Tag: pet photography workshop

Unleashed Dallas 2012

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Dallas is the place to be for the next Unleashed workshop to be held June 2-4, 2012.  We’ve reserved a block of rooms at the fun new hotel, Aloft. They have a great staff and a super room rate and they’re dog friendly! We’ll be starting a private facebook group for those of you interested in sharing hotel rooms and rides to and from DFW airport

We’re planning two full days of shooting,  a half day of business and marketing AND a two hour webinar a week after you return home.  More details as they are finalized but for now — check out the agenda and start making your plans for June 2-4.

Unleashed! June 26-29, 2011 in Chicago

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We’ve just confirmed the next venue and details so those who have been waiting patiently for information will be contacted shortly via email. As of this minute we have 18 spots and over 40 people requesting information, so please respond as soon as possible.

We will post a list of convenient hotels, but we’ll be shooting at Poppy Blue Photography (Barbara Breitsameter’s studio) in Park Ridge, Illinois and utilizing a nearby nature preserve for outdoor shooting. Indoor sessions using natural light are also planned. We use a variety of dog models and shoot in small groups so each attendee will get  to shoot with each of the three instructors. This kind of hands-on shooting in small groups is almost impossible to find in a workshop setting –so if it’s time to add pet photography to your life, this is the time and place to do it!

If you’re checking flights and airfare, you will want to fly in to O’Hare in time for the first session on Sunday evening, June 26th. We’ll meet at 6pm with wine and cheese and get to know each other –and start our first exersize– designed to help you identify your personal style!

Day 1 and Day 2 will start EARLY and be very full!  Business and marketing classes in the morning, and shooting all afternoon and in to the evening. Lunch and snacks are provided.
Day 3 is all about Sales. How to talk with clients, shoot for what they want — and get the big sales!

Tuition is $1600 per person, which includes lunch, snacks AND A COPY OF DOG SHOTS (a $90 value).  Explore this blog for details, a sample agenda and then email us via the contact page  for the full registration package.

Unleashed – The Fine Art of Pet Photography Workshops – Virginia Registration is Open!

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Well, we’ve brushed ourselves off and recovered quite nicely from Dallas – Unleashed.  The surveys are in and we had some lovely testimonials:

I say keep up what you are doing. You 3 are a wonderful combination of energy! There is no way that you can cover everything, but you have remained so available for further contact and that has been invaluable. I have taken other workshops where that was not a possibility. The other thing that I really appreciated is that you provided what you said that you were going to provide in the workshop. I also feel that by offering the possibility for all attendees to connect prior to the workshop really provided an awesome atmosphere of cohesiveness right from the get-go!

And now, on to Virginia! Registration opens today. You can find more details throughout this blog by clicking on the cost tab.

After much consideration, as well as receiving feedback from our Unleashed – Dallas attendees, we have made a few significant changes.  We feel these changes will make the workshop experience even better for you.

First, we have a conference hotel! Due to the amount of information packed into our workshop we’ve found the need to simplify everything else as much as possible.  In the past,  attendees were required to shuttle between locations for breakout sessions. This ate up valuable time and we felt, in some ways, it took away from the overall workshop experience.

No longer! Unleashed- Virginia has secured meeting space and rooms at the beautiful AAA 4-Star Lansdowne Resort & Conference Center. All shooting will take place at the Tranquility Farm & Barn Studio of Bev Hollis Photography. However, when we are not shooting or doing lighting lectures, we will learn in the comfort of this beautiful meeting place.

Second, it can be difficult to coordinate travel between lecture sites and location shooting. No longer! We will provide transportation from Lansdowne Resort to the Tranquility Farm studio for all sessions. You are welcome to drive yourself but it is not necessary.

Third, some attendees do not like the added expense of a rental car. No longer! Lansdowne Resort will provide transportation between Dulles (IAD) Airport and the resort for all attendees who are staying at the resort.  There are ample restaurants within the resort complex. A town center is also about a mile away for more dining choices.

Last, Don Dechow’s sales presentation rocked! So we are bringing him back for a longer session in September to include a walk-through sales session.

We are thrilled to be putting together what we know will be a truly amazing learning experience.  We’ve worked with Lansdowne Resort to secure pricing that we feel will continue to make Unleashed a great value for attendees.

For more information on pricing and how to register click on the COST tab above.

Dallas Bonus: Half-Day with Studio Manager Don Dechow!

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We were so excited when my studio manager, Don Dechow,  agreed to present a half-day program at Unleashed – Dallas!

To say Don plays a major role in my business is an understatement. He handles all communications, does our pre-session consults, all ordering sessions and deliveries.

Don came to Bev Hollis Photography first as a client in 2008. Lucky for me, a happy one! He loved the experience and the final products from his on-location session at his beautiful home with his then three Westie family. (He has since added a white schnauzer to the mix!)

