Freedom Focus Photography

169 - If you aren't human, don't listen to this episode. If you are, buckle in. We are about to jump into another episode with Heather Lahtinen. And today we are talking all about keeping momentum going in your business … even when you've decided to take time off. I mean, come on. It's the holidays. We all want a little extra time to spend in our flannel jammies, egg nog in one hand, remote in the other while we're surfing Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel, am I right? Heather and I discuss Breakthrough Training, which is a part of the Elevate program at Flourish Academy. And here's the best part. We're going to do Breakthrough Training together on the last Podcast Party of the year. That's right. All the stuff we talk about in this episode, we're going to workshop with you on Thursday, December 15.You must be a member of the free Hair of the Dog community to join in. If you are, go find the post under Upcoming Events. If you aren't … well, why the heck aren't you? Go sign up at hairofthedogacademy.com/community. But first, dive into this episode and get a high-level overview of the momentum training you'll be getting. What to Listen for: 1:03 Is a college degree necessary to start a photography business? Spoiler alert: NO. 7:45 Every year we face a battle between taking time off to enjoy the holiday and keeping our businesses moving 14:03 My low momentum issues 16:31 Why you need to find ways to hold yourself accountable 22:06 The importance of planning your day 29:28 The two phrases Heather will NOT tolerate hearing 36:00 Sign up for the workshop ... at the risk of repeating myself Guys, seriously, you don't want to miss this workshop because we'll help you take that holiday break and get you back to business in 2023. Connect with HeatherFlourish Academy on InstagramJOIN 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.

168 -There's nothing quite like a ranting, raving Heather Lahtinen.You get that woman excited about something and She. Goes. Off.Arms waving in the air, talking about six-figure businesses and what do you want to do with your life … the whole nine yards.And I love it. Heather, the incomparable guru behind Flourish Academy and my business bestie, is my guest on the podcast this week. We take a deep dive into core values, the rich life and living with intention. Listen for:2:20 How a parable of the Mexican fisherman relates to your life9:05 Ways to get clear on what you really want14:21 What the rich life REALLY is – spoiler alert – it’s not about money17:30 Future workshop plans27:53 The importance of your thoughts and what they’re creatingIf you're feeling grumpy, low-level discontent, angst … whatever you want to call it … your core values may be out of alignment. This episode will give you a path forward towards fulfillment and contentment.Connect with HeatherFlourish Academy on InstagramJOIN 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.

167 - One day, Kristy Trick was standing in the middle of her living room, surrounded by a mountain of dog toys. Some of them still had their tags attached.  She canceled her subscription to a monthly dog treat business and started her own. In addition to managing Central Bark Photography, Kristy fulfills the dreams of dog moms across the U.S., who are looking for fun activities to do with their dogs. Our pet photography businesses often open up new paths and new opportunities. Kristy let that path take her down the road of launching Modern Dog Mom in addition to her dog photography business, Central Bark Photography. In this week's episode, Kristy and I discuss her side hustle and how to design the business -- and life -- of your dreams. Perk up for: 5:12 The photographer who inspired Kristy to launch her own dog photography business11:45 How Modern Dog Mom was born16:33 I issue a challenge for you to design your business and your life19:30 Treat your clients this Christmas26:57 How Kristy took action to start her side hustle If you have an idea for a side hustle burning a hole in your brain, this is the episode for you!Connect with KristyModern Dog MomMDM FacebookMDM InstagramCentral Bark PhotographyCBP FacebookCBP InstagramCBP PinterestJOIN 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.

166 - Sometimes, you just need a change.The world around you isn't feeling right -- kinda like that pair of undies that keeps jamming up your arse. You have your goals set for your professional pet photography business. You see the change you want.But dammit, how do you get there?That's the hard part. Or is it?What if you had a way to visualize the road map to get there? Oh now, don't go thinking it's gonna be easy. Like Krista Marie Lynch says, you still have to put in the work.Her creative visualization method for photographers, though, has brought her to her dream life: a successful studio in the San Francisco Bay area with a coaching gig to help other photographers find their way.And her own podcast, She Calls Her Shots, for ambitious women entrepreneurs who want to make a bigger impact in their life and business.This week, we're talking to Krista about creative visualization and how you can use it to get the dream life you want.Perk up for:4:03 Krista calls pet photographers "magical artists" and I. Am. Here. For. It.6:49 How she started living in the possibility of a new narrative.19:40 Why you can't just ask the universe for help and sit there waiting for it to come.32:20 How to get started with creative visualization.43:25 Take the challenge to start living your own new narrative.If it's time to break out of your box, time to shake yourself out of your comfort zone, load up this episode. Connect with KristaKrista Marie PhotographyShe Calls Her ShotsInstagramFree Masterclass: Panning for ProfitJOIN 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.

165 - If you've listened to the news lately, you've probably heard the economy is basically a flaming dumpster fire: sky-high inflation, a looming recession, and mortgage rates rising like an early-pandemic sourdough. To all that, Heather Lahtinen says, "So what?"When it comes to what the current economy means for your business, Heather—who's adding Certified Money Coach to her pages-long Curriculum Vitae—has some thoughts. And here's a clue: Don't try using "recession" as an excuse to avoid marketing. Not on Heather's watch! What To Listen For:The simple 3-step business plan, no matter the economyHow to know if we're in a recession (**trick-question alert**)What the "lipstick effect" means for your bizThe mic-drop moment that's really good news!Why Heather believes that ignorance is blissIf you're feeling anxious or—dog forbid—feeling defeated by the economic forecasts, you definitely need this episode. Fire it up and find out why the current climate is actually *good* news for photographers like you!Resources From This Episode:Flourish Academy on InstagramNicole's InstagramJOIN 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.

