$1600 Class on the ins and outs of Pet Photography... Worth it?

[BekahAura]

I was wondering if any of you have done anything like this before?

The class is taught by 3 professional photographers and I've looked at their website and I am in awe of their photographs.

It's supposed to cover the shooting indoors and out, marketing and sales, and at the end we get a CD of all information that was covered as well as the contracts and price lists of the photographers.

It's a lot of money, and only four days of schooling. The cost doesn't cover airfare and accommodations as far as I know.

A few of you may remember my inquiries about starting my own business almost a year ago, and if this is as good as it seems it may really give me a boost before I get going. I've been working on a business plan, making lists of costs and prices, making more lists about marketing ideas and local pet businesses I can approach. I still feel like I should know more.

If I decide to do this it's going to put me dangerously close to my credit card limit... but if it'll help me make money in the long run it's worth it right? I want to do it so bad but I'm still unsure.

Has anyone ever done one of these taught by professionals type classes? I need a photographer's opinion!

 

[tirediron]

I'd be curious about what was so special about pet photography as opposed to people photography that it's worth a $1600 course. Lighting is lighting... marketing is marketing. I suppose they might have some niche-specific tips, but $1600 worth? Most of the seminars I see tend to run around $250/day so that seems a little high as well. I guess the big question is: How much pet photography do you anticipate doing?

I've not been to a course/seminar of that financial calibre, but one thing I do know from the ones I have been to, most photographers don't make good teachers.

 

[gsgary]

If you know how to use your camera you only need a marketing and sales course. I have started shooting pet portraits and there is money to be had
Here's one from Thursday night

 

[Forkie]

$1600 for a 4 day class about taking photos just of pets? What if someone wants to be in the photo with their pet, is there some sort of pet/human portrait crossover technique that the class doesn't teach? I'd walk away and go to a proper photography class.

 

[Robin Usagani]

im speechless. I rather use $400 to buy my self a chihuahua and $1200 on a new lens.

 

[KmH]

The marketing and sales stuff can apply to any kind of retail photography and may be invaluable.

Their price lists would only be valid if related to your CODB.

You won't be able to evaluate the value ($1600) of the training until the end of the 4th day.

In all honesty, you can learn all of that stuff on your own, but it will take you longer.

If the training day is 8 hours, that's only $50 per hour, which is a reasonable rate. Having a consultant come into your studio to do one-on-one specific to your studio would run more like $500 per hour and take up to 3 days.

 

[gsgary]

im speechless. I rather use $400 to buy my self a chihuahua and $1200 on a new lens.

You want one of these Lakeland Terrier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Big Mike]

I agree with the others, that does sound rater expensive, but if you do get a lot of time (8 hours/day) then it's not totally out of whack...but it also seems odd that they could spend that much time on 'pet photography' when really, most of what you need, is much more universal.

Also, I'd wonder about their service after the seminar. Will you be able to call them up and ask for advice? Or will they just try to sell you on more seminars or books/videos etc?

I usually try to attend a few seminars a year, and I've found that while I'm usually looking for a 'how to' type of learning experience...they often tend to be 'this is what I did' type of thing...and much of it won't be applicable to me. Still a good way to get some inspiration, but I'm not paying $1600 for a pep talk.

If you can, maybe try to track down some people who have taken the seminar and ask them.

I'm getting a little feeling that they are trying to apply the same enormous mark-up that everything in the top end pet business has.

 

[reznap]

As great as the information might be that they're selling you.. is it really worth almost maxing out your credit card? How long will it take you to make back the $1600 invested plus interest taking photos of clients' pets?

 

[bigtwinky]

Hells no.

It seems that workshops are the biggest trend these days in photography. Everyone is doing them. And I mean everyone, the good and the bad. There are only a few people from whom I would take a workshop from. Random 3 photographers who do pet photography? For $400 per day? No.

No matter how much you spend on a workshop, you will never EVER come out of there ready to shoot like a pro. The only thing that will make you shoot like a pro is PRACTICE. What you learn in the workshop can help guide and such, but really, you can probably find it online.

As said, light is light. What is different between pet photos and kid photos? Not much really. You need to make sure they are rested, you need to have a wrangler, you need to expect them to move alot. And get yourself a small noise maker and when you are ready to take the image, make the noise. They will look at you and the ears will perk up.

Check out the Creative Live sessions. Chase Jarvis started them and I've seen parts of 2 of them live (for free - you have to pay to download when it's not live). I watched Zack Arias give awesome info in a classroom setting on studio stuff and I caught part of Tamara Lackey giving great tips and critique for children's photography.

March 4 to March 6 is a workshop with Vincent Laforest. Free to watch live!

The download cost for the full classes (Wedding with Jasmine Star, Studio with Zack Arias, Vision Driven Photography with David Duchemin) are $150.

And no, I don't work for them, don't know anyone who works for them. Like I said, I watched parts of them live and loved the info and format.

 

[reznap]

^ Great info, thanks.

 

[Overread36]

Another point to consider is class size - the larger the class the more generic and the more basic the course will end up becoming because it will cater to the lowest possible member skill - and if you're a group of totally random people one's going to turn up knowing everything; one will have all the gear and no idea and another person will turn up with their point and shoot .

The point being that its a lot of money and once its no longer focused around you and your needs there is a big risk that you'll end up not learning as much as you need to in the specific areas that are you weak points.

 

[RedWylder]

Ummmm nothing is worth maxing out my credit card except for an emergency. If you really want to blow $1600 on a class then save up for it. Then when you get to the end of the class the results don't matter as much because you don't have to worry about a maxed out card. You can take what you learned and start applying it to your photography debt free.

 

[Ginu]

I would say no... If you are willing to spend $ 1600 on a course I would suggest to get a new lens for 1000+ and pick up a pet with the rest of the cash and go nuts shooting. Honestly you will not be happier not to mention the toys left over.

I spent 200$ on my cats and they provide the best pet photography practice not to mention the fun factor in having pets around the house. I'm sure they are both traumatized when they see me picking up the camera but they dont whine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34496221@N08/4908057493/sizes/z/in/photostream/

For example, I went cheap with my wedding and I didn't hire a photographer but got a wicked album and camera gear left over which got me started on the hobby. I went and got a few quotes, saw their portfolio's and decided to spend the money on gear (camera+lens) and let my brother and father go nuts shooting (both have a little bit of knowledge with SLRS) along with a family friend who is a photographer enthusiast with lots of $ spent on his gear.
I took the time to edit the photos, made a nice album on my Mac and had their photo lab print out a few albums which looks more professional then my friends hired two photographers which charged 4500$ + . The end result was 2000$ spent and got a D90 with the kit lens about 500+ good quality usable pictures and 5 albums which were given to family members. I could not be happier with my choice and new inherited hobby.

 

[bigtwinky]

David Hobby (aka Strobist) and Joe McNally are on tour now doing strobist / off camera light workshops. It costs a **** load to get in, they are fully booked. I hear that the attendance is in the 50+, they are up on a stage.
How much do people really expect to learn from this thing? No personal contact to answer questions (other than a bit here and there), and with all the info these guys have already put out, what more are they going to say?

Unfortunately, people are just paying to see them...it's the rock star phenomenon.