Freedom Focus Photography

199 - Have you ever looked at another photographer's locations and thought, "Ugh, I wish I lived there!" Like Charlotte's ooey-gooey sunset light on the beaches of Brisbane, Australia? Or Alicja Zmysłowska's majestic mountainscapes? Don't they make you wanna turn around and kick your spot right in the shin? What if you took a different look at where you live? What if you try to see the beauty in unexpected places? Or maybe even embrace the unbeauty of it all? I wrangled Emily Abrahams of Inspawration Photography onto the Hair of the Dog podcast this week and we have a great chat about the importance of choosing unique locations and unleashing our individual personalities. Because that, my friend, is how you find your style, what makes you stand out from the crowd in this ever-growing profession of pet photography. What to listen for4:51 Why you gotta go where your heart takes you9:57 What Emily looks for in a location13:55 How to pull the elements of a location together for a cohesive image22:49 If I had to choose just two lenses for the rest of my life …26:01 Why you must take a different look at where you live Epic scenery is great to have but is it an absolute necessity for a pet photographer? No.  After all, if it wasn't for the lack of epic-ness (it's a word, I swear) in Pittsburgh, I never would have found my zone of genius, shooting with an urban vibe. Or Emily might not have learned she loves to play with textures, shapes and colors, transforming the mundane into magical backdrops. I challenge you to have a listen to this week's podcast, go out and take a different look at your location, and then head to the private Hair of the Dog community to share what you've seen.Connect with EmilyInspawration PhotographyInspawration Photography on IGInspawration Photography on FBJOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

198 - Have you ever cruised through the Hair of the Dog community on your Circle app and thought, "How are all these *&^%!es getting $10K sales and I'm not"? First things first, it is great to have a goal to hit a $10,000 sale but let's settle one thing right now: It's also OK to not have them consistently. Or even to have had one at all! I get it. It sounds blasphemous when I know other educators promise to get you to a $10K, $20K or ‘insert large K number here’ sale.  Settle in because this week's Hair of the Dog podcast episode is all about the myth of the five-figure sale.  Did you know that the fastest way to build a six-figure business is by having consistent $2-3K sales? That's right. I said $2K. A measly $2,000. Or even less. In the episode I’m giving you permission to charge a few hundred bucks.   Now don’t get all crazy. I’m also laying out when it’s OK to charge a few hundred bucks and when it’s not … as well as when you actually might want to go for those $10K sales.   What to listen for4:56 The photography police aren't coming to get you for your choices7:46 What you need to know before deciding your pricing strategy13:35 The fastest way to a six-figure business16:18 Why you don't need a lot of clients to be successful21:35 How to differentiate your messaging for your pricing I was once where you are, wondering how my business was going to get me to where I was living life on my own terms. It's important to realize we're all at different stages of our entrepreneurship and not every pet photographer needs to be chasing those super high-end, super lux sales … at least not right away. Everything we do in creating an incredible experience for our clients is a stepping stone toward the business you want to have. JOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

197 - Heather Lahtinen is not fearless.I know, right? It's hard to believe. However, earlier this month, while we converged in Charlotte, North Carolina, with five pet photographers wanting to up their game at Progress Lab, I learned one of Heather's greatest fears. Snakes. Heather, Jessica Wasik and another photographer were driving to our next location when … Holy sh*t. There's a snake on the car. On the windshield. Staring Heather down like he wanted to come through that glass and eat her.  She called me. Screaming. And you know Heather doesn't swear (much) but all I heard was Samuel L. Jackson yelling "mothereffing snakes on the mothereffing plane." When the dust settled (or more accurately, when they pulled over and let the snake slither away), Heather learned a new perspective for her coaching clients: that you have to face whatever terrifies you. And the more you do that, the less terrifying it becomes. In this week's Hair of the Dog podcast episode, Heather and I talk through those terrors we all face and relate them to one of our favorite books, The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan. According to Heather, we must tackle those scary, negative thoughts in our heads (the gap) and make a choice to focus on the progress we're making (the gain). It can't be that hard, right? Wrong. We know it can be. Join us for this episode and we'll make it less scary.What to Listen for:15:31 How to stop playing the comparison game21:12 The consequences to hanging out in the gap25:20 Why negative thoughts are a part of being human44:46 How to find your winning vibe50:17 The good and the bad of a $5K sale You guys, there is so much goodness to get out of The Gap and the Gain, so Heather and I are hosting a Power Hour centered around our key takeaways from the book. Register here for this unique event during which we'll examine how we can harness the power of the Gain and let the Gap slither into the darkness. The replay will be available in the community. JOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

