This weekend, we have Pet Photos with Santa!
This is an annual fund raiser we do for our volunteer animal rescue. It brings in about $1500 per year. We run a TNR program for feral colonies, and a low cost spay/neuter clinic, among other things.
A local credit union donates their office space for a Saturday and Sunday. A professional pet photographer donates her time. She comes early Sat. AM and sets up her lights and camera. She does a different background scene each year. Santa & Mrs. Claus - a real husband and wife couple - donate their time to pet fundraisers from Oct 15th to Dec 21st each year. We have had this photographer, and this Santa & Mrs. Claus for 18 years!
We set appointments, every 15 minutes. You can do just the pets, or pets and people. With or without Mrs. Claus. When you are inside for your "sitting," only you, your pets, and the volunteers are in there. Everyone else is waiting outside in their cars. So you don't have to worry about dogs being around your cats. After the shoot, (the photographer takes 3 or 4 and SHE picks which pose is best), you order: 8x10, 5x7, wallets, Christmas cards, etc. There are 3 or four packages. You do not see any proofs, the photographer picks the best one.
We have a lot of repeat customers.
I have volunteered for 5 years now, the 2 days, to help pose the animals. Great fun, a lot of work. Most of us wear shorts and T's as we are working under the hot lights with the furry ones. I love working with all of them!
My group of 6 cats last year was the largest cat group we have ever done. We have a family of 9 shelties who come every other year. That is the largest dog group. Many families are mixes, with dogs and cats. We also have birds, ferrets, guinea pigs. One family who comes annually brings their 2 dogs, one cat, and a house-trained rooster! The rooster uses the cat's litter box! His hens are outdoors, none of them has figured out how to use that yet, so they don't come to the photos either.
Time for your shoot, you and your entourage enter the front doors of the credit union. The photographer always has a wide variety of bandannas, necklaces, bows and ribbons. Many people bring their own ornaments, as well. In my picture, I made the jester - style collars that my 6 cats are wearing.
After your pictures are taken, you move further into the credit union to the back offices, where you place your order. Then you leave by the rear door and walk around the building back to the parking lot and your car. Ideally, we never have any group encountering any other group.
It takes a minimum of 7 volunteers to coordinate it all. Plus the photographer brings at least 2 people with her.
I love the animals, this is my favorite weekend!!! Some of the owners, on the other hand . . . .
I don't get the photo every year. I did get one in 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2005. I don't plan on getting one this year, even though Ebony has joined us since the last family photo.
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