Freedom Focus Photography

122 - Forget the classic Andy Williams Christmas song. This, right now, is the most wonderful time of the year! A new year, a fresh Trello board, resolutions unsullied by the siren song of Crumbl Cookies—there's nothing better than January's promise and potential!! And this week, Heather and I discuss how to make the most of the opportunity. Now's the time to set yourself up for success, but you need to be intentional with your annual-planning process. Join us this week to find out how.  What To Listen For: Where to start your annual goal-setting sessionHow to make sense of the Be, Do, Have modelThe sneaky trick our brains play on us, when it comes to looking backwardsIf you set just one goal for 2022, this is Heather's recommendationThe "WWHPD" bracelet Nicole needs—and the app she needs to ditch!Guys. If you're tempted to sail off into the seductive seas of 2022 without going through a review-and-planning process, YOUR SHIP WILL SINK. Or at the very least, it's not gonna get you where you're hoping to go.   So download the Year-in-Review worksheet below, and set aside time for some serious reflection and goal-setting. Your future self will thank you!  Resources From This Episode: Year-in-Review worksheetTrello & Todoist productivity apps Episode 118 - Small Town Success, with Tracy MunsonThe High 5 Habit, by Mel RobbinsFlourish Academy podcastFlourish Academy on FacebookNEW Hair of the Dog community hub (!!) 🎉🎉🎉Hair of the Dog Academy Hair of the Dog Elevate coaching programJOIN 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.

121 -  Looking at Alicja Zmysłowska's soft, otherworldly pet portraits, you'd never guess that her signature style was born from a lack of transportation. This week, Alicja joins me to talk about artistic influences, the power of personal projects, and how she parlayed her early limitations into the 2020 Portrait of the Year in the Pet Photographers Club awards. It's a must-listen episode! What To Listen For: How so-called limitations can help develop your style, and your skillsTwo ways of assessing your body of workThe unique, autonomous life of creative ideasWhy you should stop looking at other pet photographers' work......And where to turn instead to find artistic inspirationHow are you maximizing your surroundings? The light where you live? The lenses you own? Is it all coming together into a cohesive body of work? Whether you're at the beginning of your pet photography journey or you've been at it for years, you'll want to tune in to this week's episode. Resources From This Episode: Alicja Zmysłowska PhotographyAlicja's winning portrait Alicja Zmysłowska Photography on FacebookAlicja's Instagram pageBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertHair of the Dog AcademyHair of the Dog Facebook groupJOIN 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.

120 - You've seen her as the 'Pupparazzi' on Nat Geo WILD. You've drooled over her signature, sapphire-sky pet portraits. Your coffee table might even be adorned with her brand-new book, Dogtography. And now it's time to buckle up, because this week's episode features a mile-a-minute conversation with my dear friend, the inimitable Kaylee Greer. You'll hear all about her journey from self-described lost soul to (my words here!) pet photography's ultimate rock star. What To Listen For: How she found her passion at the ripe "old" age of 24The fortuitous timing of Kaylee's storytelling debutWhat the devil on her shoulder constantly whispers in her earWhy Kaylee tries to limit her media inputsThe designer jeans you'll never catch her wearing (and why they matter)Give yourself the gift of an undistracted listen, because Kaylee drops pearls of wisdom at a rapid-fire rate—and you won't want to miss a single one!Resources From This Episode: Dogtography (Kaylee's new book!)Dog Breath PhotographyDog Breath Photography on InstagramOutliers, by Malcom Gladwell Barka workshop seriesHair of the Dog AcademyHair of the Dog Facebook groupHair of the Dog Elevate coachingJOIN 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.

119 - Welcome to Biz Tip Thursday!  These are short actionable episodes in which Nicole takes something that's going on in her life or business and relates that to something that you can do NOW in your business! Great smelling soap brings me momentarily happiness throughout the day, so when I was near Bath and Body Works I popped in to grab some Christmas varieties. Little did I know that the 4 for $20 sign would set off a money trigger - and then make me realize how these soaps are similar to our photography products.If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag us, @hairofthedogacademy.Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to www.hairofthedogacademy.com/apple, and thanks for your support of this show!LINKS:Check out the Hair of the Dog Academy.https://hairofthedogacademy.com/academy/Grab your FREE Editing 101  or Pricing 101 masterclass!https://www.hairofthedogacademy.com/editinghttps://www.hairofthedogacademy.com/pricingConnect with us on Instragram - @hairofthedogacademyhttps://www.instagram.com/hairofthedogacademy/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.

118 - Tracy Munson's town in New Brunswick, Canada has no stoplights. None. In Harvey Parish, a "traffic jam" is when cows or chickens are blocking the road.  And yet since moving to this tiny outpost in 2018, Tracy's managed to go full-time with her pet photography business AND find success with it. Hear how this week, in a fantastic conversation that covers moving, marketing, and being deeply suspicious of marked-down blouses.What To Listen For: The hair-dye method for building a businessWhat finally made her phone ring (it wasn't all that SEO work!)The easiest way to build relationships with nonprofitsHow Tracy sold out her book project sessions in just 5 daysWhat to consider when it comes to pricing psychologyWhen to work for free, and the kind of exposure that actually matters Whether or not you live in a town as small as Tracy's, you'll find plenty of value in this week's episode. And you'll get a good laugh out of her original business name—I know I did! Resources From This Episode: Tracy Munson PhotographyTracy Munson Photography on FacebookTracy's InstagramHair of the Dog Academy Hair of the Dog Facebook groupHair of the Dog Elevate coaching programJOIN 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.

