“It was type of an accident. I noticed these little St. Patrick’s Day hats on the Greenback Retailer. I believed it could be cute to place them on canines and take photos of them,” says Anjie Coates of Furry Tails Grooming Salon and Spa in Massachusetts. “This was pre-cell telephone days. I introduced my digital digital camera to work and took some photos. I printed them up and gave them to prospects. They cherished them. They have been nothing particular; simply the canine on the desk carrying a inexperienced plastic hat.
“It wasn’t till November that I believed, ‘Oh, for Thanksgiving I may do one thing actually enjoyable!’ So, I purchased a turkey tablecloth, hung it up behind the canines, put some cheap orange satin below them, and took photos,” Anjie continues. “For the final 13 years, I’ve taken a photograph of each pet I’ve ever groomed.”
That is how one groomer started taking pet photos along with grooming. Others began as a result of they wished one thing to share on social media, or they’d a background in images and it was a pure step so as to add taking photos of pets to the grooming service.
Having a pet’s picture taken when it’s freshly groomed and searching its greatest lends this add-on service to groomers in a really pure manner. It may be so simple as taking a photograph whereas the animal is on the grooming desk or going to extra elaborate ends by organising a devoted space of your workspace with backdrops and lighting.
Deanne Morris of Purple Poodle Grooming in Mississippi says, “I take photos of most canines and put them on my Fb grooming web page. I’ve a easy backdrop behind my device cart. At Christmas, we put up a background within the foyer so shoppers can take their very own photos. I began that final 12 months as a result of I didn’t have time to take photos of all of the canines. I like to make use of a material backdrop as a result of they are often washed if a naughty canine piddles on them!”
Heather Leeman of Hollyoaks Canine Spa and Studio in Maine says she will get her seasonal theme inspiration from strolling by the native TJ Maxx retailer. “When a theme isn’t apparent attributable to a season change or vacation, I mosey round till a single merchandise sparks an concept.”
She has a devoted picture space arrange proper in her grooming space. “As soon as the background is ready up, it solely takes me about 30 seconds per pet to snap an image. After the groom is full, we wheel the grooming desk to the backdrop and arrange the remainder of the picture props. Every canine is already used to being on the desk at that time, so it’s an excellent simple transition,” Heather says.
“The true worth of the portraits has grow to be clear when I’ve had doggy shoppers cross away and their household has advised me how a lot pleasure the portraits now deliver to their household. That’s after I know it’s what I’m imagined to do,” she provides.
Heather shares the images with prospects by way of Fb messenger, e-mail or by texting full-sized high-resolution JPEG photographs.
Anjie Coates echoes this. Though she prints pictures for her prospects: “They value me about ten cents every to print; how may I not print them? Once we get that decision that the pet has handed, the proprietor at all times tells us the most effective photos they’ve are those we took. These recollections final lengthy after the pet is gone. These photos are valuable to them. It’s properly well worth the time, effort, and expense to maintain themes recent, new, and completely different yearly as a result of we get much more again due to the images.”
So, how do groomers get the pets to pose?
Heather Leeman says, “Oh, gosh, that is the toughest half. Canines get good and bored. All kinds of noisemakers helps. We use balls, kazoos, crinkly paper, and cash in cans. Treats work nice for some, however getting their consideration away from the door is tough after they know they’re about to go house. We typically use noise apps or YouTube movies like ‘Find out how to make your canine tilt their head.’”
Whereas some groomers share their pictures at no cost as presents to shoppers, others cost a price for the service, and a few provide each. Christina Linsalata of Louie’s Tub Home in New Jersey has a background as an expert photographer and is at present organising a devoted portrait area in her salon.
She says, “I’ve a hoop mild connected to my grooming desk. It offers incredible lighting after I use my telephone to take fast groom pictures. I even have a number of digital cameras. These take the most effective photos, and I save these for paying jobs. Once I take fast groom pictures, I hold them wanting like a groom session; hair or instruments are on the desk. I hold my stunning, skilled paying pictures separate from the lovable telephone pictures. Holding the 2 completely different types makes my skilled photographs stand out and is well worth the added cash.”
Once I ask how including images has impacted her enterprise, Anjie Coates says, “We stopped taking new canines inside a 12 months of being open. Everybody desires photos of their pets in cute themes. I’ve prospects that ebook by theme since I arrange the calendar for the 12 months by the tip of November. All of them ebook for the 12 months and can are available in each three weeks as a substitute of 5 as a result of they will’t miss the cowboy or superhero theme.”
Whether or not it’s plastic hats, elaborate themes, fast grooming photographs or elegant portraits, including images to your grooming could be a inventive outlet for you, add money to gross sales and make lasting recollections on your prospects. ✂️
