I know there are a few of us here into pet photography and I was hoping to generate a good discussion about different ways to get one's name out and get people interested in getting pet photos. I launched my site a few weeks ago and aside from getting my site I haven't done anything else yet, and I should, because I have some doubts about how many people actively seek pet photographers on the web (unlike with wedding photography where there's an active group looking for a service).

So, step one for me is to definitely go to my dog's vet and get a nice flyer displayed there with some cards. I just paid $300 for a 6 month exam for both my dogs, so the least they can do is do that for me lol (I kid of course). I can also hit some pet specialty stores in the area.

The other step is to go to the dog park, display my flyer on the board, but also take my camera and shoot photos of dogs, and if anyone asks I'll engage them in conversation about my work. Seems like this is a better option than just handing my business card out to everyone I see (at least less salesman-like)

A third step I'm thinking of is reaching out to local shelters/rescue groups and I'm not really sure what to propose at this point in terms of an exchange of services for word of mouth. I already have my prices set up so that five percent of proceeds go to an animal cause, so if rescue groups direct their people to me, they can benefit financially, but is that enough incentive for them to promote me?

Anyway, those are some of the initial steps I plan to take. What's everyone else doing? Let's exchange some ideas!

Hey Phil,
I run a pet photography business as well. I have a major advantage over most pet photographers. Before I started this business, I was a veterinary technician for over a decade. Retired now, I have done, and seen it all in that industry. (By the way if you paid $300 for BOTH of your dogs semi-annuals...then you got off cheap).
People nowadays spend A LOT of money on their pets. I have seen, and taken $5,000 bills from dogs with Parvo being hospitalized for 3 weeks on IV fluids everyday. I have seen the gold and silver crowns being placed on show dogs broken teeth, and have even seen fake balls put back into male dogs who needed to be neutered....yes.....fake balls.....called Neuticals....dont believe me? Look it up.
Anyhow, for the average pet photographer, this is what I recommend...because I've been there.

Vet Clinics-
Great, except you better find the most expensive, and nicest one. Why? Cheap veterinary clinics, hold cheap client el, and are not the type of clients to spend that kind of money on their dog. Get in good with the doctors first and foremost. They have a BIG say in how things go.

Emergency Clinics -
Even a better plan than vetinary clinics. Find a 24hr facility, and make friends with the doctors their.....by the way...night doctors are much cooler than day doctors....trust me on that one.

Groomers
ehh....find the "high end" salons and kennels that have the 24hr video internet survaillance. Those are your best bet, as the money that is spent at these places can go well over a grand a week.

Dog Show-
Think of it as a...bridal show. Nuff said here...best idea...

Dog Park-
Go on a weekday, when there is not much activity. 2 reasons....your "stay at home moms" are at the park when hubbys are at work...these types of clients are the ones you want. Next reason...try talking to (mostly female) a person with 3 hyper labs tyring to control them, and talk to you..trust me....they dont hear half of what you are saying....not to mention there are 50 other frikking dogs running around at the same time....

ahh....dont get me started on dog parks. I dont like them...seen sooooo many dogs come in from fights..unbelieviable. Its not the dogs...its the people.

You WILL get the snickers from people about "pet portraits." Then they usually see my work, and they are in shock. I apply all the same techniques used when shooting a wedding, down to the album itself.

Shelters? Not a bad idea...one I havent thought of...except not sure who your clients are there....

Rescues - Maybe a good idea....folks who look at rescues have huuuuuuge hearts, and those types of people will usually do anything for their pets.

One last thing...you really do have to "connect" with whatever pet you are shooting. Be sure to get down on their level, and let them come to you. Ignore them completely for the first 5 minutes....till they calm down...you'll only feed the excitement.

Last last thing.....frikking have fun...these guys are soooo challenging!

Good luck

Nick

You and Nick both have some great ideas.

