WHAT GEAR DO YOU USE?
Camera’s: Canon 5D Mark II, Fuji Instax 210, iPhone 4s
Lenses: 35 f/1.4, 24-70 f/2.8, 50 f/1.4, 70-200 f/2.8
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LENS?
Hands down my 35mm f/1.4. It stays on my camera 95% of the time. I love it because it is a great storytelling lens, tack sharp, and doesn’t distort the image around the outside of the frame.
WHAT SETTINGS DO YOU USE?
Whether it is a client or my own family, I always shoot manually. This didn’t come easy and it was something I forced myself to do so that I could understand my gear in and out. I started with Aperture & Shutter Priority first and I think these are perfectly acceptable modes to shoot in. Shooting manually is just my personal preference.
WHAT DO YOU USE TO PROCESS YOUR IMAGES?
I shoot exclusively in RAW and process everything in Adobe Bridge. I’ve tried other software and yes they are great, but Bridge works the best for me. My workflow is lighting fast. I can usually edit a session of 300+ images down to around 60 in about an hour. Because I shoot manually, a lot of my images have the same settings, which means I can utilize batch processing vs. editing each individual image. My goal is to be at my computer as little as possible!
I AM SAVING UP TO BUY MY FIRST DIGITAL SLR CAMERA. WHAT CAMERA DO YOU RECOMMEND?
If you are just getting started, you’ll want to do some initial research on what brand is best for you because once you start investing in lenses you’ll be somewhat committed to that brand. But really, you can’t go wrong with buying either a beginning Nikon or Canon kit. These kits will have a camera body and an all purpose lens. Costco is great place to purchase a beginning kit because they have a generous return policy (if you find that it is too much camera for you). In addition, get yourself at least a 1 Gig Memory Card and while you’re at it, an extra battery.
YOU MAKE SHOOTING DOGS 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 combined.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN? HOW OLD ARE YOU? ETC.
Isn’t that a funny question? It is probably one of my most asked questions as I get a lot of students doing projects on photographers. I was born in Olympia, Washington on April 5, 1976. I did not go to school for photography but rather stumbled into it by way of being absolutely miserable in an office overlooking a concrete parking lot.
. . .
10 TIPS FOR ASPIRING DOG PHOTOGRAPHERS
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.