164 - If only being a pet photographer meant dealing with just the pets. Turns out, being a pet photographer involves a whole lot of human interaction. And every time we interact with humans, there's an opportunity for communication lines to get crossed. The culprit for crossed lines is often a simple difference in communication styles. This week, guest Dorie Howell helps us decode our clients' styles—along with our own. You'll hear what makes an effective communicator, how to nudge people toward being more agreeable, and what communication habits to avoid at all cost! 🚫What To Listen For:The seven common styles of communicationHow to become more assertive—and hence more effectiveWhy you should be telling clients "why"When to choose email over phone calls (and save your sanity)The common terminology to drop from your vocabIf you work with humans in your business, or interact with them in your everyday life, this episode's for you!Resources From This Episode:The Harmony Hangout (Dorie's coaching website)Dorie Howell on InstagramNever Split the Difference, by Chris VossJOIN 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.

163 - Money is energy—nothing more, nothing less. And the thoughts you hold about money are often the very thing that affects how much of it you have. This week, I'm replaying my talk from the most recent Hair of the Dog Summit. Together we explored how past experiences can shape your current relationship with money, and—more importantly—how to uplevel that relationship to better meet your goals. Grab a pen and a notebook, because this episode's an interactive one! What To Listen For:What your underlying beliefs about money are actually about How your second-grade teacher still haunts youThe key to increasing your comfort with charging more $$What you can learn from a $770 restaurant bill 👀Best practices for using affirmationsThis year's Summit included 15 dynamic, info-packed presentations in addition to this talk—and you can still get your paws on ALL of 'em, for one low price. Use the code SUMMITSAVE before November 2nd and save $170 on the recordings!Resources From This Episode:Hair of the Dog Summit IV recordingsYou Are a Badass at Making Money, by Jen SinceroA Happy Pocket Full of Money, by David Cameron GikandiDollars Flow To Me Easily, by Richard DottsAtomic Habits, by James ClearProfit First, by Michael MichalowiczJOIN 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.

162 - Courtney Bryson has seen this story too many times in our Hair of the Dog Circle community: A pet photographer hoping to partner with an animal-rescue group reaches out to them, and gets totally skunked. Emails are ignored; offers to help are declined. What gives?This week, Courtney—whose rescue involvement led to her pet photography career—gives us the scoop on getting started working with animal rescues.  What To Listen For:Why pet photogs strike out when looking for animal-rescue partnersHow to get connected if you don't have connectionsWhere to snoop to make sure a rescue is legit Why sometimes donating less is moreThe single best predictor of whether a rescue will promote your projectIf you've been thinking of partnering with a rescue, or if you've struck out in your attempts to do so, be ready to take notes this week!Resources From This Episode:Episode 41: Finding Success in a Small TownCM Bryson PhotographyCM Bryson on InstagramThe Rescue Ranch on FacebookNicole's InstagramRescue Me!IRS official websiteWatch the full interview on YoutubeJOIN 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.

161 - Consider me a CloudSpot fangirl. In the two years I've been using the gallery-delivery software, it's become an indispensable part of my business. It's how I share my location guide, deliver client galleries and let folks order reprints—and with the epic new feature that's about to launch, it's going to play an even bigger role in my pre-session consult. This week, CloudSpot founder Gavin Wade joins me to discuss the software's backstory, how it's making photographers' lives easier (and more profitable!), and the GIANT next step for the company and its clients. What To Listen For:Why Gavin set out to create a grandma-proof experienceThe advantage CloudSpot offers over other image-delivery softwareHow your clients can upsell themselves with CloudSpot's QR codesCOVID's surprising impact on wall-art salesThe Jetsons-esque new feature that's coming soon!Odds are, after listening to this episode you're gonna want some CloudSpot magic for yourself. Do a clicky-click on this link and you'll save 50% on your first month or first year of CloudSpot, depending on which plan you choose. Either way, you can try it first for free to make absolutely sure you love it. (You will.) ☺️Resources From This Episode:CloudSpot free trialDelivering Happiness, by Tony HsiehHair of the Dog AcademyHair of the Dog ElevateFree Hair of the Dog CommunityWatch the video podcast 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.

160 - Until COVID hit, photography was very much just a hobby for Tacoma, Washington-based Marie Wulfram. After kicking around the idea of a pet photography business for six months, she finally went for it in late 2020. Fast-forward two years and Marie just logged a $20,000 month. 😯 This, despite the unconventional approach she takes. ("I don't do phone calls in my business.") Find out what's leading to Marie's success—and what she wouldn't do again, even with the big payoff.What To Listen For:Where Marie's biggest-spending clients came fromThe qualifying questions that separate the best clients from the restHow Marie upsells with albumsThe quickest way to repel people from your biz 😬Marie's unusual schedule—and the big benefit it providesLike hundreds of other successful pet photographers, Marie's a member of the Hair of the Dog Academy. It's the place to go to sharpen your camera skills and learn how to build a business. With a 14-day money-back guarantee, joining the Academy is a no-risk, all-reward power move!Resources From This Episode:Marie Wulfram PhotographyMarie Wulfram Photography on InstagramMarie's Facebook pageThe Tilly ProjectDubsado client management softwareHair of the Dog AcademyHair of the Dog ElevateFree Hair of the Dog CommunityJOIN 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.