Mobile Pet Photography
Nov 24, 2019 17:36:29 #
I have searched pet photography topics on Ugly Hedgehog, and there are many. However, unless I missed it, I did not find anything on starting a mobile pet photography business. I’m thinking about using a bumper pulled trailer outfitted to take to various locations where the pets would come to me for seasonal portraits (think Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.)
I have tons of camera and lighting equipment, and I have the ability to build custom sets and, but I would appreciate making contact with others who have built a mobile pet photography business. I have many ideas about making this successful, but I'd rather not have to re-invent the wheel, so to speak.
I have tons of camera and lighting equipment, and I have the ability to build custom sets and, but I would appreciate making contact with others who have built a mobile pet photography business. I have many ideas about making this successful, but I'd rather not have to re-invent the wheel, so to speak.
Nov 24, 2019 17:41:25 #
If you click the "all sections" link at the bottom of the page, there's also a section called "The Pampered Pets Corner" when you scroll down the list of all specialized sections. That might be another source for reaching photographers with skills in this area.
Nov 24, 2019 17:56:17 #
rick_n_wv
Loc: Charleston WV
CHG_CANON wrote:
If you click the "all sections" link at the bottom of the page, there's also a section called "The Pampered Pets Corner" when you scroll down the list of all specialized sections. That might be another source for reaching photographer's with skills in this area.
Like someone said in another thread "is there anything you don't know". Mean that with the utmost respect to you sir.
Nov 24, 2019 18:00:16 #
rick_n_wv wrote:
Like someone said in another thread "is there anything you don't know". Mean that with the utmost respect to you sir.
Linda must be out shooting today.
Nov 24, 2019 18:23:28 #
texasdigital wrote:
I have searched pet photography topics on Ugly Hed... (show quote)
I would like to offer some advice. I like your entrepreneurship. It smells like success. May I offer a critique? Before endeavoring your current project, check out insurance companies to see if there may be distinct issues like damage from the trailer to private property. I might just drive to your neck of the woods with my pooch!
Nov 24, 2019 18:53:59 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
If you click the "all sections" link at the bottom of the page, there's also a section called "The Pampered Pets Corner" when you scroll down the list of all specialized sections. That might be another source for reaching photographers with skills in this area.
Got it! Thank you.
Nov 24, 2019 18:56:27 #
rick_n_wv wrote:
Like someone said in another thread "is there anything you don't know". Mean that with the utmost respect to you sir.
OMG … so many things I don't know. So many that I don't think there are enough sections to address these. But, sometimes, the problem is, if you don't know what you don't know, then you need someone who does know to offer advice.
Nov 24, 2019 19:04:02 #
Scruples wrote:
I would like to offer some advice. I like your entrepreneurship. It smells like success. May I offer a critique? Before endeavoring your current project, check out insurance companies to see if there may be distinct issues like damage from the trailer to private property. I might just drive to your neck of the woods with my pooch!
Well, Bentley and you are welcome in my neck of the woods, regardless of the reason. One can't underestimate the power of Photographers helping Photographers. Back in a former life, I shot wedding videos and had to carry tons of insurance, so I can appreciate your concern.
Without getting into too much detail, I've researched this concept for some time, I need someone more experienced to help me work out some details.
Nov 24, 2019 19:39:11 #
I do at least 100 "serious" pet portraits each year, mostly in my studio. When I say "serious" I mean that folks are spending good money on portraits of their doggies and puddy-cats by ordering large, framed display prints. I mention this because, although I don't have a mobile studio as you described, I have set up at various dog and cat shows and those ventures did not yield significant sales as does the studio work.
The folks who bring the pets to the studio, frankly, treat their pets like children and want to memorialize them in portraits. The pets are not necessarily pedigrees, some are and some are mixed breeds and regular house cats. At shows, the owners, breeders, and show management are more interested in show pictures where the judges are placing the animals in certain positions to show off their physical pedigree attributes, documentary-style- not fine portraiture. If they stopped into our booth for an impromptu portrait was a kind unplanned impulse buy and seldom amounted to much. So...we still display our work at certain shows, pet shops, and veterinary offices and that generate a good deal of business.
I don't want to discourage you, but this has been my experience. If, however, you find a location where professional pet photography is not available, you might do better. Perhaps advance publicity, networking with pet shops, vets, and show management will yield some business. On-site printing and framing (stock frames) may be another asset and selling point.
Back in the 1980s, there were a number of itinerant photographers that went into smaller and medium-sized cities and promote their work via coupons and telephone sales- some did surprisingly well but it seemed to have fizzled out.
As for the mobile setup, I could advise you on space requirements. If you are going to provide good lighting you are going to need a rather wide trailer. Pets photography works well with good kicker lighting to accentuate the texture of the coats. That means placing the accent lights at about 135 degrees to the camera/subject axis. For a small pet that may not be problematic but for a Great Dane, an Irish Wolfhound or a group of dogs or cats you may need more ample width and height as well as backup space.
As for the mobile setup. I could advise you on space requirements. If you are going to provide good lighting you are going to need a rather wide trailer. Pets photography well with good kicker lighting to accentuate the texture of their coats. That means place the accent lights at about 135 degrees to the camera/subject axis. For a small pet that may no be problematic but for a Great Dane, an Irish wolfhound or a group of dogs or cats, you may need more ample width, height and backup space. If you already have a trailer or are contemplating a certain model, if I know the dimensions, I could come up with a lighting plan fro a confined space. You may need a good size Winnebago or a good second-hand bus!
My best advise at this time would be to do the marketing research in you target areas before investing in this venture.
