About Cowbelly Workshops and Jamie Pflughoeft

This little page was written by me, Jamie Pflughoeft, the owner of the funny-named Cowbelly Pet Photography, runner of these here workshops, and, (hopefully) your future teacher!

There are so many things I want to say to you fine young photographer, so many things I want to share, so many ideas I want to impart, so many encouragements, so much knowledge, so much information. But I'll calm down a little because I realize the reason why you came to this page was to learn a little bit about me.

Ok, so, in a pretty darn large nutshell, here is how I came to grow from a complete and total newbie, without the slightest clue as to what I was doing, to a teacher of workshops to lovely pet photographers everywhere.

Back in 1998-2003, I had been working as a dogwalker and petsitter while attending college as an, 'ahem' adult (I was 30). I had an old, weary Pentax film camera that I had saved from the one and only photography class I ever took (that was in high school- in 1989).

I loaded it up with some black and white film, and brought it with me to my petsitting gigs, and did pet photography as a hobby, merely for fun, with no goal in mind of, well, anything. I didn't even ask for profit from my prints I sold to clients. But they liked them! Which was cool.

After a couple of years of snapping photos of dogs and cats a friend who knew me well suggested I turn my 'hobby' into a 'business'. "Is that even a job?" I thought, until, after doing some research, I discovered that yes indeed it was a job, and one that I already loved doing. I saw websites for photographers I now deeply admire, like Kim Levin, Sharon Montrose, Jim Dratfield, Bev Sparks, and Kendra Luck, and couldn't believe it was actually a career. That what I had been doing for two years I could actually get paid for. Maybe even like, make a living at.

At that point I was sold. Hook, line and sinker.

"Sign me up!", I thought. "You mean someone will PAY me for doing something I love? RAD!"

And so the game began.

In the spring of 2003, I took an 8-week business training course, bought a $600 point and shoot Fuji camera, got some generic business cards from Office Depot made (I picked the design with the dalmation on the front- just text, no photo), did some paper flyers from Kinko's, had a horrible, ugly template website from my web host (NOT like the kind photographers get today), overprocessed and oversaturated images in my portfolio, a couple of 1gb memory cards, an $85 Epson printer and paper, and an ancient emac computer, and launched my business in July 2003, operating out of a basement closet that was prone to flooding. I think I had 4 paying clients booked when I launched. All I could do was hope for more to come. (They came, oh boy did they come!)

Skip ahead to today.

I have worked with over 500 clients, both private and commercial, in the past 7 years. 

I broke even in my first year of business.

My clients consistently spend $1500-$2200 on products alone.

I was able to quit my day job just 18 months into the business and have been working full time with it ever since. (That was 2005).

I make a full time living off pet photography alone. I don't have a day job.

I don't photograph anything other than pets. I don't need to photograph kids or weddings or events, etc, and never have. This business fully supports me.

I have traveled for work and have photographed client's dogs around the country.

I regularly do editorial and commercial work, shoot on assignment for some big name pet companies, and also license images for stock. (Look for bags of dog food with my images in Japan and treats in the UK!)

I carry no business debt and pay cash for all of my equipment.

I consistently have a waiting list for new clients for shoots and art

I now have a lovely office that is thankfully *not* prone to flooding, a network of 3 mac computers, and a part-time assistant to help me run the biz.

I am supremely happy doing what I love, and can't imagine doing anything else. I truly have my dream job.

I have accomplished these successes having had every real disadvantage that someone starting a business could have. I never had a well paying job starting out to help me buy all kinds of fancy lenses, or the latest camera body, or the best software or hire studio managers or a staff of employees. 

I don't have a big studio, or a large beautiful property, or amazing clients houses or even decent weather to shoot in.

I usually shoot in basic, modest houses, often in subpar light, with limited resources, a camera that sometimes just doesn't work right, and am constantly fighting against the elements and some pretty dark and dreary grey skies in this lovely city of Seattle. I don't have a hubby that helps support me, or savings to help me if I fall. 

I have shed tears, hit burnout, been confused, and anguished, and struggled, often times greatly, to find my way on my own, with no help. No pet photography workshops, no pet photographer mentors. I hate the thought of anyone else having to go through that, which is a paramount reason why I teach workshops. (That and I got tired of saying 'no' when people asked!)

I am a real person, running a real photography business, with it's own pitfalls, it's own challenges, and it's own (thankfully frequent) triumphs and successes, and that is what I teach, because I know, without a doubt in my mind, that my experience, and my business, are the most accessible to the most people. 

You could say I am a 'photographer of the people'. I have made it, against the odds. (Insert Chariots of Fire music here).

I am living proof that you CAN create a successful pet photography business through hard work, dedication, passion, a desire to improve your skills, and an overwhelming love of animals. My attitude is, knowing where I've come from, if I can do it, anyone can. And certainly you can my new friend. :-)

Aside from all of the aforementioned impressiveness (I know you are impressed, admit it!), why in the world would you want to learn from me?

I have taught 7 workshops to over 65 photographers in 6 cities around the country since September 2008. (You can see the list of photographers here).

I believe less is more, and saving money is one of the most important things you can do as a business owner. I pass on all of my knowledge to you to help you save money, time and stress in the long run. I am not a proponent of 'the latest and greatest' and help you learn how to create a 'real' business on 'real' finances.

I guerilla market. And am proud of it.

I am an open book. I don't put on any airs, and believe being authentic is SO important.

I deeply respect my colleagues, and the ones in Seattle I consider my closest friends. I don't copy others and always strive to pave my own way.

I created, and run a network for professional pet photographers around the world, that is growing rapidly by the day (115 members in the first week!). I am actively involved in the forum on the network and love, love love engaging with my colleagues around the world.

I know how to create products that sell, and maximize revenue by both streamlining and expanding product offerings.

I think outside the box.

I don't believe in rules.

I have so much business knowledge it will make your head spin. Knowledge not gleaned from taking every photography workshop out there and reciting by rote what other photographers have learned, but knowledge that comes from my own real life experiences, mistakes and successes, with real clients in real settings.

I admit my mistakes.

I share my horror stories.

I give the good, the bad AND the ugly side of this business. I don't sugar coat anything, but give you solutions to problems that invariably come up.

I know I have a lot to learn, and love learning alongside my attendees. I have as much to gain as they do!

I am actively involved in networking with pet photographers around the country, and do everything I can to raise visibility in the industry and break old standards. 

I teach workshops not because I want to be a rockstar photographer, but because I truly deeply want to see people follow their dreams, do something they love for a living and get paid for it. If I can help with that dream I've done a little something good here on earth.

Hopefully you have gotten to know me a little bit better through this page, and if you have any questions for me, like I tell my clients every day, please feel free to ask :-)

-Jamie Pflughoeft

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Cowbelly Workshops, Pet Photography Classes, Dog Photography Classes, Editorial Workshop, Commercial Workshop 206.335.8096. workshops@cowbelly.com