When my business reached the level where I needed some help I was beyond thrilled that Don was interested.  With a strong background in sales, an exemplary customer service attitude and great enthusiasm for my business – he truly is the perfect match for Bev Hollis Photography.

The lucky attendees of Dallas – Unleashed will have the wonderful opportunity to hear Don speak on our final day.  He will walk everyone through our pre-session consults and spend a lot of time discussing how he runs our ordering sessions.

I’m thrilled to have Don on my team. We’re thrilled too, that he’s joining our Unleashed team – welcome Don!

Who Inspires You?

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When I started my pet photography business I looked where most of us would for inspiration – other pet photographers.  Of course I don’t think there’s a pet photographer on earth who isn’t inspired by the works of the great Elliott Erwitt.

Early on,  I had the wonderful opportunity to assist Jim Dratfield while he worked on location here in northern Virginia.  It was an outstanding learning experience for me for which I am grateful.

Another early trail-blazer is Amanda Jones.  Fifteen years into her animal photography career, she continues to create gorgeous imagery and command rates that only add credibility to pet photography as a profitable niche market.

So, whether you’re already in the pet photography market, or looking to go there, where will you get your inspiration?  How will you be different?  While I have learned so much from all the early “leaders,” I am also inspired by less obvious influences.

For instance, I love to study some of the amazing wedding shooters out there.  Those who are doing really exquisite work transcend all niche markets. They are just awesome, creative artists from whom we can all learn.

In 2008, while attending WPPI in Las Vegas, I discovered Jerry Ghionis.  To be honest, I had never heard of him. But when I was strolling through that huge exhibit hall, nearly overwhelmed by sounds and textures and choices, I came upon his booth and was honestly awestruck.  I remember saying to him “I don’t know who you are or what you do, but this is magnificent.”  I realize now how ridiculous I must have sounded to the many wedding photographers who were crowded around his booth!

Luckily for me I discovered Jerry with one day left on the speaking schedule and I was able to attend his morning lecture.  And so I sat, for an hour and a half, sleep deprived, over caffeinated, and truly mesmerized.  Jerry was engaging, funny and oh so wonderfully, amazingly talented.  After hearing Jerry speak, the one thing I decided to add to my pet shooting repertoire was a video light.  Why not? It’s easily portable and different.  Even better, it’s something my clients would never think to do.

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Since hearing Jerry speak I regularly visit his website and blog for ideas and inspiration.  I love that he is so innovative.  I say all of this to motivate you to ask yourself, “Who inspires me?”   And I suggest, as you build your pet photography business, that you cast a very wide net and look for inspiration beyond other pet photographers. There’s a superb league of photographic visionaries just waiting to inspire you!

Pet Photography – You Are Only Limited By Your Imagination!

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I think so many people take rather standard, run-of-the-mill pet photos in large part because pet photography has been pigeon-holed into that standard “traditional” backdrop world.  For so long, you either chased a pet around outside and hoped for the best or you placed them on some sort of backdrop or background (that they couldn’t ruin) and used traditional lighting techniques.

We are here to help you break out of that box! First and foremost, pet photography deserves the same level of consideration and artful approach as any other type of photographic work.  Whether your style is that of a life-style shooter or you favor the more traditional timeless poses for pets, there are ways to ramp it up!

Take lighting for instance. I am a loyal fan of David Hobby’s hugely popular website, Strobist.  His site is largely about one thing – using off-camera flash – inexpensively.  Many times we are blessed with beautiful lighting conditions.  Often times, though, we are not.  Or if we do find that beautiful light we have an uncooperative dog who’s just not going to go there!  Going the extra mile to understand your lighting options can greatly expand your pet photography repertoire.  In this photo, the day was dreary and dark.  A little extra bit of light, held camera-left by the owner, really helped this image pop.

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I believe when you start thinking of pet portraits as works of art, and begin to use light, both natural and artifical, in creative ways,  you will find yourself creating some wonderful pet images!

·Bev·

Dog Photography Workshop – Chicago, Illinois

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Fine art dog photography workshop

September 18-20, 2009

Location:  Chicago area

This is a cooperative effort between Teresa Berg (in Dallas), Barbara Breitsameter (in Chicago) and Bev Hollis (in Virginia/D.C.). We saw a real need for a workshop dealing with the many different aspects of fine art dog photography. Representing three different styles from three different geographic areas, it’s exciting to work together and offer a real variety of techniques and styles for other photographers. The first workshop is scheduled for September 18-20 in Chicago -with long range plans to offer the similar workshops in D.C. and Dallas.

Friday September 18, 6pm

Saturday,  September 19, 8:30am-5pm

Sunday, September 20, 8:30am-3pm

Friday evening get-together with wine, beer and snacks

Continental breakfast and box lunches included on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, email us at: unleashedfadp@gmail.com