About Lisa Asp, M. Photog., M. Artist, Cr., CPP, MAI:
“Dogs and humans are meant to be together. We've evolved together over the past millennia and, in my opinion, are never as good apart as we can be together. When I adopted my first dog in 2001 (“Jersey” – a retired racing greyhound), I became aware of the needs of shelter dogs. I never knew so many greyhounds never made it past their last race on the track. Or so many great pets were stuck in shelters. I realized that every dollar raised helps find a pet a home and every pet that finds a family helps to change the world. If you know me, you know I'm a bit of a “do-er”. So I did what I always do: I got involved. I volunteered at meet and greets, educated everyone I met about the gentle greyhound and the large number of pets of all breeds needing good homes. I started donating my time taking portraits of adoptable dogs to help them find forever homes. I joined with several rescues to fundraise through pet portrait calendars. I was creating pet portraits but also being a “Jack-of-All-Trades” Photographer: seniors, families, weddings, pets, engagements. I did it all and had a good time! I've taken photos of everything from a Christmas ham to publicity shots for politicians. It wasn't until I moved to Minnesota in 2011, however, that I decided to focus my energy on pet portraits. There's something about starting over in every aspect of my life that I think gave me the freedom to take a risk and specialize with pets. Pet photography had previously been a small part of my business but took off at this point and became my niche market.”
Lisa has won numerous awards for her work including five Kodak Gallery awards, Fuji Masterpiece, Lexjet, PPA District First Place, IPC GIA First Place and GIA Second Place, two-time Diamond Photographer of the Year, and more. Receiving PPA “Photographer of the Year” status the last 11 years straight, Lisa has been named one of PPA's "Elite Plus" members. She enjoys volunteering her time with several pet rescues photographing their adoptable animals, fostering and assisting in their fundraisers and food drives. Her love of animals has grown into wildlife (and landscape) photography as well. She is a past president of the Twin Cities Professional Photography Association, Founder and Director of the Animal Image Makers Conference, a PPA Councilor and PPA-Aproved Juror.
Please use the tabs at the top of the page to view her work.
"How to Talk Dog"
There’s more than just squeaky toys when it comes to creating portraits of our 4-legged family members. Lisa Asp, owner of Tangerine House of Design in Minneapolis, MN, has been photographing pets since 2001 and has learned a thing or two along the way. Join us as she shares the inside scoop on training her (human) clients, lighting their dogs, getting expressions that sell, and what products are her best sellers. As part of this seminar, Lisa will also discuss safety in working with pets, posing, lighting and lens selection. If time allows, we will do a live demo and edit images in Asp’s signature painterly style.
"Creating a Win-Win Fundraiser through Pet Portraiture"
If you’re not photographing pets, you’re missing an entire market! Lisa Asp, owner of Tangerine House of Design in Edina, MN will share with you how to cash in on pet portraits with proven marketing techniques she has used to expand this now very profitable area of her business. The seminar will cover the details of Lisa's successful "Pin-Up Pets" fundraiser and her "Tails of MSP" book fundraiser and the marketing techniques used to make these (and any portrait charity event) successful. She has more than a decade of history with her "Pin-Up Pets" fundraiser, raising approximately $75,000 for area rescues just the last five years alone while her "Tails of MSP" project raised more than $20,000 for participating rescues! All this good will while bringing in business revenue for her studio. If time allows, Lisa can discuss safety in working with pets, posing, lighting, getting expression and finally products that her clients love. She is also able to do a live shooting demo and discuss editing.
"Hero Marketing"
Let’s face it - marketing is HARD! Potential clients are inundated with ads while trends are constantly changing. Reaching people is more difficult than ever before. So, what can we do to find those clients? I’m sure you’ve heard the term “relationship marketing”, right? Consider a twist on this concept which I like to call “Hero Marketing”. "Hero Marketing” goes beyond traditional advertising by infusing purpose and community spirit into your business strategy. By aligning your passion with charitable causes, you not only set yourself apart but also build lasting connections with clients and the community. So, take the plunge, make a difference, and learn how "Hero Marketing" can transform your business in ways you never imagined possible.
