ABOUT PASSPORT WORKSHOPS

WE ARE LIVE!!

We are so excited to announce the launch of the inaugural PASSPORT Workshops: Destination Workshops for Aspiring Pet Photography Professionals.

New York City in August 2010 will be the home to the first of many on this exciting adventure, and we can't wait to have you join us!

Come on in and explore the PASSPORT menu pages for more information and get excited. We know we are!

Jamie Pflughoeft - Cowbelly Pet Photography - Seattle // J. Nichole Smith- dane + dane studios - Seattle 

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PASSPORT: EXPAND // EXPERIENCE // EXPLORE

INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION PET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

Like many great ideas, the inspiration for "Passport" came from a single passing thought. 

"You know what would be cool? Destination workshops for pet photographers."

From that thought came a single question.

Jamie:"Hey Nichole, would you be interested in co-teaching a workshop with me in New York City this summer?"

Nichole:"You bet!"

And from that question came a sequences of actions (many of which occurred late into the night, fueled by a seemingly endless supply of caffeine); actions which have lead us here, to the sharing of these words with you... and very soon, the sharing of the program itself.

"Sweet!  So what is it?"

Passport: Expand // Experience // Explore= worldwide workshops for aspiring pet photographers

"That sounds familiar, what makes it different than Jamie's existing workshops?"

Jamie will continue to offer her standard workshop format in Seattle as planned, geared toward those starting up their pet photography businesses. Much of the material offered here at the Passport workshops is the same, with three very important differences:

UNO - These workshops will be held in destination cities around the world. That's right friends, you'll need a passport for this Passport! The inaugural destination will be New York City. (Who said work can't be fun?)

DOS  -  Unlike the standard Cowbelly workshops, PASSPORT workshops are open to photographers of varying skill levels.  PASSPORT workshops also include an optional fourth day  intermediate/advanced component that is jam-packed with money-making information: This value-added content will be concentrated on Commercial + Editorial Pet Photography - with guest speakers and an interactive shoot for a real client. This day will be limited to only 8 attendees. (Attendees to the Commercial/Editorial PASSPORT program need not attend the weekend portion. See the FAQ page for more info.)

TRES - (and most importantly) These workshops will be co-taught by Jamie (www.cowbelly.com) and J.Nichole Smith (www.dane-dane.com)- friends, colleagues, and a dynamic duo rich in talent, ambition, success and a lot of mistakes you get to learn from. Two photographers who have a combined total of 12+ years of experience in the competitive pet photography world who have built their thriving, nationally recognized businesses out of zero capitol, crappy equipment, and less-than-impressive digs. These are two ladies you can relate to, because they know first-hand what it's like to start a pet photography business on nothin' but a dream, a camera and a squeaky toy.

"Wow New York huh, that's pretty cool, where will the next one be?"

Jamie and Nichole are keeping their future destinations top-secret for now, but it will likely include scenic spots in Australia, Italy, Mexico and the UK (and in the US: possibly Los Angeles, Miami and Hawaii)

"This is starting to sound like a Kubota workshop - what will these workshops cost?"

Fees (including breakfasts and lunches, but not including travel or lodging)

$1695 for Friday-Sunday

$1195 for the optional Commercial + Editorial Monday Workshop*

* Do you know what you may stand to make on the full buyout of a single image for use on, say, consumer packaging nationwide? About $13,194.  The potential return on the commercial/editorial workshop investment is huge. (Jamie once licensed a single low-res image for web use for $1,800, and one assignment alone paid enough to cover for her studio lease for 2 years.) Read more about the Commercial/Editorial workshop on the PassportFAQ page. 

(P.S.Want to know how we came up with these #s? We'll teach you that too.)

 "So I know about Jamie - she's awesome - who is this "J.Nichole" person?"

Hi there, this is J.Nichole (although the "J" is just a formality, you can call me Nichole and because I know you're going to ask - the J stands forJessica.)

I am thrilled, delighted and honored to be teaching with the tremendous Jamie Pflughoeft. Like many of you I was aware of Jamie when I was starting my little  business backin 2005 - although back then I had no clue what "competitive analysis" was all about - I was simply a Cowbelly admirer. A lot has changed since my tumultuous first year in business but my respect for miss Cowbelly has not. 

What I didn't know is that Jamie had her eye on me too - but it wasn't until fate (and the editor of CityDog Magazine - thanks Brandie) brought us together at an afternoon "muttmixer" way back in 2007 that we finally met face to face. Since then we've been great friends and colleagues - both of us thriving and standing out, in a city with more talented pet photographers than any other in the country (no joke - there's AT LEAST half a dozen exceptionally skilled, well branded pet photographers who are direct competition with us in our immediate area + dozens of other pet photographers of all skill levels in our greater geographical area. To say weve faced competitive challenges in Seattle would be an understatement!)