I just moved to a new market and decided to focus on portraits. I'll share a few strategies I've been trying out--

Pet groomers, vets, dog bakeries, etc:

I had 4x6, full color, 2-sided postcards printed (people pics on one side/pet pics on the other). I've been going to the local businesses and asking if I can leave a small stack of fliers on their counter. In return, I offer the business owner and their entire staff a 2/3 discount on portrait sessions, reproductions and albums. Most employees at these places can't afford nice portraits and are happy to get the discount. In return they are often also more than happy to send a lot of business your way. These people see far more pet owners (with $ to spend) in one day than I see in a week.

Dog parks:

I've displayed the fliers and small posters of the same promo at local dog parks. I've gotten some referrals this way but suprisingly, dog parks have turned out to be the least effective place to market. At some parks people have torn my stuff down at others, people just take a flier and leave the rest alone (dog parks attract all types...) I don't like to bring up my business to people at the park unless they ask. If you're interested in finding out how I displayed the cards at the park, just let me know.

Shelters:

You should try volunteering your services for the shelter. Most shelters have terrible pictures on their site. All they have to do in return is pass out your info with every adoption. If this is successful, you should try to get local news outlets (print & TV) to do a story on it (especially if your pics boost their adoptions). Local reporters are usually more than happy to showcase shelter dogs (& hopefully, the volunteer photographer) on the local morning news. You can try a similar strategy with breeders. Though, I would charge a breeder a discounted rate instead of providing services for free. People who go through breeders often have more $ to spend than people who adopt.

You have a nice, easy to navigate site. However, you might want to expand your portfolio before you invest a lot of time in marketing. I could only find pics of two different dogs in the site's gallery. You might want to consider adding pics of people and their pets and pics of toy pets--Yorkies, Teacup Poodles, etc... The ladies w/ those dogs are often also the ones who buy $60 dog collars. And spend hundreds of dollars on pet photography. It should be easy to find people at the dog park or on Craigslist who are willing to model w/ their pets.

Thanks for the great replies guys. Here's one more idea I'm actually working on. I have two dobermans that I adopted from the local doberman rescue society (so I totally know what you mean Nick, my wife and I are those types of people). I'm trying to work with various doberman owners to put together a coffee table photobook of dobermans, with a portion of proceeds going to benefit the organization. So, while you may be giving away a ton of free shoots, you can build material (plus there's a chance people will buy a few prints). Something like this is a labor of love though, so it's something I'd only recommend to someone who loves a particular breed.

Anthony, yeah I don't have a ton of material, one is my cousin's dog, the rest are various shots of my two dogs. But other than with the doberman society, I'm not doing any other free shoots, since I feel my work, while limited, speaks for itself. I just have to get out there and sell myself.

We have a couple new businesses in our town - a high end pet store with clothes and toys and designer dishes and such (and lots of undecorated wall space) and the "Barkery". Anyone who buys carob cookies for their dog has money to burn... I'm half through a small proposal for the owner of the pet store to provide big canvas pet portraits for her walls in exchange for keeping my info at the counter and dropping a promo card in the shopping bags of her big spenders. The Barkery will get a slightly more edgy proposal. I'll also talk with both about photographing their products for use in marketing materials and newspaper ads.

I've been photographing shelter cats for awhile., They used my images on their annual Christmas card to donors and I feature on their site as well. The critter section of my site isn't ready yet, but I photograph friends pets whenever possible to add to that portfolio (and just shot this amazing dog with one blue eye that is simply stunning).

Okay hold up.


Here's the box -------> ___[ ]___

Here's your thinking ------------> ___[x]___

Here is the Becker, who's logo looks like a box, but has nothing to do with "the box" ----------> [b]

Here's where your thinking needs to be in relation to the box ----------> _____[ ]______x_______


No offense intended, but this is such an obvious line of thinking. I want to get the word out to dog owners, so I'm going to go where dog owners go, and do what?

A brochure?

Co'mon - that's so 1990.

If I were selling insurance, I'd leave a brochure. If I were a pet sitter, I'd leave a brochure and a card. If I were a rep for a company selling Neuticals, I'd leave a brochure and probably an anatomical diagram.

You're a PHOTOGRAPHER. What do you make?