117 -  This week, Heather Lahtinen and I wrap up our 6-part series on moving past your money hangups and opening the door to more abundance in your life. In this episode we share a dozen real-world examples of financial self-sabotage, and discuss how to dismantle those behaviors. You'll also hear me justify the 3 speeding tickets I got in Brazil (oops), and hear Heather invite your loved ones into the boxing ring (?!).  What To Listen For: The curiously ill effects of those Barka retreatsHow Marie Kondo's advice translates to your businessYour misguided understanding of fairness and equalityWhat Mother Teresa has to say about moneyThe fiery rant Heather has for your spouse! 🙈If you've missed any of these six episodes, you can easily find 'em on our Money Series page over at Hair of the Dog Academy. As always, we'd love to hear what resonated with you the most. Let us know over in the Facebook group!  Resources From This Episode: Money-themed podcast seriesFlourish Academy on FacebookFlourish Academy podcastFlourish on YouTubeHair of the Dog Academy Hair of the Dog Facebook groupHair of the Dog Elevate coaching programJOIN 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.

116 - It's hard to believe that Bryn Bonino started her pet photography business just 7 months ago. Already, she has some massive wins under her belt—including an $8,000 sale. But Bryn doesn't attribute her success to her background in marketing. This week, Bryn joins me for a fantastic conversation about mindset, meditation, and how the mass of every human on earth could fit inside a sugar cube. Join us for a resource-packed episode that will help you see what's possible in your business.  What To Listen For: The silver lining to Bryn's two car accidentsWhy she builds an extra 5% into her product pricesHow Bryn turned one connection into 150 new email subscribersWhat most people get wrong about the Law of AttractionThe gifts and pitfalls of being an empathHow to rid your life of negative influencesOh, and that $8,000 sale? It came from an event that looked like a total bust. Life's full of surprises! 🤷🏻‍♀️ Resources From This Episode: Dog Days PhotographyDog Days Photography on FacebookDog Days on InstagramThe Artist's Way, by Julia CameronBreaking the Habit of Being Yourself, by Joe DispenzaSensitive is the New Strong, by Amita MoorjaniThe Law of Attraction, by Esther and Jerry HicksHair of the Dog Academy Hair of the Dog Facebook groupHair of the Dog Elevate coaching program 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.

115 - If you've been in the pet photography world for any length of time, you're no doubt familiar with the amazing Charlotte Reeves, an award-winning dog photographer and educator based in sunny Brisbane, Australia.A master of working with natural light, Charlotte joins me in this week's episode to talk about choosing session locations, making the most out of them, and why we'll all want to move to Queensland after listening to this episode. (Kidding! You won't need to, cause you'll learn to uncover amazing locations right in your own backyard.) What To Listen For: How where you live affects your shooting styleTips for discovering awesome new photography locations in your marketThe importance of a location guide in helping clients understand what to expectHow much variety you need in a location, and how to make the most of what's thereAn exercise to stretch your creative muscles and work on shooting more varietyEpisode bonus: Charlotte's fantastic Working with Natural Light foundation course is available for Hair of the Dog listeners at half price! Use the code HODpodcast to save yourself fifty bucks, and learn the fundamentals of light that will elevate your work and guide your session flow.  Resources From This Episode: Charlotte Reeves PhotographyUnleashed Education (home of RealShoots, the daily tip series and so much more)Working With Natural Light course (don't forget the HODpodcast code!)Toggl, Harvest and Sunseeker appsHair of the Dog AcademyHair of the Dog Facebook groupJOIN 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.

114 - Welcome to Biz Tip Thursday!  These are short actionable episodes in which Nicole takes something that's going on in her life or business and relates that to something that you can do NOW in your business!We all hear that we need to schedule self-care and take care of ourselves first - but why is that so hard?If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag us, @hairofthedogacademy.Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to www.hairofthedogacademy.com/apple, and thanks for your support of this show!LINKS:Check out the Hair of the Dog Academy.https://hairofthedogacademy.com/academy/Grab your FREE Editing 101  or Pricing 101 masterclass!https://www.hairofthedogacademy.com/editinghttps://www.hairofthedogacademy.com/pricingConnect with us on Instragram - @hairofthedogacademyhttps://www.instagram.com/hairofthedogacademy/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.

113 - 'Tis the season to start planning for the season that's just around the bend: those frenzied weeks of holiday gift shopping. Staying on the sidelines—offering no Black Friday, Cyber Monday or Small-Business Saturday specials—is a perfectly valid choice. But you may still have people looking to buy gift certificates for their loved ones. This week, Mandi Pratt from Greyboy Pet Prints and I talk about best practices for offering gift certificates, showing appreciation for your best clients, and why you should think twice before publicly posting holiday sales. What To Listen For: The potential pitfalls of selling gift certificatesWhy you'll want an introductory email from the purchaserThe legal considerations for expiration datesHow Nicole makes her gift certificates look and feel like a *real* presentWhy you should never sell gift certificates for specific productsIdeas for thank-you gifts for your very best clientsAnd after listening to this episode, if you're curious about Mandi's beautiful etchings, you can get one for yourself—or for your best client—at 30% off the regular price. Just use the code HOTD30 at checkout.   Resources From This Episode: Episode 29: Unique Handcrafted Products with Mandi PrattGreyboy Pet PrintsGreyboy Pet Prints on FacebookGreyboy Pet Prints on InstagramWhite House Custom ColorMarathon Press pocket foldersArtifact UprisingHair of the Dog Academy Hair of the Dog Facebook groupHair of the Dog Elevate coaching program 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.