Freedom Focus Photography

032 - Buckle up, listeners! This week I welcome back my dear friend Heather Lahtinen, personal-development badass and coach inside Hair of the Dog's Elevate program. Today Heather and I talk about an affliction common to so many pet photographers: Imposter Syndrome. Find out exactly what it is, why it arises, and learn 10 powerful strategies for overcoming this limiting set of beliefs.   What To Listen For: Why you need to say "yes" to opportunities before you're readyThe sneaky ways that Imposter Syndrome manifests in your workOne simple question that pushed Spanx founder Sara Blakely to succeedHow to develop a new mental script that better serves youThe photo album you absolutely need to create (and look at often)Think you haven't fallen victim to Imposter Syndrome? You'll be surprised when you hear how many ways it disguises itself. No matter—with Heather's 10 helpful strategies, you'll be on your way to kicking self-doubt to the curb. Resources From This Episode: 10 Strategies for Overcoming Imposter SyndromePodcast Episode 4: Gaining ConfidenceFlourish Academy websiteFlourish Academy on FacebookFlourish Academy on InstagramHair of the Dog Elevate coaching programHair of the Dog Academy Hair 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.

031 - Do you, dear pet photographer, get that panic-stricken look when the subject of accounting comes up? Does your bookkeeping process involve stuffing receipts into a battered shoebox? If so, this high-energy episode is for you! QuickBooks specialist Candus Kampfer joins me in this week's episode to take the fear out of finances, and to show you why you really, really want to get a handle on your books. We nerd out over numbers and give you the info you need to get started—or to refine your existing systems. What To Listen For: A common mistake photographers make when they start tracking incomeHow to discover your "bread and butter" — and grow your businessDifferent ways of creating and organizing simple accounting spreadsheetsHow to avoid burnout—and celebrate your hard work!A handy tax trick that won't land you in the slammerSkeptical that talking taxes can be fun? Join me and Candus as we demystify the bookkeeping process, and I promise you'll end the episode fired up to tackle your finances. Your business will thank you!   CONNECT WITH CANDUS:FacebookInstagramWebsite Confidence with QuickBooks training YouTubeCANDUS' RESOURCES:If you would like to learn more about QuickBooks, join her free QuickBooks workshop HERE.To access the excel spreadsheet Candus put together to track your income and expenses, click HERE.To try out QuickBooks Online, use this link and receive 50% off your first 12 monthsMore Resources:Have a question you'd like answered on a future podcast? Ask it here!Hair 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.

030 - 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 GilbertUnleash Your Style FREE 5-day challengeHair 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.

029 - When it comes to creating artwork from our pet photography, most of us think of the usual suspects: Framed prints. Gallery-wrapped canvases. Metal prints. Acrylics. But if we think outside the box and look around, there's a world of possibility out there. This week's guest, Mandi Pratt of Greyboy Pet Portraits, shares her process for creating stunning etched prints from photographic images. After listening to my conversation with Mandi, you'll start thinking about your suite of products in a whole new way. What To Listen For: The advantage of having an artist for a grandma (yep, we're jealous!)Using artwork to connect past and present petsWays to make an etching even more meaningful for grieving pet-parentsOther ideas for finding unique client offerings and building artist relationshipsIf seeing Mandi's vintage-look etchings leaves you salivating, you'll be happy to know that she offers both wholesale and affiliate programs for photographers. Aaaaand, she'll send you a sample etching for free—just reach out through the Contact link on her website (link below). Resources From This Episode: Greyboy Pet PortraitsJoy Session NetworkUnleash Your Style free 5-day challenge Hair of the Dog AcademyHair of the Dog Facebook group 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.

028 - What does dancing professionally for Disney World have in common with building a pet photography business? Besides a willingness to get sweaty and a need to stay limber, obviously? Both roles can lend themselves to the pressure of perfectionism, a feeling that Portland performer-turned-photographer Kim Hoshal is all too familiar with. Just a few years into her pet photography business, Kim has figured out that taking imperfect action is the key to steady growth and progress. We chat about what that looks like in this week's episode. What To Listen For: A common mistake photographers make when approaching marketing partnersThe most important thing you can do to ask better questions when you're stuckOne major misconception about building out your photography businessThe sanity-saving, productivity-enhancing Sunday-night planning strategyWorried that doing something imperfectly will leave you looking Goofy? (Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!) Tune in and try out the perfectionism-busting strategies Kim and I discuss in this week's episode. Resources From This Episode: Unleash Your Style free 5-day challenge Hair of the Dog Elevate coaching programKim Hoshal PhotographyKim Hoshal Photography on FacebookKim's InstagramLessons from Lucas on FacebookLucas's Instagram  Hair 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.

