Venturing Into the Pet Photography Business

Pets have always been known to be a part of the family. Specializing in pet photography has never been more lucrative and there is a growing demand in the market for this field. It’s not unusual for pet lovers to pamper and spoil their pets, and having them photographed by a professional is another much sought out service for pet owners to indulge in.

It’s always a great start to incorporate something that you love with work, this way you’ll never think of what you do for a living as work. It would be a double delight to love both photography and animals. The challenges of beginning a pet photography business would be welcoming.

Turning a fast profit in a pet photography business is easy and hassle free. It doesn’t cost much and you don’t need a studio in the initial stages of the business. All you need for a start is a digital camera, an eye for the trade and a fondness for animals. The trick of the trade is a cinch to remember, just think 4 P’s – pets, patience, practice and plentiful pictures. Patience is needed when it comes to dealing with the short attention span of animals. Always have handy toys and treats to capture and hold the attention of your subject.

A pet photography business will not need a big space when setting up a studio. Just make sure you have an accessible entrance/exit, a waiting room to make the pets as well as their owners comfortable, and extra space for pet props and paraphernalia. Your other photo equipment can be stored in a smaller storage area to leave your limited space free of clutter that can get in the way of your work. Try to set up shop near a pet supply store or by a pet grooming service to ensure you have a constant supply of clientele.

Another tip to get you on your way to making your business profitable is to get to know the people in the pet industry businesses such as pet groomers and pet store owners. Start networking with them and help each other out. You provide different types of services yet cater to the same market. By networking you can easily get a lot of paying clients. You can also offer taking photos of some pets after they’ve been groomed and give them for free for pet groomers and veterinarians to hang on their walls as free advertisement for your services.

Another part of building a business is making sure you will be noticed and recognized. One sure way of achieving this is choosing a catchy and witty name for your business. Part of your marketing strategy is to build a brand and establish a positive reputation. Having these will well get you on your way to having a booming business. Utilize all available marketing strategies such as brochures, flyers and calling cards. Build your website and create a portfolio where prospective clients can view samples of your work and know your options for pet stock photos. Selling your pet photographs online as stock is also one effective way to earn more.

Once you’ve established yourself in the community as a great pet photographer you can think about maintaining a client base by being active in pet events such as dog shows, horse dressage contests, and the like. This will further expose you to potential clients who will want to hire your services.