop to at least review the shots on something other than my 2" LCD.
I considered trying to shoot tetherd, but by laptop does not have USB, and I have not tried this at all... have enough to deal with already!
The plan is 20 minutes, 2 5x7s (my choice), 4 wallets (one pose, my choise) and a contact sheet of the shots taken (probably printed on a 5x7). All prints via winkflash.com. Total cost $1.20 plus shipping,but at 99c spread over many clients that is immaterial. We're charging $15.95, so $14.75 less $1 to the humane society leaves me 60% of 13.75, or $8.25/person, 3 an hour. Low wages for sure, but then my upselling skills have an incentive to work hard!
I still have to spend $50 or so for prints, framing etc to show off what I can sell. No one will buy a 16x20 giclee poster sight unseen. So i need one to show. As well as 10x13, 8x10, etc. Fine. It's the framing that'll break my budget!
Gotta spend money to make money! |
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11/01/2005 04:54:42 PM · #9 |
I have done this before and I will give you a few hints.
First set your camera focusing and framing on continuous. you will need to react quickly to the everchanging poses.
Also, if possible, you will need to get the pet off the floor. Reason the animals will want to wander and it\'s easier to keep them in place and TRY to pose them if they are elevated(about a foot off the ground). You might try a GROOMING TABLE THAT IS COVERED WITH CLOTH or a coffee table covered with cloth. My latest shoot was Halloween pet pictures and I used Hay bales to elevate the animals.
If you use Strobes or Continuous lighting, make sure you use gaffer tape and secure your lighting cords AND light stands to the floor. This will prevent the dog and or it\'s owners from knocking over any expensive lighting and hurting themselves. The dogs are excited and on a leash and have a tendency to wrap themselves around unstable light stands(personal experience)
If possible keep any of the the other waiting pet owners away from the shooting sight. This will keep the dog that you are shooting from trying to get up and check out the other dogs that are waiting. photos. A 9\' x 12\' background is a must, you might need to shoot multiple big dogs in one frame, and the large background will give you the option to position the dogs within the parameters of the backdrop and give you a choice of composition.
If you can have an assistant print while you shoot. you can sell more prints and the customer goes away happy with minimum of their time consumed. I offer multiple options of print packages from 4x6 up to 13x19. I usually split 50-50 with the humane society, store owner, or adoption agency. So price you prints accordingly.
And the best advice I can give is bring some aspirin! ( Barking dogs, all day long, have a tenedency to give even the most ardent animal lover a headache too!) Best of luck and have fun!texttexttext |
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11/01/2005 07:33:23 PM · #10 |
good ideas there petdog.
No electrical cords on teh flashes, all battery run. also wirelessly triggered, so most of the mess is out of the way. Only one dog/client will be allowed in the 'studio' area at a time.
tape to secure stands...good idea. on the hard floor that works. If i get to use the carpeted area, have to rethink. sanbags, but i don't ahve any and dislike moving heavy things.
Groomiing table - will put that on the high priority list then. not a prob at times, but other times think they'llbe open and using it.
Me and color printers do not get along. I know the on-the-spot printing is gaining in popularity, but to do that i would definitely have to have an accomplice, and a technically capable one at that. Not sure I wanna go there at this time. I am aiming for better than what i've seen for pet portraiture around here - most is the polaroid at the petsmart or pet pics with santa at the mall which is marginally better but much higher priced. Whether I can pull it off or not, well, we;ll see!
OK, thats enough DPC! Between here, email and filling out the rebate on my new lens, i have been sitting here for nearly 4 hours!
Me bum is going numb. |
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11/01/2005 09:54:53 PM · #11 |
i would want an assistant even if i was not printing on site...
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11/01/2005 09:58:31 PM · #12 |
EDIT: sorry, was trying to suggest a tip but it probably came across condecending...I'm going to think before I write from now on.
Message edited by author 2005-11-02 08:13:29.
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11/01/2005 10:04:50 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
I have used black and shite BGs, but they are not particularly festive. |
Was that before or after the dogs got to them?
:D
Good luck with the shoot, I'm sure you'll do fine.
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11/02/2005 11:49:51 PM · #14 |
I did some equipment tests in my home studio (aka the basement).
Hmmm...this is not gonna be easy. Here is a lighting test progress update.
Equipment: Lumedyne 200WS strobe, Metz 54 MZ4 host shoe flash, Quantaray 370 host shoe flash and a Vivitar/Lumedyne combo of 100WS. I have a silver umbrella (no mount) and one light stand, and two tripods. The Vivi/Lume mix did not function..battery issues i think. I need a 6 volt batt to make it go. Tomorrow's task - what do you want off ebay for $60?
A softbox would help alot! My basement is rather tight (a one car garage space with shelving on one side) so getting the main and fill stobes positioned far enough to the sides is extrememly difficult. My hair light strobe wod not work, so the backup plan was the quantarray. With no way to mount it, i tried bouncing it off a white sheet, but it is not strong enough to do much good. Have to work on a mounting apparatus.
This was a test shot with all strobes functioning. I think I will have to shoot handheld to be able to get good focus on the eyes and for composition's sake. I kept adjusting the flashes to modify the light - what you see here is: the lume 200WS on the left of the camera, with a wide angle diffuser. The table cover is blown out. The bear on the left is OK, the one on the right a bit dark. On the right is the Metz at 1/4 power with a LS2 diffuser with lid on pointed directly at the bear on the right (fill light).
Here we have moved to a different animal as a subject. We have had to up the ISO from 100 to 200 as we modified the light. The metz is still on the right of the image, but is now the main light, 1/2 power shot intoa silver umbrella (not mounted..just propped up...have to work on this tomorrow too). The lumedyne has been tilted back, diffuse removed and a white plastic bag put over the bulb. The light that seemed rather harsh, now is too little. There are two issues. The hair light is useless - you can see the white sheet in the rightmost edge of the image. Gonna maybe sell that flash. The biggest issue is the poor distribution of light - the face is lit a bit too much, but the shirt is way underexposed.
I'll be back at it shortly...thinking over my options. Perhaps the umbrella on the lumedyne, the metz open with the LS on it, and that damn hair light...not sure what to do.
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11/02/2005 11:53:05 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by deapee:
EDIT: sorry, was trying to suggest a tip but it probably came across condecending...I'm going to think before I write from now on. |
Thinking is overrated. You're a Pittsburgher too, so how much can one really expect of you? LOL
Message edited by author 2005-11-03 01:31:57.
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11/03/2005 01:37:33 AM · #16 |
Okay, more trials and more success! The hair light is not working out at all. I'll have to get batteries rigged for the other lume and try that.
Now we're getting it! The catchlights are about right, evenly lit, the texture of the fur shows, the white one is not blown out!
The lummedyne on the left is not shooting into the silver umbrella. i found some old wire laying about to hold it. To the right is the metz at whatever power i left it on (1/2? mebbe) with the LS2 and pointed straight up. THere is a hair light, not that it seems to be doing anything.
This might just work!
ISO 200, 1/160 at F9, 64mm focal length on my new Tamron SP24-135. This is a really really nice lens!
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11/08/2005 03:39:04 PM · #17 |
The 8x10 prints came out wonderful -better than expected- by far. 160ish DPI wise.
 and 
The fun, and scary part, is this: We are donating a portion of the proceeds to the local humane society. So Michael called them to tell them so, in case anyone checks up on us they'll know it's legit. Well, since they are moving this year they aren't doing their holiday pics...so they said they'd send everyone our way! They want something to put in their window too.
What started out as something little is growing...I now have a human portrait session too!
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11/08/2005 03:52:24 PM · #18 |
| that is great! Congratz! If I wanted to try pro doing pets would be how I would like to go. Sounds like lots of great advice. |
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11/08/2005 05:01:13 PM · #19 |
| Just found this thread -- nice work, Chris! I'm glad to see that it's helping the Humane Society, too. I've dealt with the Beaver County Humane Society before, and I really respect what they do... and I know they're having some trouble with their location nowadays. Hope it works out for everyone involved. |
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11/09/2005 11:44:26 AM · #20 |
It keeps expanding...with growing pains.
The brochure i did the pet shop went and had 150 copies made. Good! However, i mistyped their phone number, so now someone is hadn correcting all 150 copies. Bad :(
A coworker is getting married in June, and has not picked a photographer! I am giving her stuff to look at on friday. Fingers crossed..soon to cramp!
I have 2 senior pics upcoming - freebies, but i need the portfolio material and experience, and who knows, they might have friends that need pics too...
It is starting to come together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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11/19/2005 02:53:28 PM · #21 |
Nov 19 - an update.
Been a busy week - last saturday did a senior picture session, for free, for expereince. Went reasonably well. A bit too sunny, and my flash was acting up.
Sunday - got with Patty and Jason. I got to shoot their wedding ceremony and formals for my portfolio and i made them a MyPublisher album as thanks. She loved it! Ordered 2 more to give her to her parents. My first official sale! No money collected on this yet.
Wednesday, Sarah at work finally consented to having her senior shots done. WOW! These came out fantastic and then some. Again, flash issues...works fine at home,but put it near a client and we have problems. However, revenue was officially collected!!
Saturday (today) - the first Holiday Pet Portraits! Had 10 dogs to shoot and things started out well...and then the cheap wirelss trigger i got for my 'big' flash began to go nuts and fire at random. Man, i am begining to dread flash! So after some wrangling with various tools, I got the on-camera flash that has been fighting me the last two times out to work, and fired the rest with optical triggers. The big flash still only fired at times and takes a while to recharge. battery issues i suspect, but it was charged last night...have to work on this before wednesday...6 more puppies await! 'Real' revenue generated today! Oh yeah, how i have to do accounting!
Pics to follow later...
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11/21/2005 08:58:06 AM · #22 |
| I absolutely LOVE how natural your shot of Sarah is! That is definately a good "advertising" shot for your business. |
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11/21/2005 09:45:32 AM · #23 |
| Just saw this thread myself. Congrats. I bet it's been lots of fun, and a lot of headache at the same time. Congrats. |
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11/21/2005 11:23:28 AM · #24 |
For those interested, Here is an update on how the first day of the pet portraits went. Kind of blow by blow of my first, umm, success shall we say, at the photography business.
I am uploading the first of the 2 senior's proofs to mypublisher as i typw this...i am excited to get them back. Lauren's turned out with 51 images. Sarah's...i got 87! Gonna be a big fat book!
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12/03/2005 04:41:20 PM · #25 |
Experience is a goot thing. I finished day 4 of the pet photos, and it all seems to have worked out just fine! I got the flashes to last all day today, 12, er, 13 clients. I did change the batts on my flashgun for the last one, but the Lumedyne that died part way throught day 2 lasted all day today, the longest day yet.
With 2 days work delivered, and one on its way, i got some reorders from the first couple of days' clients.
So is there fame and fortune to be had with low end pet photography? Yes, i think so. Gross sales for 4 days at 4 hours each, not all booked solid, so far is over $900. After expenses and splitting with the pet shop and the donation to the humane society i may have enough left for an Alien bee or something else worthwile, photographically speaking.
What will i do different next year? Since we al think it went well, the shop will do more (ok, some) advertising. I will have 2 alient bees and a better backdrop! The paperwork could be a bit smoother, more upselling would also be a great thing, and we will be having more packages maybe rather than just one. And more days! Also, we scheduled 3/hour and we can do 4/hour...my goal is double sales for next year.
Next projects: - get 50 seniors to have me do their photos, and see about a bridal show to book some weddings. If i can book 2 or 3 weddings even, and do 50 seniors or so I should be able to 'retire' from my 'real' job and be a full-timt photographer.
50 seniors is not too many...right? 5 local school districts have a bit over 1000 seniors...5%. All i need is 5%!
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