Combining your Passions: Travel and Wildlife Photography
We tend to take the landscapes around us for granted, but sometimes those places we overlook can offer some of the best opportunities for photography. Yet, other times traveling elsewhere gives us the renewed energy and motivation we need in order to find the hidden gems in our own backyard. Come be inspired though beautiful imagery, learn how to look differently at your subject and push yourself beyond the rule of thirds. Learn how to create more impact in your landscape and wildlife images. Lisa will discuss her individual viewpoint on post processing in this genre, will talk about locations near and far, and give you pointers for how to plan for a photography adventure of your own.
From Raw to AWE!
Photography is an art form, yet so many people approach it from a “journalistic” or “natural/organic” approach. Of course, getting it right in camera is an important step, but taking it to the next level using smart and artistic post-processing techniques will take your work to the next level and set you apart from the crowd, and more importantly, allow you to offer work most consumers cannot do. In this age of “everyone’s a photographer”, this is an important concept to keep the clients coming in. Join Master Artist Lisa Asp and she walks you through some of the techniques she uses in her everyday work and her competition images.
Taking Ownership of The Numbers
Most photographers struggle with crunching their numbers, knowing their overhead, and setting their prices for long-term sustainability. As creatives, photographer’s faces tend to glaze over when it comes to the numbers, especially those newer to the industry. Lisa has created a way to dumb this process down to a simple “fill-in-the-blank” worksheet that has helped numerous photographers understand their time, their overhead, and what their average orders need to be to see profitability. Many don’t think about their own time as a cost, or their equipment as an ongoing expense. These two factors alone can make a MAJOR difference in one’s final numbers. Lisa will lead your members in a discussion demonstrating the numbers and the ease in finding this information, which is a different equation for every single person. By the end of the discussion, the light bulb will be burning brightly and attendees will have more knowledge and confidence in their businesses and what they each need to be charging. Note: This 60-minute program can be added as a filler or onto another program depending upon the scheduled program time.
"Photographing and Fundraising with Furry Family Members"
Did you know that 68% of all U.S. households own at least one pet? This includes 86 million dogs. Compare that to the 22 million 15-19 year olds (reported from the US Census Bureau) who make up the high school senior portrait market, and you will see that pet photography is a tremendous market to tap into. This is also why it is one of the fastest growing niche areas in the photography industry today. Yet there are very few in-person educational opportunities available for those wanting to learn. Being a successful pet photographer comes with many nuances, from understanding animal behavior and safety, to posing and lighting pets, to getting expression. Lisa Asp help your members uncover the mystery of pet portraiture.
This all-day workshop will cover the ins and outs of pet photography and has been structured to meet the requirements for a PPA-merited class. This is important for a few different reasons:
1. This can be offered this as a stand-alone, full-day pre-convention workshop to your members (providing them with an additional opportunity for continuing education) or as part of a full convention.
2. No speaker merits will need to come out of your regular allotment as merited continuing education workshops are handled differently.
3. This is a great opportunity for your organization to raise money!
Program Description:
Lisa Asp of Tangerine House of Design in Minneapolis, MN, is dedicated to dog portraiture of all kinds - both in-studio and on-location. With over 20 years of experience working with our canine counterparts, she brings a full-time career of working with animals to get you up to speed on all things dog - one of the fastest growing niche markets in photography today.
Participants will learn dog behavior including body language, signs of stress, and safety practices. We will discuss the importance of a “dog wrangler” and how to quickly train your client to be your assistant if you don’t have one. You will see how to attractively pose dogs – what works and what doesn’t, as well as the best ways to get and keep their attention. Then, get ready to play! Live demos both in studio and outdoors will put this new knowledge to work.
Next, we will switch gears to talk about fundraising and how you can use it to market and grow your business, as well as other marketing strategies – topics that Lisa uses in her studio every day, and things that ANY photographer can use regardless of niche.