Freedom Focus Photography

What would you do first if you had to rebuild your photography business from zero? In this episode, I’m sharing Heather Lahtinen’s conversation with Jes Wasik of Bark and Gold Photography, who brings in around $200,000 a year. Her answer is refreshingly simple, and it has very little to do with social media.What to Listen ForThe first move for rebuilding from zeroWhy social media barely makes her listA Breed of the Month campaign booking 33%The application question that reveals ready clientsWhy overly complimentary applicants may spend lessThe mental spiral behind a $13,000 saleHow little outsourced editing costs per sessionAn extreme introvert’s way of meeting new clientsThe Overthinkatorium trick for 2 a.m. business worriesWhat photographers wrongly think six figures requiresFrom her Breed of the Month campaign to her outsourced workflow, Jes shares a lot of ideas worth stealing. The real gold is how she thinks when something doesn’t work. Press play, take notes, and ask yourself where you might be making this harder than it needs to be.CONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial 

356 - Most photographers know the burnout that comes with a packed fall calendar. But there’s a sneakier kind that hits when you’re putting in tons of effort and nothing seems to be working. My friend Heather Lahtinen is back to unpack both types of photographer burnout and the mindset shift that helps you get unstuck.What to Listen ForThe sneaky burnout that has nothing to do with busynessWhy constant effort with no results feels so hopelessWhat Facebook ads and the weather have in commonWhy your workload isn’t the real cause of burnoutThe three words that make marketing feel heavyWhat to ask instead of “I need a client”What 23 years taught Heather about money panicOne simple phrase that calms the burnout spiralWhy I hit pause on the podcast for six weeksWhy breaking a streak makes restarting so hardIf you haven’t hit burnout yet, you will at some point. This episode gives you a better way to talk yourself through it, plus a simple phrase to lean on when things feel heavy. Listen now and keep Heather’s Burnout Reset in your back pocket.Burnout Reset for Photographers by Heather Lahtinen: https://flourish.academyElevate, including the evergreen Revenue Sprint app: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/elevateCONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial 

355 - What if a $250 session could earn a similar profit to a full session in only one morning? Michaela of BMac Pet Photography is back to share how she turned an idea I discussed on a past episode into a group session for five dogs. We dig into her pricing, setup, and why lower-priced offers can absolutely live in a boutique business.What to Listen ForWhy group sessions beat traditional mini sessionsThe pricing math behind a $250 sessionHow to protect your boutique sessions from cannibalizationThe location rule that keeps your core offer specialWhy a fast turnaround can feel like a giftThe client email that made the morning run smoothlyWhy she said no to reactive dogs this timeHow lower-priced offers can coexist with boutique pricingThe judgment Michaela had to stop caring aboutA simple referral idea that fits this offer perfectlyYour pricing is right when you’re selling what you want to sell and making what you want to make. This episode shows how multiple offer levels can fit in one business. Listen now and start dreaming up your own petite session.Michaela’s previous episode on her gallery wall contest: https://www.freedomfocusformula.com/blog/gallery-wall-contest-marketing-strategy-for-pet-photographersMichaela’s previous episode on her pricing review: https://www.freedomfocusformula.com/blog/from-1700-to-3800-how-one-photographer-increased-her-salesNicole and Heather’s episode on the group personal branding shoot: https://www.freedomfocusformula.com/blog/steal-this-profitable-session-ideaBig Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/Michaela’s website: https://bmacpetphotography.comMichaela on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmacpetphotographyCONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial 

354 - Cats might be the most overlooked clients in pet photography, and Dave Mayes is making a strong case for changing that. He shares how he photographs cats in their own homes, what his cat clients actually buy, and how his book Tough Kitties raised money for a local rescue.What to Listen ForWhy cat sessions feel like wildlife photography indoorsThe weather problem that pushed Dave into cat photographyDave’s go-to lighting and backdrop setup for home sessionsWhy the owner is your secret weapon on shoot dayThe pre-shoot visit that sets every cat session upWhat cat clients actually buy (hint: not artwork)The silly composite his clients can’t stop asking forHow a 5% donation shifts how clients think about artworkThe type of client most drawn to cat sessionsThree must-know tips for your next cat sessionCat sessions take patience, planning, and a great relationship with the owner, but the payoff is images your clients could never get on their own. Give this episode a listen and see if cats deserve a bigger spot on your calendar.Find Dave online:Tough Kitties (Australia’s first cat photography book, sold through Maneki Neko Cat Rescue) Instinct Pet Photography websiteDave on Instagram: @instinctpetphotoCONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial 

353 - If you have been calling yourself lazy lately, this episode is for you. Heather and I get honest about the summer that wrecked us both, what burnout actually is, and the simple shift that gave us our momentum back right as busy season arrives.What to Listen ForThe definition of burnout that stopped me coldThree dimensions that separate burnout from tiredWhy self employed burnout turns into self blameThe difference between exhausted and burnt outWhat happens when you drop the judgmentHeather's overwhelm protocol in two questionsThe equation for pain, resistance, and sufferingWhy sitting still can make things worseHow to move stuck energy out of your bodyIf you have been powering through and wondering why nothing feels aligned anymore, this conversation will give you language for it. Tune in, then go take a walk. Seriously.Revenue Sprint with Heather Lahtinen, $47, four calls over four weeks plus two pricing reviews from Nicole in week three: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/offers/omYQubWo/checkoutElevate, Heather's coaching program, includes complimentary access to all mini courses: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/elevateCONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial 

