New Local Business Hopes to Profit From Puppy Love
Gracy Obuchowicz (left) and Lara Shipley of Houndstooth Photography. Photo by Michael Bonfigli.
Most people in D.C., despite its being headquarters to the largest "company" in the world, have been affected by the current recession, either directly or indirectly. So common wisdom would suggest that this is not the best time to be starting a potentially risky new business venture, but that is exactly what Gracy Obuchowicz and Lara Shipley did when they formed Houndstooth Photography.
The venture specializes in high end pet portraiture, using classic portrait photographers such as Richard Avedon and Annie Leibovitz as inspiration. Friends since college, the pair separated after school to build their careers. Shipley's award winning photography has appeared in The Atlantic Online, Mother Jones, La Nación, and the Miami Herald. Obuchowicz served in the Peace Corps in Peru and was the photographer for a Fulbright-funded documentary about maternal health care in the Quechan indigenous culture. The two reunited while Shipley was working for National Geographic, which she still does part time, and Obuchowicz was at a local non-profit. Facing budget cuts and mounting frustration at their day jobs, the two decided to start Houndstooth this past fall.
"I came to D.C. ready to do jobs that were not in photography," said Obuchowicz, "but if you're not following your passion, things just aren't that much fun."
Those of us without pets sometimes view the urban pet owner as a bit of a mystery. Sure, an adorable pooch is always a pick-me-up, but it's not hard to question the notion of dogs and cats being carted around in baby strollers. Shipley, however, sees this unconditional love between pet and pet owner as a business opportunity. The pair did some research, finding that pet photography is well established on the west coast, but not so much in this part of the country.
Describing the local market, Shipley said, "We were seeing pet photography that was normal portrait photography, but not as something that you could hang over your mantle as a piece of fine art."
The entire photography business is feeling a pinch right now, and Houndstooth has had to drop their prices. However, Shipley and Obuchowicz remain confident because there seems to be a steady stream of interest in what they are trying to do.
"We want this to eventually be our primary source of income," explained Obuchowicz. "If there wasn't this economic problem, I think we'd be having tons of business right now."
They are also not waiting for business to come to them. Over the next several weeks, they are participating in public events, all of which are listed on their blog, The Menagerie, where they will offer their services to attendees. Shipley and Obuchowicz also want Houndstooth to grow into a multi-faceted photography studio, even incorporating design services into their business model.
"A big part of this business model is that we really work with people," Shipley said. "Our process is very individualized to make sure people are satisfied. We have a lot of fun doing what we do."
Obuchowicz added a perspective to which many Washingtonians can probably relate.
"You have these dreams of working in a non-profit and you think it's going to be so good. But the reality is that you're in an office all day and you don't feel so effective. Even though pet photography might seem more trivial, I feel like I'm adding more happiness to the world by doing this than I was while working for a non-profit," she said.