On the good news side, I have had clients who bring their kids to the low-priced studio in department stores, shopping malls, and Walmart and bring Fido or Felix into me for a custom portrait and spend between $500. and $1,000.! Sometimes more!
I wish I could be more helpful. Let me know what you find out in your marketing research.
The folks who bring the pets to the studio, frankly, treat their pets like children and want to memorialize them in portraits. The pets are not necessarily pedigrees, some are and some are mixed breeds and regular house cats. At shows, the owners, breeders, and show management are more interested in show pictures where the judges are placing the animals in certain positions to show off their physical pedigree attributes, documentary-style- not fine portraiture. If they stopped into our booth for an impromptu portrait was a kind unplanned impulse buy and seldom amounted to much. So...we still display our work at certain shows, pet shops, and veterinary offices and that generate a good deal of business.
I don't want to discourage you, but this has been my experience. If, however, you find a location where professional pet photography is not available, you might do better. Perhaps advance publicity, networking with pet shops, vets, and show management will yield some business. On-site printing and framing (stock frames) may be another asset and selling point.
Back in the 1980s, there were a number of itinerant photographers that went into smaller and medium-sized cities and promote their work via coupons and telephone sales- some did surprisingly well but it seemed to have fizzled out.
As for the mobile setup, I could advise you on space requirements. If you are going to provide good lighting you are going to need a rather wide trailer. Pets photography works well with good kicker lighting to accentuate the texture of the coats. That means placing the accent lights at about 135 degrees to the camera/subject axis. For a small pet that may not be problematic but for a Great Dane, an Irish Wolfhound or a group of dogs or cats you may need more ample width and height as well as backup space.
As for the mobile setup. I could advise you on space requirements. If you are going to provide good lighting you are going to need a rather wide trailer. Pets photography well with good kicker lighting to accentuate the texture of their coats. That means place the accent lights at about 135 degrees to the camera/subject axis. For a small pet that may no be problematic but for a Great Dane, an Irish wolfhound or a group of dogs or cats, you may need more ample width, height and backup space. If you already have a trailer or are contemplating a certain model, if I know the dimensions, I could come up with a lighting plan fro a confined space. You may need a good size Winnebago or a good second-hand bus!
My best advise at this time would be to do the marketing research in you target areas before investing in this venture.
On the good news side, I have had clients who bring their kids to the low-priced studio in department stores, shopping malls, and Walmart and bring Fido or Felix into me for a custom portrait and spend between $500. and $1,000.! Sometimes more!
I wish I could be more helpful. Let me know what you find out in your marketing research.
Nov 24, 2019 21:46:48 #
I agree with EL..Shapiro. You would be far better off with a RV than a trailer. Heat and AC are important for comfortably photographing pets and you would have plenty of power. Getting trailers in and out of tight sites is a real headache. Here in Metro Atlanta all the mobile vets and groomers all use RVs sometimes modified with tables and surfaces specific to their needs.
Marketing: I would get together with mobile groomers and vets as a lead source and offer to take pictures of their work to hang in their RV’s. I would do the same thing with veterinary offices and definitely ones that offer grooming. I would have some nice framed & matted prints (11 x 14) and ask to hang in their waiting rooms with contact info printed plainly in the corner of the matte.
Getting together with groomers and their clients would offer the best opportunity to take pictures of pets when they look their best.
Advertising: Facebook, Facebook Market Place, Neighborhood Blogs and your own web site. Networking with everybody is all important in getting the word of your business out. Never be without quality business cards to hand out.
Marketing: I would get together with mobile groomers and vets as a lead source and offer to take pictures of their work to hang in their RV’s. I would do the same thing with veterinary offices and definitely ones that offer grooming. I would have some nice framed & matted prints (11 x 14) and ask to hang in their waiting rooms with contact info printed plainly in the corner of the matte.
Getting together with groomers and their clients would offer the best opportunity to take pictures of pets when they look their best.
Advertising: Facebook, Facebook Market Place, Neighborhood Blogs and your own web site. Networking with everybody is all important in getting the word of your business out. Never be without quality business cards to hand out.
Nov 24, 2019 22:11:21 #
"Most pet photographers choose to forego the physical studio, opting for a mobile studio instead."
https://howtostartanllc.com/business-ideas/pet-photography
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https://howtostartanllc.com/business-ideas/pet-photography
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Nov 25, 2019 06:31:05 #
Bill_de wrote:
"Most pet photographers choose to forego the physical studio, opting for a mobile studio instead."
https://howtostartanllc.com/business-ideas/pet-photography
--
https://howtostartanllc.com/business-ideas/pet-photography
--
That was a very comprehensive tutorial on how to do it right. It really left no stone unturned. Who would have thought of all the details involved.
Nov 25, 2019 06:31:44 #
This would have been a really great idea about 15 or 20 years ago, when photographers had a monopoly on good cameras, studios, and darkrooms. Now everyone has a decent camera and no darkroom needed. Although posed photos with pets can be great, most of us love most those great candid shots. I wish you could luck, though.
You might start out doing what some of the hoggers here do - taking (free) photos of animals available for adoption at the local shelter. Get your name out there.
You might start out doing what some of the hoggers here do - taking (free) photos of animals available for adoption at the local shelter. Get your name out there.
Nov 25, 2019 08:34:21 #
Nov 25, 2019 08:38:18 #
Hi: I do pet portraits as a hobby here in New york City, had quite a few interesting experiences. I could
I've you a few tips if your interested. Drop me a e-mail, Rich Marks
tuffenough@verizon.net
I've you a few tips if your interested. Drop me a e-mail, Rich Marks
tuffenough@verizon.net
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