352 - The next four months are the most profitable stretch of the entire photography year. September, October, and November are when the money shows up, and the photographers who prepare now are the ones who cash in. This week Heather Lahtinen and I talk about how to go into this season playing a much bigger game.What to Listen ForWhy first quarter revenue is almost always your lowestThe number photographers misread every single summerWhat "behind" actually costs you mentallyHow to set a goal you might not hitThe one shift that can double your average saleHow to measure success when you cannot control resultsWhat to do in the next six weeks to prepare for more income this yearSet the big goal. Decide right now that hitting it is optional and going after it is not. Listen in, then join us for the revenue sprint and see what you are actually capable of.Revenue Sprint: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/offers/omYQubWo/checkoutCONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial 

351 - I spent the last year and a half cutting things out of my business. Fewer programs, fewer moving parts, less of everything. So when Nic called me with an idea, I said no before she finished the sentence, and then I said no a few more times while she kept talking. Fifteen minutes later I was all in, and this episode is the story of what changed my mind and what Nic and I have been building since.What to Listen ForWhy I said no three timesFlaky, or actually aligned? How to tellThe year Nic built the wrong thingScrapping a launch eight weeks outThe four C's, and the hidden fifthRooms that say "we don't talk about that"Where 5% of profit goesDiagnosed with ADHD at 48, #thereweresignsEight years building for brains like oursA million Chase points and a spreadsheetIf you've been carrying the feeling that you want to do something and you don't know what, or that your business and the rest of your life are pulling against each other every week, this conversation is for you. We recorded a longer call about all of it, with more detail on what the year actually looks like and who it's for. You can watch it, or listen to it in sections on a dog walk, at the link below. Applications are open, but spots are going faster than we imagined.Watch or listen to the full call: NicoleBegleyEDU.com/rebellionThe Joy First Podcast with J.Nichole SmithHair of the Dog Conservation FundCONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial 

350 - Someone in your circle just posted a huge sale, and instead of feeling inspired, you feel like garbage. In this episode, Heather Lahtinen and I break down why photographers take other people's wins personally, and the simple mental shift that turns comparison into curiosity.What To Listen For (10 bullets)Why "what game do you want to play" changes everythingPart-time business does not mean part-time pricingThe non-revenue wins you keep skipping overWhy your brain hunts for the gap automaticallyWhat comparison is really costing youThe moment comparison turns into taking it personallyWhy that number has nothing to do with youThe three words that shift everything: tell me moreHow service mode fixes marketing anxietyWhy focusing on yourself makes you miserableComparison shuts the door. Curiosity opens it. If you have been quietly making other people's success mean something about your worth, this episode is your permission slip to stop. Hit play and pick a different thought.Join Elevate here: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/elevateCONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial 

349 - AI is changing commercial photography, but not in the way most photographers fear. In this episode, J. Nichole Smith and I dig into what is actually shifting in the industry, where the pendulum is already swinging back, and why real images are becoming more valuable, not less.What to Listen ForWhy AI images quietly kill trust and credibilityThe pendulum that is already swinging backWhat the joy economy means for your bookingsWhy marketing is emotional before it is logicalThe one question that settles every pricing decisionHow lived experience becomes your negotiation superpowerLicensing levers that rescue a too small budgetWhy information stopped being worth paying forThe AI uses nobody is sad aboutWhere to double down when things feel scaryThe industry is shifting, but photographers are not going anywhere. Real images, real connection, and real skill are becoming harder to fake and easier to charge for. Give this one a listen and see where your work fits in what is coming.Grab the Commercial Getting Started Kit for $49 at https://hairofthedogacademy.com/commercialkitCONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial 

348 - Feeling unmotivated in your photography business does not mean you are lazy or undisciplined. It usually means you have stopped believing something will work. Heather Lahtinen breaks down why belief drives action, how curiosity restarts momentum, and the question to ask yourself when you cannot make yourself move.What to Listen ForWhy your brain refuses to act without beliefThe exact thought that kills motivation fastHeather's honest low-energy season, unpackedWhy laziness is almost never the problemThe question a client asked that changed everythingHow hope quietly creates clarityThe chain from curiosity to real resultsWhy rest sometimes disguises avoidanceThe thought swap that restarts your momentumWhat to ask yourself when you feel stuckIf you have been waiting to feel motivated before you make your next move, this episode gives you a way to create that feeling on purpose. Have a listen, then go do the thing you have been putting off.Join Elevate: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/elevateUse the code: 0724 to save $1000 but only through July 24th.CONNECT + LEARN MORE:Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.comReady to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.comMaster the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.comFollow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial