I'm launching a new business.

[Jim Poor]

Jim Poor - The Dog Sport Photographer is going strong. Too strong in fact. I plan to cut back by about 50% next year.

Jim Poor Photography, my pet portrait side is doing well. I do quite a few charity and rescue related promotions and cater to the upper middle class outside of those events. If you look at low to high, pricing-wise in my area, I'm about 75% up the scale.

NOW,
I'm launching a totally separate portrait effort. Very exclusive, very formal and very expensive. The main focus is formal wall art and no small prints will be available without either a large print of the same image or a minimum purchase amount.

I have only a couple competitors in this particular venture. Once charges $450 for sitting alone, and the other charges $325 for an 8x8 print framed to 8x10. Mind you, we're still talking pets here.

There will be a feeling of exclusivity, and "invitation only" though anyone who will pay the fee gets an invite.

There will be a fun back story to the business, but it will be positioned in such a way as to not take a way from those who just want the photos. Those who want the whole experience will be drawn in very deeply to the business. Recruited, if you will.

CIA-Canines In Art™
An Animal Intelligence Studio

I'm still a few weeks from launch, and have to get a few of my Animal Intelligence Officers in place, but things are getting exciting.

There is also a plan for CIA-Cats In Art™ as well as CIA-Critters In Art™ which will cover the exotics.

[sk66]

Do you do doggy weddings too?

You've definitely found a "niche market".....it kind of amazes me that the market exists. I know how fanatical some pet owners can be and I know that pets can become "part of the family"...but I can't see a $300+ photo of someones kid selling as a business model.

All the same, Kudos to you if you can get it to fly!

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by sk66

Do you do doggy weddings too?

You've definitely found a "niche market".....it kind of amazes me that the market exists. I know how fanatical some pet owners can be and I know that pets can become "part of the family"...but I can't see a $300+ photo of someones kid selling as a business model.

All the same, Kudos to you if you can get it to fly!

LoL, I had a request to shoot a wedding that went something like this: "You did such a great job with my dog, can you do my daughter's wedding?" I turned it down.

[prince]

Great going Jim!! This is awesome. Like Sk66 lot of times I am surprised how much people spend on pets apart from TLC. Well well being a dog lover myself I can justify it sometimes..lol

Jim that offer was very funny.. am sure client didn't realize how it sounded to you.. Must have had a good laugh..

[NicoleScraps]

I too do not understand the amount of cash that people are willing to throw down for their pets, but I know it happens. I have seen it.
We love our cats, hug all over them all the time, but they get food, cat liter and a visit to the vet once a year out of us, and that is all, LOL!
I wish you luck though!! I hope it goes well for you.

[SusanH1970]

Good for you Jim! Best of luck with it.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

LoL, I had a request to shoot a wedding that went something like this: "You did such a great job with my dog, can you do my daughter's wedding?" I turned it down.

Yeah, daughters don't listen as well as dogs.....
maybe that's why you don't see $300 portraits of children....

[Photologyst]

Good luck with the new venture, Jim.

What will be different or more exclusive about these portraits vs. the regular ones?

What about “doggie weddings”?

As to people spending money on pets. Pet care and vet services are very expensive, however, nowhere near as expensive as raising a human child.

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

Good luck with the new venture, Jim.

What will be different or more exclusive about these portraits vs. the regular ones?

Sort of like the difference between this:



and this:



or this:


Plus, the main thrust of sales will be gallery wraps, float wraps and groupings rather than the 5x7 & 8x10 crowd.

As to people spending money on pets. Pet care and vet services are very expensive, however, nowhere near as expensive as raising a human child.

Tell that to the woman who just spent $30k on vet treatments for her dog.

[Photologyst]

Oooh—Gorgeous stuff!

Love the schnauzer. We have one as well. He is mourning the loss of his buddy, who died 2 weeks ago. Won’t eat and has lost a great deal of weight. We spent hundreds to see if he was ill. Nope! Just very sad and lonely.

Yes, major med is very expensive for pets. However, still less than kids at this stage of the game. They can do anything for a pet that can be done for a human IF one is willing to pay for that.

Sometimes one can get insurance.