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Pet Photography Profitability?

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photocine

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"Little animals, I Loves You!"

Any pros here specialize in pet photography?

I'd like to start a pet photography business and would appreciate inputs and tips.

As a start, I am looking into providing free photography to some of the local animal shelters and rescue organizations in my area.
 
I don't see big bucks here. Best bet may be to become "official" photographer for a purebred dog show, or for a single breed organization.
 
I tried to get into that market - did a fundraiser for the local human society every christmas at a local pet groomer's studio - theory being the human society would help spread the word about me and look favorably upon me, the groomer's customers would know me and they have money and choose to spend it on their pets.

5 years later and I've made about $300 off pets. I make some at christmas time with the fundraiser but most of the money goes to the humane society so it's a lot of work for essentially no money.

Can money be made shooting pets? I"m sure it can....in the right area, the right product, and in a good economy where people spend freely.

I've found it much easier to make money shooting people.

YMMV
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Learn the science. Practice the art.
 
I expect it to be hard to make money with pet photography. Pets have no money?!

Another idea I just thought of is offer free photography in exchange for videoing the owner's pets to put on Youtube so you can make money off of the hits. I know there are lots of cute and crazy cat videos on YT with millions of hits.

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photo + video = photocine
 
Considering the pro-ness of this forum...

What country?

Really rich Americans will pay thousands for a photo of their dog sitting behind the wheel of the family Ferrari.

All you need to do is be extraordinarily good at taking pictures, and find the really rich people with dogs and Ferraris.

More about dog photos here: http://briankilgore.com/Dogs.htm
 
Local Humane society does annual pet pics with Santa (pets = dogs, cats, horses, snakes, spiders, fish, ferrits, gerbals, rats, ducks, etc...) and an occasional human in the pic (other than Santa).

For many years, it was all volunteer, with so-so results, even though it was co-sponsored by a regional pet supply store and conducted at all of their store locations.

Several years ago, the quality was "kicked up a notch" - they pay a modest day rate for "more professional" photography - read backdrops, lights, shoot teathered, see on-screen the results, backup equipment (I had a dSLR die; switched to the backup).

Can one turn those customers into profit other times in the year?
  • Yes / No / Maybe - depends on your abilities and whether those folks want what you hope to seel the rest of the year.
It can be fun... and modestly rewarding. Not everyone gets asked to shoot St. Nick's daughter's wedding.
 
My experience has been that pictures of pets at xmas can work - biggest seller is chistmas cards.
Keep Santa out of it- nobody wants to buy a portrait of santa.

Once they get a nice pic of Fido they're less likely to want one the rest of the year - like school pics of their kid - better pics can be had but this works well enough.

They'll give pics of Bob Jr to grandma, sis, etc but pics of Fido? Nope...so you have less you can sell overall.

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Learn the science. Practice the art.
 
I've known plenty of enthusiastic dog owners who spent fortunes on their pets. Unfortunately, however, I've seen very little of that go to photography. Seems odd, I know. I've done portraits here and there over the years for family, and they have been greatly appreciated (and they ARE displayed in their homes), but when it comes to a paying job.....

I think in order for it to work, you have to specialize in the area, and then have access to the high end clients who can and will pay. But I certainly do not think that there is any great market hear that simply is untapped. Indeed, I've seen too many general photographers who end up going out of business within a year or two who included "pet photography" among their offerings.
photocine said:
"Little animals, I Loves You!"

Any pros here specialize in pet photography?

I'd like to start a pet photography business and would appreciate inputs and tips.

As a start, I am looking into providing free photography to some of the local animal shelters and rescue organizations in my area.
Click to expand...
 
AMEN - Santa, the tree, the ornaments, the presents under the tree are just props, and thankfully, Santa understands all that.

If a child or pet owner are involved, then Santa is involved more.

Often it's a tight shot of Fido licking Santa's nose, or a cat on Santa's sholder, a snake intertwined in Santa's glove, or a horse with Santa beside (but horses are spooked by strange red suits)

I usually capture 1 shot wide enough for the scene, then zoom in to get the real star, the subject, the pet's pic. 9 times out of 10, the tight shot is the one bought
 
Alll I saw was an article on Wegman - he's not photographing pets for money, he's publishing books of his own pets' pictures - slightly different model.
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Learn the science. Practice the art.
 
I think it is essential that you have a good domain name for a pet photography business.

Not just JOEBLOWPHOTOS.COM but something "pet" related. Like littledoggies.com or such.

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photo + video = photocine
 
Another thing to consider is that there is essentially no 'return' market with pet photography. People essentially never get tired of seeing their daughter, son, husband, etc. in various portraits and poses and are therefore willing to shell out money more often for updated photos. With pet photography, even for the people willing to pay for it, they will likely be content with one good image of Rufus and have no reason to seek/buy more.
 
Holiday cards with the family in a holiday setting often include the non-human family members.
 
I get it off and on, but not for a while now.

Celeb's pets huh? Sounds like a small market and more of a 'who you know' kinda thing. If your not in LA you're gonna have a real small list of potential clients...

It's like saying 'you can make $10 million dollars playing football!' - and yes, maybe 100 people in the world do it- out of 6.x billion the odds of you being one of them is less than hitting the lottery.

So yeah, while it's possible to make money shooting celebrity's pets out of 6.x billoin on the planet I bet there's not 3 that do it....you've got a better chance at a $10 million dollar NFL contract.

Just sayin.
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Learn the science. Practice the art.
 
Thanks for the idea! It would be nice to shoot celeb's pets. I'll bet they pay well too.

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photo + video = photocine
 
The money's there if you do indeed have the right market - and the right marketing.

This is my inspiration ~ http://www.cowbelly.com/

She fully supports herself with her pet photography - as do other notable pet photographers in the US.

I'm trying to enter the market myself - I'm nearest Chicago, so undoubtedly there is some money there.
 
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