So you want to become a dog photographer?
Read my Top 10 Tips first!
1) If you don't love everything that makes up a dog, then stop immediately. Dog's instinctively recognize a non-dog lover and you weren't meant to photograph them. This means slobber on your face, clothes, camera and lens. It also involves getting dirty, including paw marks everywhere. Physically I always get a great workout. Sitting, standing, crouching, jumping, running. You name it, I am doing it.
2) Know your camera. Dogs move in and out of changing light. Because of this, I believe strongly that you need to shoot in manual mode.
3) Develop your own style. The only way you can do this is to shoot a lot. And then shoot some more. And then some more. Find out what works for you. Style is a dynamic factor, ever evolving, growing and changing with you.
4) Patience. Patience. Patience. Dogs usually listen to their inner voice first, you second. Most of the time I have to wait them out and follow them.
5) Every market is different. Invest time in your area determining if there is a large enough dog market to warrant opening a business. If so, there are probably already dog photographers in the area. What sets you apart from the others?
6) Learn the business. It isn't cheap or easy to start up or run a small business. It isn't just about taking pictures, and that is a very large understatement.
7) It is essential that you are able to relate to dogs AND people. If you are shy, timid, and just generally not a people person, it isn't going to be easy for you.
8) Understand pack mentality, dominance, behavioral issues, and the different types of breeds. What are you going to do if the dog is scared of your camera or you? It happens.
9) Don't talk bad about your competition. Ever. Directly or indirectly. Especially on a public forum like a blog. You never know who is reading and it looks extremely unprofessional to current and prospective clients. The best piece of advice I ever received was "Promote the brand and not the photographer." There are plenty of clients to go around. I see so many photographers worrying about their competition and trying to outdo them. If you are truly doing your own thing, it won't matter what they are doing.
10) Dogs don't work for free. You'll have to quickly find out what motives the dog you are shooting. Some like food, some like treats, some like a belly scratch. If you aren't able to quickly determine what motivates them, you're going to have one heck of a time trying to get a good shot of them.
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I also wanted to answer a few questions here that I often get asked.
What is your secret?
I wish I had a special formula or an easy answer, but my journey has been a long one. Especially tough at times with much self doubt, discovery, and determination. I have invested an incredible amount of time and hard work refining my techniques, developing my own style, and gaining the confidence to do things the way I want and not what everyone else was doing. All of that takes time shooting, reading, time on the computer, and plenty of research. Plain and simple, if you aren't willing to invest the time into it, you aren't going to get much out of it.
You make it look so easy!
You are only seeing the finished product. Easy is definitely not a word I would use to describe the process of shooting dogs. Yes, it is fun, but definitely a lot of hard work. Assuming your know your camera gear inside and out (which you should), you are then walking into a situation where you have to quickly evaluate the owner(s), the home and quality of light, the behavior and temperament of the dog, the weather, and how you are going to shoot effectively and artistically with all those factors.
What is your favorite lens?
It depends on the look I am going for. The one piece of advice I always give is that it is definitely not about the gear. I have gotten some really incredible shots out of the Canon 50 1.8 which is a $75 lens. It is the voice behind the gear that really matters. That being said, the 2 lenses I use the most for dogs are the 24-70 and the 15mm Fisheye.
I always recommend renting lenses first before buying. You can rent online at www.rentglass.com or at your local camera store.
What is your post processing technique?
Again, not an easy answer. I took a comprehensive online class in Photoshop 5 years ago and it was a great time investment. I shoot RAW and adjust everything in ACR Bridge. I barely use actions and know color management and final print production inside and out.
Books are a great way to learn. I recommend Real Camera Raw by Bruce Fraser and any of the Photoshop Books by Scott Kelby. Not terribly exciting reading but if you shoot digital, you need to know the ins and outs of Photoshop.
Will you mentor me?
As much as I would love to, unfortunately I just do not have the time to accept anyone as a mentor right now. But I do hope to help aspiring photographers in the future. If you are interested in dog photography, you don't necessarily need a dog photographer as a mentor. There are many aspects of the business that translate well into other specialties. If you can find a photographer in your area that is willing to spend time with you, that is ideal.