196 - It's time to check in with Heather and The Coaching Journals. Two lucky members of the Hair of the Dog Elevate program – Christi Baker of Christi Baker Photography in Atlanta and Monica Adalsteinsson of Pup + Me Photography in Phoenix – won six months of one-on-one coaching with Heather. But there was a catch! They had to agree to share their sessions with you, our Hair of the Dog podcast listeners.  In part 1 last month, we heard Christi's and Monica's goals and the challenges they were facing.  This month, listen to the stories Monica tells herself about feeling ghosted by clients who should be ordering their artwork and how quickly Heather turns those inhibiting thoughts into action. And Christi is trying to adjust her workflow for calendar contest sessions while maintaining the boundaries she has set for building a successful pet photography business. Heather guides her through ways she can best communicate with her clients. What to Listen For6:56 How we know if our thoughts are good or bad for us16:50 Why you should overcommunicate with your clients25:31 The steps Monica can take to become more visible in her community42:26 How Christi can surprise and delight her clients while keeping her boundaries in place48:16 What to do with clients who don't always respect your time Is it a little crazy to think setting boundaries allows you to free yourself for more success? Not at all. In fact, Heather reminds us just how those limits can help us be unlimited. You guys, there was so much meat in this sandwich! Listen to this episode and you will pick up ideas on how to improve your business processes and your mindset. Connect with HeatherFlourish AcademyFlourish Academy on IGJOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

195 - DSLRs are dead. Long live the DSLR!  Are DSLRs dead? If you ask Robby Yankush, of YM Camera in Youngstown, Ohio, you're going to hear the straight talk.  They might not be dead yet but we can hear the death knell ringing in the distance.  This week's episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast features a replay of Gear Talk with Robby, a member's only workshop with Robby Yankush, of YM Camera in Youngstown, Ohio.  Robby and I dig into all the hype around mirrorless camera bodies and why they've become the hottest selling thing since … well, since DSLRs came on the scene.  What to listen for  4:25 What Nikon and Canon have stopped developing 13:09 The best mirrorless body for pet photography  20:03 Why you might want to stretch your initial budget 27:42 The difference in dynamic range from DSLR to mirrorless  29:34 Is Godox really all that and a bag of chips Even though I've made the switch to mirrorless with my R5, I've been holding onto my EF lenses and using Canon's adaptor. However, after this conversation, Robby is making me give serious consideration to taking the leap and going all-in.  What about you? Are you hanging on to your DSLR for a while longer? Or have you dipped your toes into mirrorless? Connect with Robby YM CameraYM Camera on IG JOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

194 - Have you heard the old saying, "It's a marathon, not a sprint"?Laurie Elmer and Knicki Lucrezi of Urban Dog Studio in St. Petersburgh, Florida, started 20-some years ago by building the first partnership that mattered. The one they have with each other. Then they published a book together and now they're capitalizing on the relationships they've built in their community with a podcast … to create even more relationships! They're interviewing pet industry experts and business owners in their area to inform and entertain pet lovers of Tampa and the surrounding areas. While they're connecting people within their community, they're also creating buzz about Urban Dog Studio – their pet photography business. Laurie and Knicki join me on the Hair of the Dog podcast this week to share their journey from Day 1 to this wild moment where they're terrified to put themselves out there but they're just going to eat the frog and do it. What to listen for3:18 How Laurie and Knicki met and created Urban Dog Studio5:19 Why a book project was the right place to start28:49 Getting into the ears of your ideal client37:23 What needs to happen before you launch your podcast40:46 How Knicki moves past the fear of putting her voice out there You guys, podcasting is easier than you think it is. We're almost 200 episodes in to the Hair of the Dog podcast. Can you believe it?!?!? It's such a fun way to make connections in your community and get the word out about your business. This episode should give you the confidence to eat the frog, too … whether that frog is starting a podcast of some other marketing plan you've been avoiding.JOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

193 - Pride Month is coming up. For the entire month of June, the LGBTQ+ community celebrates the freedom to be themselves. You might be tempted to post an image on Instagram of a dog with a rainbow bandana and proclaim yourself to be LGTBQ+ friendly. #ally #pridemonth #equality #loveislove Please don't do that, says Lisa Peterson of Pawsh Photography in Minneapolis, my guest on this week's episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast.  Lisa, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, shares her unique insights and experiences as a gay woman, shedding light on the importance of inclusive marketing strategies from posting about Pride Month to website language and model calls to diversify your portfolio. What to listen for 4:58 How we develop unconscious biases toward different communities 11:50 How Lisa broke out of her blissful lack of awareness 13:46 Why it's vital to be consistent and respectful of the LGBTQ+ community 16:04 How to conduct a model call to make your portfolio more inclusive 23:19 How (not) to pose gay couples This is such an important conversation, one that touches my heart deeply. Lisa gives us some tips that will not only make us more inclusive as pet photographers but also help us be better humans in general. Where to Find LisaPawshPhoto.comPawsh Photography on IGPawsh Photography on FBJOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

