**all images in this post copyright: Emilee Fuss. **
 

{To nominate women you'd like to see in this series please list them in the comments-or if you have a question you'd like to see in the interviews--make sure to include your info in the comment fields so that I can get in touch with you- or write to me at: davina at davinafear.com }

As always make sure to leave comments for the women who are featured. They like comments as much as i do I'm sure...let them know if you have questions or just to say thanks! for their insight and wisdom...

NEXT WEEK:  Natalie Norton

You can check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!

Emilee, You have been in business a short 2.5 years and already you've grown your studio. You photograph families, children, and pets...you especially love pets!  I'm so excited to have you here and I'm so grateful for the breath of fresh air that you have about you in terms of just loving who you are, where you are in your life, and making your business fit into your life in a very natural way.  Thanks for being here on Women and Business.

Are you in a storefront space or home studio? What made you decide to on the space that you have? 
Home studio! I love the convenience of working from home and getting to be with my family and pets while I work. I use our living room to set up all of my gear when I’m doing a studio session with a pet, and I also use that space for ordering sessions with clients.

What does your workflow look like?  Do you outsource or keep everything in house?
I upload and organize all of my RAW files in Lightroom 3. After deleting the rejected photos and deciding on the keepers (about 40-50), I do a light edit in LR, then export to Photoshop CS3 to add final touches and resize and watermark images for my blog and the client’s online gallery. As for outsourcing, I do it all myself. I’m way too much of a control freak to outsource, at least at the moment!

How long have you been a professional photographer?
About 2.5 years now. I got my first DSLR in 2007, and launched my business later in 2008. While I had a business name and blog early in 2008, I don’t say that my business really started until later that year, when I began going to events and really getting my name out there.

What made you get into photographing pets?
How could I not? I’ve loved animals since I was in the womb and always wanted to work with them while growing up. I wanted to be a vet, a competitive horseback rider, a dolphin trainer at Sea World–anything that involved animals! So, when I fell in love with photography, I knew I wanted pets to be my main subject. They are amazing creatures that brighten our lives and give us so much, and it is wonderful to be able to capture their personalities with my camera.

What is the hardest part about photographing pets?  How do you work through a dog or cat running around?  How do you get a close up (in focus!) picture of a pet?
The unpredictability has to be one of the hardest things about photographing pets, but it’s also one of my favorite things, too! You never know how an animal will respond to being photographed. They don’t say “cheese” or pose exactly like you want them to. It requires a lot of patience to work with pets, but it’s a challenge that I absolutely love.

If the dog wants to run around, great! I’ll work on getting some action shots! But, of course, I don’t want the pet to be running around the entire time. I always bring treats and toys, and ask the owners to do the same, so I can figure out exactly what motivates each animal. Some dogs will stop for a tennis ball, some for a treat, and some for affection. And sometimes, they just need to be a leash for a bit. I’ve worked with hyper dogs and distracted dogs that just won’t hold still, and while they may like treats and toys, they’ll only sit still for a second, so I have to work very, very fast!

I just love details shots. They are harder to get of those hyper pets that won’t stop moving, and sometimes I’ve had to just give up on getting that perfect detail shot that I had envisioned. Like I said, figure out what will make the animal hold still, then zoom in and fire away!

What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot?
Well, I try to get the owners and myself more comfortable by talking about what we obviously love best, our pets! We could go on for hours just talking about how they came into our lives and all the funny things they do. For the pets, I always spend some time getting to know them before I pull out the camera. I let them sniff me and my bag while I talk to them, pet them, and give them treats. And if they’re in a new environment, like my home studio or a park, I like to give them time to get used to the new setting before I start working.

What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography?
I love watching old movies from the 30s, 40s, and 50s in my spare time. About 80% of the films I watch were from that time. I also love to spend time with my family and friends, read (currently working through Gone with the Wind), play the piano, and listen to Frank Sinatra.

What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in business to bring in clients?
Attended events, put business cards in various pet businesses, and formed relationships with like-minded business owners. I still do all three things, and am excited to see my business continue to grow!

What is something that you think women in the industry should do?
We should help and support one another. After all, we’re in this together and we can learn so much from one another. Also, learn to say no. You can’t be everything to everyone, and that is okay!

To see more of Emilee's work:

www.emileefuss.com
www.emileefuss.com/blog
www.twitter.com/emileefuss
www.facebook.com/emileefussphotography 

**all images in this post copyright: Emilee Fuss. **