Let's go another direction with this. Let's step out of our shoes as a peddler of goods looking for customers and step into the shoes of those who's help you need to succeed. If I own a vet clinic, a grooming spa, you name it, what do my costs look like? They're probably HUGE in comparison to what each client is paying. That counter space costs me a lot of money, and now you're going to show up and expect that because you paid me a few hundred dollars in services I rendered that now entitles you to use my counter space? For your marketing? That's my counter. I pay for it. I gave you an honest service which you agreed to pay for. I don't owe you any counter space in the deal. If you show up wanting to use MY counter space to peddle YOUR goods, you're not doing me any favors.

Maybe I'd just be a stingey dog groomer and everyone else would be nicer, I dunno.


Now, you do what for a living? And how could that BENEFIT the groomer / vet / etc? And serve as a big advertisement at the same time?

Have you ever looked at the wal-mart - flea market - generic art work on the walls in your vet's office?

I would have absolutely no problem paying for a large print and frame or a canvas, delivered with a wall hanging kit and a hammer swinging from my waist belt if they'd allow me to throw that other thing in the trash and hang up something a bit more interesting. Hey, maybe the vet even has a cute schnauzer at home. "You bet sir, let's set up a shoot! That'll be great! We'll have some fun and pin up the best picture you've ever seen of him, right over here in your waiting room". Of course your logo and website goes on the print, and yes, you may leave a stack of biz cards over next to the Neuticals display - but hopefully your site, name, and the picture you hang up are all memorable enough that the customer won't need your card - it'll stick on it's own. Make sure they'll find you when the start to google.

Don't do what every other person has done to sell stuff in the past, and DON'T approach a business owner by telling them what THEY can do to help YOU. How you can feed off of their success and marketing. They don't want to hear that. Go find a way to directly benefit them with no strings attached - they'll love and respect you for it. And when the Neuticals sales rep starts offering a larger kick back if the doc allows him to setup a live-size 3d visual-aid, your brochures won't be the first thing going in the trash to clear some new counter space.

And I think it should be obvious, but maybe not so - you should probably practice up a bit before jumping in with both feet. Not that your work is lacking (actually I haven't looked at any of your pet work, so I have no idea, this is a general statement) - so many times I see photographers get an idea, then go running out the door with their hair on fire ready to sell sell sell sell sell without getting their ducks in a line first. Go find some willing victims / test subjects with your friends. Shoot a few of these low key. Don't try and turn your very first session into the basis of your marketing campaign, because your first few probably won't be very good. Figure out where you want to go, what kind of look you're going after - really get it figured out with some solid portfolio work, get your website all set and tuned and ready to roll - THEN go hit all the vets and groomers in town. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

You go show them some images in your flip book that blow them away "would you like one of these hanging 40x50 on your wall?" - is going to get you a lot further in business and in a relationship then bouncing into someone's office "yea, I shoot weddings but yesterday got the idea to shoot pets also, I whipped up this here brochure last night - mind if I leave 100 of them here on your counter?" - you're not going to make many friends that way.

Again, no offense intented. It's early, I'm on my second cup of coffee, and I'm feeling a bit sarcastic this morning. Take it for what it's worth.


I've got some other ideas to directly access the high income animal owners in any area, but I'm still in process getting that rolling with myself here in my own area. Once this is setup I'll share the idea with everyone else.


ps - Phil, your idea of the book to benefit the society - I think you're on the right track there. "fo-sho!" Keep after that one!

I'm still digesting your post Kevin, but that's exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping to read I had some of the standard stuff in mind, in terms of raising awareness, but definitely didnt have any outside the box ideas, which I'm hoping to develop.

a friend of mine does pet portraiture, and there is a huge, well-known humane society here i town and they do special events. she is always at them, either shooting the event or displaying her wares. also, she knows all the groomers in town and they recommend her -

good luck

Alrighty then...after about 2 months...heres a status update...

"You're a PHOTOGRAPHER. What do you make?"

