Q&A: Reader's questions, Part I - the favorites

Some online friends have been kind enough to send me questions so that I could beef up my “About” page, and give me something to write about this new biz of mine in general. I’ve gotten some really, really great questions, and the plan is to answer all of them, in a series of “Q&A” posts.

For the first post, I’ve picked a few of my favorites. Here are the first 5…

From Caitlyn, who wins the Most Favorite Question Award
Q: If you could photograph one famous animal, who would you choose? (regardless of whether s/he is currently alive)
A: The First Dog, in a heartbeat. I’ve been thinking about this a lot, actually. As far as I know there has never been an Official White House Pet Photographer. A gross oversight if you ask me, and one that can be easily rectified. Call me.

I’m waiting on pins and needles for the Obama girls to pick their new puppy. Last word was they were deciding between a Labradoodle and a Portuguese Water Dog.

Look! A Labrador, a poodle, and a Portuguese Water Dog! Coincidence, or qualifications? Hmmmm.

In case you’re wondering, the first photo shoot would take place aboard Air Force One. Hopefully when lobster’s on the menu.

The next famous animal I’d photograph is Howard Stern’s English bulldog, Bianca Romijn-Stamos-O’Connell.

From Vicki:
Q: Was there a particular moment when you realized you wanted to become more serious about photography?
A: Yes. It was April 2008, in Atlanta, at my parents’ house, at the kitchen table, in the evening. I was helping them to pack up the house for their move to Beijing. During a break strolling through the internet, I stumbled upon this wedding photographer’s portfolio. I had kind of been a lurker on an older blog of hers a long time ago, when she was a graphic/print designer. Her foray into professional photography seemed fairly recent – and to me, very sudden, since I didn’t know the backstory – so between that and the quality of her photos, I was just blown away. The fact that someone had the ability to not only recognize that natural talent within them, but to do something about it! A new career path! I was both inspired and envious at the same time. I might have even been a little sad. Sad for me and my lack of insight/ambition/courage that I never saw it in myself to do the same.

It’s scary chasing your dreams. But people do it all the time, with much happiness and success. And I suddenly realized, So why not me? WHY NOT??

I called up Dan back in Boston. Enough of these shenanigans, I said. I’ve had quite enough of the flitting from one uninspiring career choice to the next, tired of merely tolerating a job rather than exulting in it, sick of the complacency. Photography could be something more, more than a for-fun thing, on-the-weekends thing, while-traveling thing. It could be the real thing.

That said though, I haven’t quit my day job! I don’t think I would have been able to do this venture without it, however “uninspiring” for me it may be. It has reaffirmed what I am good at, and mostly what I am not. Also, these jobs pay. Maybe I’m bleh and meh about it half the time, but at least I have the means to fill those empty spaces with another round of overpriced cocktails without too much remorse, you know?

So by nature I am not one of those entrepreneurs who are willing to risk their 401k to fund their venture, or dive into something so brand new without a safety net that comes in the form of hefty savings. That, and…a working husband. There, I said it. As it turns out, I’m really not that brave. And I’m sexist.

From Allie:
Q: What food do you think tastes the BEST and you would most like to photograph?
A: Taiwanese food tastes the BEST. I just had some this weekend and yep, it was the best. No it’s not Thai food, and it’s not Chinese food, it’s Taiwanese and in a class by itself. I have a hard time describing what that is when people ask. Some choice words that come to mind are “brothy” and “simple,” “shallot-y” and “cilantro-y.” Does that paint a picture? The best dishes have only a few ingredients, and have none of the heaviness of most Chinese food, and are very inventive. Such as:

Shaved ice, topped with mango and sweet red beans, then slathered in condensed milk. It’s really ice cream, but decontructed. Sometimes I dream about it at nights.

I also really like steak.

From Erica:
Q: Why animal photography in particular? Why did you choose to focus on animals instead of just general photography?
A: So after I decided I wanted to become a photographer, I spent a lot of time wondering what kind. I had to have a specialty. Without that, there is no focus, and therefore no viable business plan, simple as that. General photography is just too all-encompassing, and besides, each niche has its own skill sets that go way beyond just taking the photographs.

Of course there is also simply the natural interest towards the subject you’re photographing. I knew I didn’t want to do sport, or catalog, or baby, or wedding. I do love to travel, so travel photography seemed to be an option. I do love to eat, so food photography seemed to be another. But how in the world does one get their foot in the door with respect to either? That was the burning question…along with coming up with the skill sets I could bring to the table as a photographer, aside from the ability to press a shutter. I sat on this for awhile.

Then in July, my friend in Seattle emailed and said she was having her new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel photographed, and would I like to see?

Up until that second I had very little notion of what pet photography was, except that perhaps a dog would be set against a cloth backdrop while wearing clothing in unnatural poses. But this! This was something else entirely. Candid, modern, beautiful –  it was fine art! Of pets! Haha! Wait! I could do this! I HAVE been doing this, all this time! Not nearly to that level of course, but for all intents and purposes I have been the personal pet photographer of VanBuren and Baxter these last ten years. It wasn’t so much a quest for “fine art” portraits as just an unhealthy obsession with the cats and the strange need to document their every expression.

But I’m not the first person who is crazy about their pets, nor will I be the last. Pets + photography = OF COURSE!!!

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t come up with this myself. Look at the neighborhood I’m in, what with all the beautiful dogs and cats in every other rowhouse, dog walkers aplenty, an animal rescue league down the street, a day spa around the corner, a dog treat boutique further down. And the fact that I just. love. pets.  What a no-brainer.

From Elena:
Q: What is the most difficult part of your new business?
A: So far, everything but the photography. Getting all the details in place, no matter how mundane. Coming up with the name was by far the most difficult (how that came about will be in another post). The name sets the entire branding for your business. Everything eventually flows out of that, from color schemes to the design of the logo to the design of the website, business cards, the tone of your business, and who you are as the business owner. Fun? Serious? Irreverent? Obnoxious?

Another difficult aspect would be shutting up the inner demons that make me question if I’m really good enough to do this. I think a dose of self-doubt every now and then is not a bad thing. It propels you to reinvent yourself if need be, and to never stop learning. When it’s really bad though, I turn to Dan who usually sets me straight in a way that only men can do. Dude, he says. Stop it. Have a glass of wine. You’re gonna be fine.

…to be continued…