2017 GSEM Gun Dog Chalenge

In the months leading up to the first Gun Dog Challenge of the year, there isn’t a whole lot of time to think about photography. When you are the one responsible for making the show happen, there are a lot of factors to think about other than pictures of the event. Still, I find that good images are the best marketing tool for any event, so I do make an effort to grab a few while the event is going on. It also allows me to walk the field and see how things are going.

On March 18, the Greater Southeast MI chapter of RGS held its annual Gun Dog Challenge. It was a slick snowy wet morning, but the show must go on. Despite having to make several changes to the schedule, we pushed through and made it happen. Given the juggling of the morning schedule, I was not able to grab too many images. I did try to get some video, and now I need to figure out what to do with it. I can shoot video, but I really am pretty dumb at editing it.

The weather cleared by afternoon, and I was able to be in the field a little more. By the end of the day, spirits were up, and it appeared that everyone had a great time.

Because this is “my” event, all digital images are just $5. And, all money made from this event will go back into the Gun Dog Challenge coffers to help make these events possible. Don’t be shy…

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2015 Year End Review for Sport Dog Photo

It really has been a great year for Sport Dog Photography. There are still many things that I would like to be doing to further my business, but this year has brought me many growth opportunities. The intent of this post isn’t to bore you with wordy details, rather to highlight some of the things that have taken place in 2015. I was fortunate to be able to expand into some new areas this year, and also was able to see many familiar faces, as well. If you take the time to read to the end, there is even a little surprise that most of you don’t know about….But you’ll just have to keep reading to find out.

Probably the biggest achievement for me was making my business official. In January, I filed for my LLC. I had been putting it off for a while, as I had been running the business through an older company. Now, the photo business is officially Sport Dog Photography LLC. Nothing really changes for most of my clients, but it makes things easier for me, and adds a layer of protection.

The spring started off pretty typical with a few RGS events. It is always fun to get out int he field with old friends, and make a few new ones along the way.

Toward the middle of 2014, I was asked to shoot the 2015 Michigan Sporting Clays Championship, by Michigan Shooting Centers. It was great to be able to see some of the pros doing their thing on the course. It is hard to be creative when watching basically the same thing over and over, but those are the situations that make you better, and keep you thinking. I would love to pick up a few more events like this, in the future.

As fall approached, I had lined up a few different hunts, including my first waterfowl hunt. While grouse and upland hunting are what I love to do, I am also equally drawn to the duck blind. The nature of duck hunting lends to certain challenges for a photographer, but I welcome them all, and adjusted as needed.

Of course there is there is grouse season. And, while I may not get to hunt as much as I would like, I consider each step into the woods a blessing, and whether I am carrying the gun or the camera, I am creating memories.

This year was the first time that I decided to publish a calendar. I have toyed with the idea in the past, but wasn’t really sure who would want it. I created one this year primarily as a “thank-you” for some of my clients. I then put the remaining prints online for sale. To my surprise, I sold out in about a week. I have more in stock now, so if you are reading this and want one, I still have a few left. Below are some of the images in the 2016 SDP Calendar. Follow the link to purchase one for yourself.

And now, if you have been looking through this post only looking forward to this big secret project, well here it is. Since I started doing photography professionally, I have always told people that I don’t shoot wedding or babies. Well that still holds true for the most part. I prefer shooting events, dogs, and hunting. It’s what I feel I am good at, and what I have chosen to focus on. I was approached by a friend early in the year wondering if I would be willing to shoot her wedding. I said no, and gave them some options of other photographers that I feel do an excellent job of capturing weddings. Apparently she wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and eventually I agreed to take on the task. As I said up front, I think it is important to try new things as a photographer. It keeps your mind fresh, and makes you think beyond what your are comfortable with. So, that being said, I did it! They were looking for a photojournalistic style of coverage, and I felt that I could provide that. I will admit, when it come to posed shots, I struggled, but the rest fo the weekend felt pretty natural. I was honored to be a part of their special day.

Am I a wedding photographer now? NO. Would I do it again given the right circumstance? Maybe. Was I pleased with the outcome? Yes. So, you be the judge, or better yet, keep your negative comments to yourself…just kidding…sort of.

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Thanks for taking a look at my year end review. I look forward to seeing many of you again in the coming year. I have a couple things already lined up for 2016, so if you are thinking of booking and event or shoot, please contact me soon. I am hoping for an even better 2016.