Together, Jamie and I will share with you the REAL WORLD of pet photography: its charms and it's challenges. My goal for you is that after engaging in our Passport program you will be prepared, inspired and determined to meet whatever life throws at your new little business with grace, tenacity and an irrefutable sense of humor.

As for my "story" - I will give you the quick and dirty version. I started my pet photography business in 2005 (at the ripe-old age of 22) in a little town called "Poulsbo" in Washington. The original version of my business was a partnership with the woman I had adopted my Great Dane Olivia from (she had Olivia's brother, Hooch - hence the name dane + dane). We founded the business as a retail store + pet portrait studio concept, but only one month in, we had to file a lawsuit against the pet product manufacturer we had purchased our entire inventory from. Icky. {This legal battle ended up lasting for YEARS and cost thousands and thousands of dollars to pursue, so it wasn't long until I had lost any and all desire to own a store.}

After months of drama and much soul-searching, I decided to independently push the pet photography business. It  became immediately clear to me that despite being left with no capital and a hefty debt, my ambition was bigger than my location. In late 2006 I moved to Seattle where I re-located my studio, began shooting regularly for CityDog Magazine and really began to get serious about making a name for myself. By the end of 2007 I  had photographed my first full book project ("The Good Behavior Book for Dogs" cover credit and all), booked my first commercial client, was one of three photographers (along with Amanda Jones) featured in a cover article about pet photographers in Professional Photographer Magazine, was published in Bark and had sold an entire body of framed prints to Wellness Pet Food for display at their corporate headquarters.

What I realized at that point, was that I had accomplished all of the 5-year goals I had set for myself in the first 2 years of business - but not one of them was financial. I was broke, overwhelmed, over-worked and unfulfilled {and still dealing with the strangling effects of a legal battle} so this is when I began to begin to get smart. I got greedy with my time, raised my prices, cut down on pro-bono work and began shooting more commercial work. In 2009, mid-recession, I had another round of self-realization and got even smarter and now, still deep in a recession and not even halfway into 2010 I have the client load, income and free time I set out to achieve. I am very excited to share with you my story, my mistakes, my realizations and the little and big changes I had to make in order to be where I am now.

*** I should add that where I am now is not what I consider to be "the best it's ever gonna get" - but I am a whole lot closer than I was in 2005. What I am sure of, is that if I had a "Passport" program to attend when I was just starting out - I would be twice as far by now, there's no doubt in my mind. ***

P.S. I am nearly 100% self taught in digital photography, photoshop, business, marketing, web design and branding. I never had start-up capitol to buy fancy equipment, rent fancy spaces, to purchase gorgeous marketing collateral or to be my safety net when I had slow months. I drove an exceptionally crappy car to photo shoots at multi-million dollar homes, I often opted to buy ink for my printer over groceries and I got my hair cut at Hair Masters (only about every 6 months). I had all my gear stolen (to the tune of $12,000 - some of it was rented which I had to pay for out of pocket) right when I started my businessand I had my precious laptop (which was not backed up) and my replacement digital camera stolen in separate incidences after the first. 

Believe me when I tell you that you don't need anything more than what you've got right now, if you possess the drive to get it done.  You can survive any obstacle placed before you if you know (not think, but know) that you will be successful.

Ok -so that version wasn't short - but I think you know me a bit better now, and hopefully you're ready to hear more... in New York...

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Jamie here!

I already know everything Nichole told you, because I know her well. She's not just a colleague, but a very good friend, and we have shared nearly everything about our businesses with each other.

One thing I want to tell those of you reading this, is that both of us, Nichole and I, have chosen the hard route to creating our businesses. We have both faced immeasurable challenges, and have 'made it', despite the overwhelming odds, not because we chose to, but because we had to.

When we started, there were no resources for pet photographers. No workshops, no how-to books, no mentors, no forums, and only a handful of other photographers doing it successfully.

We have had many a conversation about how we wish we had had a resource like this to help us avoid the many years of mistakes, challenges, tears, and just flat-out burnout we have both faced. I would have paid anything to avoid some of the experiences I have had to go through, and to attend a workshop like this, and I know Nichole would have too.

It is our true, passionate goal, to see each attendee avoid the stressful messy hassles we have had to endure for years, pushing forward without really knowing what we were doing.

The information we pass on is not 'borrowed wisdom': things learned at other workshops, or from other photographers, it is from our own experience: our own blood, sweat and tears, and truly learning what works, and what doesn't, and how to create a sustainable, successful, full time pet photography business, through determination, and an all-encompassing love and passion for photographing animals.

We both truly believe that each person has a right, and an obligation to themselves, to stop spending their time working in jobs they hate, and be paid for doing what they love, and we truly, deeply want to help them get there.

Thanks for reading and we are happy to answer any questions that you have. Start on the FAQ page, and if that doesn't cut it, give us a shout.

"Ok, I'm sold, how do I register?"

Registration will be opening on May 14th - so bookmark this web site and get your little butt back here to register early - because with limited spaces available and 2 powerhouse photographers marketing the poop out of it- this workshop will sell out quickly!

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