Just Starting Out

1 Apr

Today, I hit a milestone where my business is now officially one month old. It has been an absolute joy to run. The feedback I have got off both clients and others alike have been truly overwhelming and I am incredibly grateful.

It really did all start with an idea. Back in January there was a difficult moment for the family and as that difficult moment was resolved, I had a little celebratory drink, or two, or more, enough to make me tipsy… and I thought ‘You know what, I’m going to launch a dog tog business’. I’d been doing my research on this on and off for a bit but never really had the guts, but I guess, drink speaks! Now, I’m not a drinker, so when I do drink, I suppose it hits me more than those who are able to handle it.

That was it, I wrote in one of the largest groups in my area and asked for dog models, told everyone I was setting up a business. It was all legit. I had a huge response, it’s too late to go back, I thought. So that was it, I’m launching a dog tog business now…

As the days and the weeks went by I began doing my research, reading more and more on this. I went to Tesco and I brought a bunch of accessories to write notes in, how am I going to ever figure out the prices of them? Then it dawned on me, it’s an expensive risky business to get into with the risk of losing more than I can gain. But I wasn’t to give up. Either way, I’m not in it for the money I’m in it for the passion and that’s what I do, the money is just a bonus. I spend between 20-90 minutes on an edit as I plan on having the best possible shots of your dogs. I realised I’d probably be, statistically, earning barely minimum wage per hour on each shoot, my larger packages mainly reflect that of the actual product it offers itself. I could not believe large fine art prints are extremely expensive, it turns out they also last around 30 years plus without being damaged by harsh light, so again, that explains it (Yes, some prints were in fact £150 just for a large framed Photo)!

I wrote and I wrote, and I began to invest and invest. Where will I start, where will it lead me. This is my plan, this is how I’ll do it. Over and over in my head. I decided, what better to have an official Launch date than that of my 24th Birthday, March 1st! Perfect. So I did. Then here she was, MissDPetography was born.

I have since done 4 shoots in the month of March, for Gizmo & Dutchess, Tia, Shadow & Kyro. All which turned out to be absolutely gorgeous models and they really did show me what I was in for. Tia was extremely nervous and difficult to keep still. Every image of her was in that split couple second where she was able. Shadow was a rapid little puppy… well, 16 months old! She was very quick and versatile, and it was a sunny harsh lighting day and I shot manual that whole shoot. Many of the shots came out gorgeous and I even got her mid-air! Bonus! Kyro could not go off his lead, which was a fun challenge to have, to edit him in such a way it looks like he had no lead on and no person behind him, so I did!

Each shot, I definitely thoroughly enjoyed in its own way. They definitely taught me a lot. I spent many hours setting up a website, daily fixing faults. I now have a few more bookings throughout spring, and I am really excited to show you all what I get! It is definitely a business that you are gonna spent more going out before you have money coming in and I am in a very fortunate situation in life where I have an amazing job with plenty of overtime opportunities should times ever become tough.

I’d definitely keep your eyes peeled the next few weeks!