Important Changes for Sport Dog Photography

If you are not signed up to receive emails from Sport Dog Photo, here is the latest with some important information that you might be interested in.

Hi everyone-

Hope this email doesn’t find you going too crazy from this long cold February. A lot has been going on behind the scenes here, even though not much has been happing in the field, lately.

First off, if you haven’t heard, I have officially incorporated Sport Dog Photography LLC. It was a long time coming, but needed to happen. It really doesn’t affect too many people, but just less confusing than running everything through my old company.

Also, over the past couple years, I have been using a 3rd party website to sell images online. While it is convenient, and has quite a few options, it is not cheap. Between paying for the service, and the fees they charge, I came to realize it was costing me almost 50% of sales. I have also found some great partner labs that I now work with directly. They provide outstanding quality and great customer service. I also get much better pricing through them, which in turn allows me to adjust some of my pricing options. This brings me to the part that may benefit many of you. I will be closing down the 3rd party website by the middle of May. This means that all of the albums that I have made available over the past 3 years will be going away permanently. The benefit? I will be offering ALL images from events over the past 3 years at a substantial discount through the middle of May. Sure, it will mean a hit to me, but I wanted everyone to have a chance to grab any images that you may have previously put off purchasing. There are no codes or coupons. All prices are already cut. Many by as much as 50%.

Looking forward, I will be transitioning to new software built into my main website to display and sell images. This will allow me greater freedom to take care of the processing myself, and ensure higher quality, and a better customer experience. That being said, most of the old albums will no longer be available after May 20, 2015. Sure, I still have all those images locked away on hard drives, but there are over 12,000 images on the old site, and I just can’t get all those transferred over efficiently. I will probably post a couple of the more recent events, and will be putting all new events on the new platform.

I cannot thank all of you enough for the support of this venture over the past 3 years. I purchased the domain “www.sportdogphoto.com” on March 10, 2012. Since then, I have had the great pleasure of meeting so many of you, and getting to know your pets. I look forward to many more years of being able to serve you in various capacities.

Here are some links to help you get started. RGS Events HRC Events NSTRA Events ALPA Events UAD Events BDC Events There are a few more albums on there, including any private albums that you may have. All private albums will also be taken offline. Again, I do still have all of the images on file, they will just not be readily available after May.

Also, I just want to let you know that I am already booking events for this spring and summer. I only have a limited number of weekend dates available, so if you have an event coming up that you would like me to shoot, please contact me soon. I am looking forward to some new shooting experiences this year, and hopefully I can add a few more. If you would like to book a portrait shoot or private hunt shoot, I also have dates available for those as well. Just contact me and we can discuss the details.

Again, thank you to all of you for the huge support.

Dave

“The best of both worlds”…APLA Michigan

Up until a couple years ago, having a dog was never really that important to me. After all, I’ve been hunting for many years, and usually did just fine. I did know that if I were to ever get a dog, that I wanted a chocolate lab. I don’t really know why, but I just like them. Now that I have one, and one that likes to hunt, my outlook has changed. When I learned that there are labs that can point, that changed my outlook even more. To have a chocolate lab that will point…that’s the best of both worlds. I now have my sights set on a pointing lab, as soon as my dog has worked through his useful years. I’m in no rush to replace him.

One of the biggest reasons I wanted to check out an APLA event, was to watch these dogs in action. It is also a good place to make some connections with people and trainers. The other reason… taking pictures of dogs doing water work is never boring. The sheer determination and enthusiasm with which these dogs perform, is inspiring.

On Saturday, I was invited to shoot the APLA Michigan hunt test, by my friend Dave. It was beautiful day to be out watching these dogs. The event was held at Omega Farms in Williamston, MI. Even with both man and beast present, there were wild ducks and geese flying past all morning. It is great natural setting for a dog test. The tests were held on several different ponds and fields that simulated hunting scenerios quite well. Because of the high level of certification that was at stake, I was not allowed to shoot the entire event, but I was able to grab some nice images. Below is a slideshow of the event. You can visit the full photo gallery HERE, to view and purchase photos, or use the menu above to search through sportdogphoto.com.
Enjoy.
Dave

Tag: Hunting

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Ehde Wedding Photo Highlights