Meet the Experts

Ren Netherland got his start photographing animals for a pet-supply catalog more than 22 years ago. Editors would come to him with drawings of animals interacting with toys or people and it was Ren’s job to recreate those sketches in a photograph. Six years later, he opened his own studio, Animal Photography, and later his own stock agency, PetStock Photos. His pictures have appeared on thousands of magazine covers, greeting cards, billboards, and calendars across the globe. These days he owns his own mobile studio and travels across the U.S. snapping portraits of people’s pets. In September, he’ll introduce you to this incredibly lucrative business and show you how you, too, can capitalize on this booming – and highly lucrative – trend.

Rich Wagner is a highly skilled digital photographer. His images hang in public corporations and private foundations from San Diego to Boston and in homes from the Americas to the Far East. He’s a master at teaching just about anyone with any kind of camera how to take better pictures. Rich will share his expertise in composition and editing, as well as setting up your business so you're making sales quickly, easily, and regularly.

"Our Speakers and Workshops Always Receive Rave Reviews"

“Anyone who wants to become successful in this field should hear the AWAI instructors!”

– Marianne H

“These workshops are a wonderful opportunity to travel to a new locale and explore while learning a new skill.”

– Sandra M.,

“Rich Wagner’s depth of knowledge of photography has changed my approach to the subject.”

– Matt H.

“The workshop was fun. I learned a lot… I met interesting people and I became excited about trying to make money from photography. The workshop is an excellent value and provides information that is difficult to acquire in other ways. It was an excellent opportunity to try different kinds of photography.”

– Susan H.

“Shelly is a true professional with amazing talent in capturing people. Her iStock experience is invaluable.”

– Cheryl B.

“I learned more in three days than I have all year. Between Thursday’s photos shot and Saturday’s photo shots – it is like night and day.”

– Lynda I.

“Rich had a very nice presentation of the material as well as a willingness to answer questions along the way. I especially enjoyed the Keys to Selling Locally.”

– Pam W.

“Shelly has a good way of explaining situations in a way that I could understand even though I’d never done it.”

– Cathy M.

“I would definitely recommend this workshop to others. It’s a great way to explore a city and one’s own creativity.”

– Heather G.

“I would recommend this workshop to others, it was a great time, great venue, interesting people, I learned a lot, had fun, got great feedback and great tips.”

– Cheryl E.

In Three Days, Learn How to
Launch and Grow an Income-Earning
Business in One of the Fastest-Growing
Niche Markets Imaginable

The Ultimate
Pet Photography Workshop
Hershey, Pennsylvania
September 14 - 16, 2007

Combine your love of animals
with the ease of digital photography
to turn your snapshots into cash.

Join us this September in Pennsylvania, and you can…

• Learn from our team of professional photographers how to turn people's urge to pamper their pets into a profitable income-earner that's not just fun, but lucrative, too.

• Discover the secrets to photographing animals — how to put them at ease, how to make them look their best — and how to create photo packages pet owners will love.

• Find out three more ways to turn a profit on every pet photo you take — with virtually no additional work — and triple or quadruple your pet-photo income.

• Learn how (even with no technical savvy) you can quickly, easily, and affordably set yourself up to look — and sell — like a pro… so you can enjoy the freedom, flexibility, and independence that comes with being your own boss.

Dear Escape Artist Friend,

Americans have always loved their pets. But these days they're pampering them with unprecedented fervor. They're treating them like children, truth be told. Consider this…

Omaha Steaks now offers a line of gourmet dog treats…

…Paul Mitchell – the high-end maker of designer hair-care products – now sells a complete set of pet products, from Tearless Puppy Shampoo to Oatmeal Conditioner

…Old Navy offers stylized rugby shirts and designer collars to make Fido look hip

…Harley Davidson offers a full line-up of leather jackets, shirts, hats, and even food dishes to please the inner biker in every pet.

And these days, you no longer "board" your dog. Today he goes to the "spa" or to "camp." And there he can have play dates, enjoy grooming, and stay in a roomy kennel where you can check in on him online, 24 hours a day, through a camera mounted in his "home away from home."

Americans are likely to spend over $40 billion this year on their pets – a number that has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. They will spend nearly $3 billion on grooming products and boarding services alone.

What's equally astounding is the number of pet owners living in the States. According to a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association – 63% of American households have a pet. That’s nearly two out of every three households, and that number has gone up 14% in the last 9 years.

75 million dogs… 88 million cats… All told, there are more pets in the United States than there are people.

And that spells… opportunity for you.

After all, if a pet owner is shampooing her dog with high-end oatmeal conditioner, you can bet she’s got pictures of said puppy in her wallet, in a frame over the mantel, and probably dressed up in a Santa hat for the family Christmas cards.

Only thing is – and here's where you come in – most professional photographers don’t want to deal with taking pictures of pets. Their studios aren’t set up for them. They don’t know how to work with them. And most pros don’t really have an interest in learning.

Point is: This has created an easy entrée into the photography business for someone who has the right training. And that is exactly what we've designed our pet photography workshop to deliver.

If you're a pet-lover or enjoy being around animals and their owners… if you appreciate beautiful photographs – and would like to be somebody who takes them… and if you could use some extra income (or even a career change)…

…then I invite you to join us in Hershey, Pennsylvania this September 14-16 to spend three power-packed days learning from our experts how you can not only take professional-quality pet photos, but turn them into cash, too. Click here for a full, day-by-day schedule of what you'll learn.

Learn from Our Experts How
to Capitalize on This Booming Trend

Whether you're already an accomplished photographer or you're just starting out, this program will deliver secrets it would take you years to figure out on your own. You'll learn…

• How to get the best possible pictures every time – from formal pet portraits to birthday and holiday theme shots – even if you haven’t touched your camera in years.
• How (for less than $200) you can replicate the "studio" setup we'll work with in Pennsylvania… so you can turn your own living room (or any client's) into a formal photographer's studio.
• Insider tricks for working with pets… how to make them relax, capture their most photogenic moments, and snag amazing shots owners will be thrilled to pay you for.
• How to create winning pet-photo packages you can sell to owners (what they really want, and how to price them for your first and fifty-first customers)… plus a dozen or more easy upsells you can make to those same buyers to triple your income from every client.
• Incredibly easy photo editing techniques that make any photographer look like an expert
• How to establish and promote your new business… including an easy, low-budget way to set up a professional website that will showcase and sell your photos for you.

A Business That Requires Little
Initial Investment and Provides Freedom,
Flexibility, and Independence

Digital photography has helped to create this unique opportunity. It has suddenly become easier – and cheaper – than ever to create professional-looking photographs.

Americans bought more than 29 million digital cameras last year alone. And it’s estimated that they have a whopping 500 billion digital photos in their possession.

But, I’ll point out a fact that probably won’t surprise you: The vast majority of those photographs are… in a word… lousy.

All you have to do is flip through the pictures in a glossy magazine to see the disconnect between a professional-quality photograph and the snapshots that most folks take.

Yet the truth is, you can easily (and quickly) learn the tricks the pros rely on and – in no time at all – be taking amazing photos that will make you look like you've been at it for years.

In fact, we're making it our mission to show you exactly how it's done this September.

Learn How Easy (and Fun) It Can Be to Take
Professional Pet Photographs That Sell

Whether you have little experience and modest equipment or you’re already a talented amateur photographer wanting to branch out into a new market, you’ll benefit from this program.

The bottom line is: You don't need to have a $1,000 camera to make $1,000 a day, or more, in this business. And this September 14-16, 2007, we'll show you exactly how it's done.

We'll teach you everything you need to know to create your own successes… and turn your photos into cash so you can enjoy the freedom and independence that professional photography can deliver.

You'll find this program in September fast-paced and fun, and you will come away from with everything you need to know to take professional photographs of pets and their owners .

You’ll also get a chance to photograph real pets and see for yourself which photos the owners pick to buy. You’ll set up the shoot, pick your props, snap the photos, and watch and learn as the pet owners pick their favorites amongst your offerings.

What’s more, you can use these photos to create your very first business brochure showcasing your work.

You’ll walk away from the workshop with a certificate that establishes you as a “certified pet photographer”. Plus you’ll get a copy of Ren’s book, Pet Portraits Made Easy. In it you’ll find more than twenty chapters of tips, tricks and solutions to the everyday little challenges you’ll encounter in this line of work. It’s an invaluable resource for anyone getting started in Pet Portraits … and it’s your FREE when you attend this workshop.

A Very Special Price Before August 13, 2007

The experts you'll hear from in Hershey bring with them decades of photography experience. They have created a systematic approach to learning photography that anyone can follow…

The information you'll gain at this workshop could, quite literally, change your life – it already has for attendees of our other freelance photography programs who, today, are making extra money as freelance photographers and enjoying the freedom and flexibility this life can offer.

You might reasonably expect this program to cost a few thousand dollars. After all, as I mentioned, pet photographers can make $1,000 or more in a day. If this program cost $4,000 it would be an investment you could easily justify. But it won't cost anywhere near that.

The registration fee for the workshop covers admission to three days of intensive class sessions geared to produce photos you can sell… as well as presentation CDs you'll take home that contain pictures, instruction, and examples of everything you'll learn… And all of that is yours for just $1,597 per person.

But if You Sign on by August 13, 2007,
You Qualify for an Early Bird Savings of $200,
Which Means You Pay Just $1,397

What's more, if your spouse or a guest would like to join you, he or she can do so for just $999 – and participate in the entire program with you.

Your timing couldn't be better. With so many people spending so much money to pamper their pets, you're getting in on a trend that shows no signs of waning. This is a way for you – in three power-packed days – to learn exactly how to carve out for yourself a profitable niche that's not only fun, but provides you the kind of flexibility and freedom you need to enjoy the kind of lifestyle you've always dreamed of.

This program is sure to be popular and space is limited, of course. So I encourage you to reserve your place now.

You can register by clicking below or by calling Sue Wright at (831) 274-2779 or toll-free (866) 415-1425 Pacific Time. You may also email her at: sue@thephotographerslife.com

Sincerely,

Lori Allen
Director, AWAI's Travel Division

P.S. It's not just pet owners who are in the market for photos of their animals. In fact, the boom in pampering pets has spawned a surge in the growth of magazines and organizations that cater to the animal-loving set as well. This September in Pennsylvania, we'll also show you how to capitalize on those markets, as well. We'll give you the tips, techniques, and secrets you need to turn one sale into multiple sales… and increase your pet photo income easily and quickly.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn an income-earning business in three power-packed days. To register for this, our first-ever Ultimate Pet Photography Workshop, click below now or contact Sue Wright at (831) 274-2779 or toll-free (866) 415-1425 Pacific Time or by email anytime at: sue@thephotographerslife.com

The Ultimate Pet Photography Workshop
Hershey, Pennsylvania
September 14-16, 2007

Price: $1,597
($1,397 if you sign on
before midnight, August 13, 2007)

Elite Access & Loyalty Club Members qualify for discounts on this program (either FREE or half price ($798).

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

We have a full day of workshop sessions planned from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. You’ll learn…

• How easy it is to set yourself up as a pet photographer and make $1,000 a day or more taking pictures of animals.
• What sells best to pet owners – what they want and why they’re so wiling to pay top dollar for it.
• A dozen or more easy upsells you can make to the same buyer to triple your income on every shoot.
• How to establish and promote your new business… including an easy, low-budget way to set up a professional website that will showcase and sell your photos for you.
• How to turn a regular sale into a Christmas or holiday card sale so you’ll have more money coming in around the holidays.
• An in-depth lesson on dealing with animals and getting them to look at the camera. Ren’s techniques are surprisingly easy and even more surprisingly unconventional. You’ll use a potato chip bag on some animals and a paper towel holder on others. These tried-and-true methods work like magic.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

We have a full day of workshop sessions planned from 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. You’ll learn…

• How to set your camera so you get the best possible pictures every time – from formal pet portraits to birthday and holiday theme shots.
• What equipment you need to get started including an easy, low-budget backdrop set-up that’ll save you the thousands of dollars other pay for traditional backdrops.
• What to do if you want a mobile studio like Ren’s -- and what you need (and more importantly, what you don’t need) if you’d rather set up at home or in a local pet shop.
• How to work with props like beach balls and miniature bathtubs. The vast majority of your sales will include props. We’ll tell you where to get them and how to incorporate them into your portraits.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

We have a full day of workshop sessions planned from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., to include hands-on photo shoot practice with pets in Ren's mobile studio. (If you need to leave early on this day, you can request an early shooting session. But please do so BEFORE the workshop starts. And understand that all such requests will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.) Today you'll…

• Get invaluable hands-on practice shooting pets and interacting with their owners so you come away with a concrete sense for how this all works and what, precisely, sells.
• Learn how to keep track of your client’s photos so reprint orders are a snap.
• Come away with incredibly easy photo editing techniques that make any photographer look like an expert.

* Schedule and speakers are subject to change.

The Conference Includes:

• Three days of intensive classes
• A photo session working with real pets
• CPP Certificate (certified pet photographer) issued at completion of the workshop
• Pet Portraits Made Easy (manual) – by Ren Netherland
• Special presentations by highly regarded photographers – Ren Netherland and Rich Wagner
• Use of the Electronic Preview System for learning timing and assists you in working with pets
• Training in Pet Portrait lighting
• A free set of construction plans for making your own table for photographing pets
• A comprehensive list of equipment you’ll need to set up your own pet portrait business
• A list of product suppliers where you can conveniently and confidently place your order
• Presentation CDs you can take home with examples of things you'll learn
• Assistance throughout the program from our staff

The Conference Does Not Include:

• Air travel to and from Hershey
• Transfer to and from the airport
• Overnight accommodation

Prerequisites:

To take full advantage of this workshop, you must enjoy working with animals. There are no photography prerequisites for this workshop. It is for people of all skill levels and experience and the concepts discussed can be mastered by anyone.

Hotel Discount:

We have arranged for a special discounted group rate at The Hershey Lodge (West Chocolate Avenue & University Drive Hershey, PA 17033, http://www.hersheypa.com/accommodations/hershey_lodge/) where our Pet Photography Workshop is being held. As a participant you are entitled to a rate of $189 per room, per night (this rate does not include taxes or incidentals). If you are interested in sharing a room with another participant, we’ll put you in touch with other interested attendees.

More Details:

For more details about this event or to register contact Sue Wright at (831) 274-2779 or (866) 415-1425, email: sue@thephotographerslife.com

Cancellation Policy:

The Pet Photography Workshop is non-refundable. If, however, you are unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, we will be happy to apply your payment toward a future workshop.  If you cancel due to medical reasons that are covered by your purchased travel-insurance policy, we will advise the insurance company that your travel and conference fees are non-refundable.

This workshop is for digital cameras only. You're welcome to shoot in film if you like but due to time and space we will only focus on the digital medium of photography and the publications that buy digital photographs. Point-and-shoot digital cameras are welcomed (and encouraged for first-time snappers).