192 - Welcome to the Coaching Journals! Today, we're launching a new podcast series in which we're airing coaching calls between Heather Lahtinen and two members of the Hair of the Dog's Elevate community.   Elevate is our next-level program where you get one-on-one contact with Heather and her team of coaches. In six months, you will learn how to set goals, take specific actions to benefit your business, get feedback, and refine and repeat.  We invited our Elevate members to enter to win extra personal coaching sessions with Heather, which would be turned into podcast episodes so you can pick up some juicy bits to propel your own business forward.  Our winners are (drum roll, please) Christi Baker of Christi Baker Photography in Atlanta and Monica Adalsteinsson of Pup + Me Photography in Phoenix.  Heather embarks on a six-month journey with Christi and Monica to work with them on mindset, business processes and all the magic Heather creates with her coaching clients.   Tune into the Coaching Journals to hear Heather help Christi and Monica set goals and meet them.  What to listen for 3:41 How many clients a month Christi needs to hit her revenue goals 8:38 The brain games she's playing to keep her from moving forward 14:39 Why we get stuck on the negative connotations of "selling" 26:43 How Monica is refining her client membership program 38:14 Why talking to more people nets more conversions 40:15 Where Monica is getting stuck and how Heather helps  Friends, this is just the beginning for Christi and Monica … and you! I am so stoked to see where our two photographers are going to take their businesses after these sessions with Heather.  And if you're interested in learning more about Elevate and how it can take your business to new levels, all the details are right here. Get ready to fly. JOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

191 - I received this email shortly before we left for spring break in Belize earlier this month:Dear Nicole,We’re canceling your Airbnb because we -- whoopsie! -- double-booked and you're out, sucka.OK, sure, I'm paraphrasing but that is what happened.And you know what? I was a wee bit frustrated. OK, not frustrated. I was legitimately pissed off. But I had two choices in moving forward: I could stay pissed off, scorch the earth and cancel the entire vacation or I could take a deep breath, get some perspective and get moving on an alternate plan.Guess what? Belize was an amazing vacation. That I was able to process the information, calm down and get sh** done fascinated the heck out of our friend Heather Lahtinen. She turns the table on me for this week's episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast and interviews me on my crisis management skills.What to listen for1:52 The full thought process from anger to Zen with my Belize trip8:14 The time I was almost locked out of New Zealand12:51 The 3-step process I use to manage crisis situations14:51 Why divergent thinking beats convergent thinking -- and what the heck that means25:17 How I decided no matter what happens -- I winAs my business mentor James Wedmore says, our businesses will only grow to the level of problems that we are willing to deal with.What, my friend, are you willing to deal with to grow your pet photography business?JOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

190 - Think about it for a second. What is stealing your time? OK, I'm going to stop you right there because that's your big problem: thinking about it.   Our friend Heather Lahtinen, the master of productivity and top dog at Flourish Academy, recently learned that the best way to get things done is less thinking – more doing.   If you give yourself too much time and flexibility to do one task, you're also giving yourself time to cultivate self-doubt and avoidance. And you're painfully limiting the amount of time you have left to get everything else done.   Imagine if you set a timer to work on that one project for just one hour, eliminating all distractions like your phone and Facebook and your kids and … and … and .... Would you get it done?   Heather joins me on the Hair of the Dog podcast this week to talk about the discipline you need to set your pet photography business up for success.  What to listen for 11:44 Why you should you schedule your free time first 15:17 How more scheduling = more freedom  19:06 Why giving yourself too much time actually limits you  24:22 How to shift from reactivity to productivity  44:43 Why resistance is something you should embrace  Do you want more on productivity and time management? Of course you do! Heather and I are hosting a FREE Power Hour on Wednesday, May 10, to share some hacks that will help you get the important tasks done while still having time for other aspects of your life. This is for photographers at all stages of their journey and it’s an actual workshop – meaning teaching < working. By the end of the hour, you’ll have learned how to optimize your time and achieve more with less effort.   While anyone can join us live by registering here. You do have to be a member of the free Hair of the Dog community to catch the replay. JOIN US HERE. JOIN THE PARTY: Connect with us on Instagram Explore valuable pet photography resources here Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers. Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that. Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.