Some people's passions are evident after only a brief
encounter with them; the stained hands of an artist or the scent of herbs
on a chef. For Jamie Pflughoeft, owner and sole proprietor of Cowbelly
Pet Photography, the dog hair covering her fleece jacket and the photos
of animals covering the notebooks she carried were enough evidence of
Jamie's passion for animals, particularly dogs. As soon as she entered
the Washington CASH office, she was happily greeted by our resident office
dog, Marlow. Jamie, a student of Animal Psychology, imagined what Marlow
might be thinking, "She looks like a person, but she smells like a dog."
Since
she was a little girl, Jamie always wanted to be a vet. This passion for
animals led her to dog walking and pet sitting. Photography is a "kinder,
gentler way to interact with animals as opposed to the more intrusive
interactions of a vet." Jamie was trying to remember what it was that
led her to photograph animals, "I was seeing Kodak moments all the time;
I kept wishing I had my camera. I had 15 year old Pentax 35mm camera that
I got from my dad. One summer I pulled it out and started taking pictures."
With one high school photography class under her belt, she picked up her
camera and set out to capture some of these "Kodak moments" of her dog
walking and pet sitting clients. She began charging her clients the cost
of processing the film and found that people loved having their pets photographed.
After
a long job search following her graduation from the University of Washington,
Jamie gave up on finding a job and decided to start her own business.
"I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, I had a notebook full of business
ideas, but I didn't think I would be able to start a business because
of lack of funding." Soon after deciding that pet photography was not
only her passion, but there was a huge demand for her services, she found
Washington CASH. "I wouldn't be where I am today without Washington CASH."
After graduating from the Washington CASH training program this past June,
Jamie took out her first $500 loan. "I have a 35 mm camera, but I wanted
to switch to digital, which allows me to take more shots, review them
easily and edit them in Photoshop. I used the loan from Washington CASH
to purchase a camera and other equipment. Digital is easier for me and
my clients."
With
her new digital camera, she has only a few steps left to take before she
opens her doors officially in November. "For the last two months I feel
like people have been waiting for me to open my business. There are clients
lined up, waiting until I get all my equipment and supplies." Despite
the anxious awaiting of clients, getting a business off the ground takes
time and a lot of courage. Jamie said the biggest obstacle was getting
her business cards. "It wasn't hard to order them and they didn't cost
very much money, but mentally it was the point of no return. I had to
overcome the fear of starting the business. I had to tell myself 'I'm
committed; I'm in this; there is no turning back.' It was a big step."
For
a woman who has a notebook full of business ideas, she also has a number
of other projects in the works including two photography gift books including
"True Life Tales of a Dog Walker" and "Shelter Pets", which is also the
inspiration for her upcoming art show. The show will feature photographs
of pets that came from shelters and a story that describes where they
have come from and where they are now. The show is tentatively scheduled
for early next year at Retail Therapy on Capitol Hill.
For
more information on Jamie or if you are interested in having your pet's
personality captured on film, please visit www.cowbelly.com or email Jamie
at info@cowbelly.com.