Your exactly right. Brochures. Ms Pretty comes in with Bo and Derek (two massive Danes excited at the very site of a fake dog) running around her feet. She has zero time to look at anything but the bill, sees the brochure, sticks it in the purse and thats that. The prints on the walls do work, I've gotten a few calls from those.

"Don't try and turn your very first session into the basis of your marketing campaign, because your first few probably won't be very good"

This was my first pet shoot.



These were designed onto brochures and are on display at 3 clinics right now.

Through the Piggy Pic Project, I scored a free table at a pet show in September, made friends with the director of an adoption agency...this lady rocks...she put up a "pet photography" category on the site!

http://www.safesocietyofflorida.com/

The Human Society works as well. I have been going back and forth with the Director of Events, volunteering at some local events. This has generated some buzz, and folks are starting to catch wind now. I think the key is providing something different. I custom design an album, which comes with every shoot.

Example

I'll chime back in after another few months and we'll see hows it goin then.

Phil...how has it been in your area? Anything new?

Well, I just got some little cards from vistaprint and I took some to my vet (it's a combo vet clinic/pet day care so folks who go there have some expendable income). I got one inquiry in the week I've had stuff there (nothing materialized after the inquiry) and no noticeable increase in site hits, so I suspect it's not really making a big impact (passive stuff rarely does though). I think I'll just have to get some large prints made so they can hang it up for a bigger impact.

I've spoken to the owner of a nicer dog boutique in town and took some photos of her new puppy and I'm supplying her with a canvas print to display in the store, so I'm hoping it'll have a big impact when people go into the store and she'll tell folks about my stuff.

Unfortunately, my doberman book project isn't taking off like I had hoped, I've sent a couple of emails to the rescue society to spread my name around, but there were practically no replies (one person showed interest but flaked out from a free shoot). It's too bad because I'm trying to do something good for the organization and that people who are benefitting from the awesome dogs aren't playing a part to make the project a reality. Anyway, I'm a little miffed by that, I would have thought people would have been gung ho in supporting my project.

Overall, I'm just trying to be patient and I'm sure stuff will happen, but I can't use stuff like "oh I have a solid day job, I can take my time building my business" as an excuse not to be more aggressive selling myself. I might try and reach out to other breed specific rescue groups and propose my book idea to those breeds and see if that generates more interest (perhaps at a greatly discounted session rate for participation in the book).

Finally people who love pet photohgraphy too!
I been doing that for the past 3 year and its hard. I been in high end boutiques and local vet offices
the responce is very low.
I did last year a masive mailing to clients of my local pet motel and got a good responce.
I am planing to do it again, the pet motel have samples in the wall of my work.
I been there since I the begining.
Now, its hard when you have a small budget to use for marketing. I been asking in local hi-end magazines that rich mature women read. This is the target market for me.
The mayority are mature ladies single or with no kids.
Hope this had help a bit.
I am so happy that we are touching this nitch market.

Gloria Mesa
www.gloriamesa.com [/b]

hmmmm... i dunno. i personally find this as a very limited market. as with wedding photograhy, everyone is picking up a digital camera these days and taking care of their photographic needs on their own - i dont see a huge market for this -

as a sideline, something to keep you shooting and keeping you fresh, i think its good - i may be wrong, and hopefully i am, but i wouldnt advise putting all your eggs in this one litter box.

I know, answering your comment. Its very hard because of the digital camera but you realize that the target market I am taking about, are not sure about digital cameras. they used to use film back on the days. If they use digital cameras are those very chip one.
When I shoot I will bring all my equipment expensive, jasmine star one's told me. " you are a professional photographer use expensive equipment that will make a difference from what regular people own"
Now, I do agree with you its Not easy market to get to but if you have a passion for it
it will pay off one day.
I do work with a local pet store and I am NOT proud to say the I do on X-mas a session on the store.( this may not help my pride)
I do very classy sessions I don't do the the same as other do on those events.
The Halloween is a good day for photos in the store, they do all the ads and I just show up that day.
People with pet are willing to give the money to a good photographer, clients will know if you love pets. Because if you don't. forget it this is not for every body.

Gloria Mesa
www.gloriamesa.com