027 - Haron Haghius's twenty years of Photoshop experience comes in handy for creating his signature dramatic pet portraits. But according to the Dutch photographer, relying on post-production is a crutch that often holds back beginners. In this episode, we discuss the importance of mastering basic shooting skills, of taking charge with clients, and why his image reveals contain as few as five photographs. What To Listen For: The curious inverse relationship between price and client complaintsA rule of thumb to help you cull images before sharing with clientsWhy it doesn't pay to compare your images to other photographers' workThe beauty of hating last year's images - !!If Haron's moody editing style inspires you to find your signature look, stay tuned to the very end for an announcement that, not gonna lie, we're pretty darn excited about! Resources From This Episode: Haron Haghuis (abbreviated English site)Haron's portfolioCreate a Moody Edit Photoshop courseHaron on FacebookHaron on InstagramUnleash Your Style FREE 5-Day Challenge (registration open now!) HOD Podcast episode 25 on pricingHair of the Dog AcademyHair of the Dog Facebook group 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.

026 - Working in the construction industry never felt like a calling for Carol Moorhead, but it did offer a sense of security during her child-rearing decades. With those years finally behind her, Carol parlayed a lifelong photography hobby into an inspired new career—and then moved across the country to start over yet again! In this week's episode, Carol shares the wisdom she's learned along the way, and offers her advice for other creative types contemplating a career change. What To Listen For: How an exercise called mind-mapping can bring clarity to your pathThe important role that your "starter brand" playsWhy it doesn't matter if you're the most talented pet photographer aroundWays to connect with your community—even if they're not where you liveThose of us whose careers began in the pre-internet age can especially appreciate the education, possibilities and resources available at our fingertips today. So now that the world is your oyster, will you dare to take the leap into a job you're passionate about?!Resources From This Episode: Designing Your Life, by Bill Burnett and Dave EvansThe DogTogDogTog on FacebookCarol on InstagramElevateHair 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.

025 - Can you see them? There in the distance, silhouetted against the setting sun, cresting the hill of Economic Recession with cameras in hand? Yup, friends, it's all but inevitable. In times like these, armies of cheap photographers march into the marketplace, imagining our line of work as an easy way to make a quick buck. Are they wrong? Eh, maybe not...there's a demand for most every level of service. And if you want to run yourself ragged doing high-volume/low-cost photography, you can find a way to make that work.But in this week's podcast, I talk about why an influx of cheap photographers represents exactly zero threat if you're interested in building a truly sustainable, profitable boutique business—which I highly recommend!  What To Listen For: The triangle model of possible business attributesHow to differentiate yourself from bargain-basement photographersThe paralysis your clients suffer if you don't offer this in your business Six things every successful boutique business needsAnd one extra step to cement your awesomeness in the minds of your clientsIf you're still in the early stages of your journey as a pet photographer, you'll definitely want to check out a few free resources I mention in this episode (links below)!Resources From This Episode: $460 Nordstrom beach towel (no judgment here if that's your thing)Loom free video-messaging appFREE Hair of the Dog Pricing 101 courseFREE Pet Photography Editing 101 courseHair 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.

024 -  Quick - what's the least expensive, most powerful way to grow your business?? Here's a hint: It involves the grey, wrinkled mass of cells that lives inside your skull. Focus your mind on setting clear goals and intentions, and magical things start to happen. It took just a few short weeks for Florida pet photographer Krystal Hise to achieve one of her business goals. Hear how she did it, along with tips for harnessing the power of the subconscious, in this week's podcast episode!What To Listen For: The *completely normal* fears and emotional roller coaster of being in business!What happens when we assign meaning to certain eventsHow to ignite a positive feedback loop through your attention and intentionA common trap that ensnares new pet photographers (including maybe you?)An exercise for making your goals more concrete—and way more achievableResources From This Episode: Krystal PhotographyKrystal Photography on FacebookKrystal's Instagram accountCaitlin McColl's "Tails Of The World" book programHair 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.

023 - Seeing your images where they shouldn't be—like in an advertisement for a doggy day care you've never heard of—can leave you indignant and hungry for justice. You could deliver an angry swarm of bees to the offender's home address. Or, you could calm down, investigate your legal rights, and approach the problem with a professional and strategic response.Longtime dog photographer Margaret Bryant recommends the latter. In this episode, Margaret explains the difference between copyrights and trademarks, derivative works and fair use, and most importantly, explains how to legally protect your work. We also talk about how to keep on the right side of karma by not unwittingly infringing on other artists' rights.    What To Listen For: Why it's important to register your photos—and how to do itWhat to do when someone steals your work (hint: don't send them an invoice!)How to legally use music in your own videos and slideshows Tips for educating your clients on copyright issues, to avoid problems down the roadIf the thought of navigating the copyright registration process makes your head spin, you'll appreciate this video Margaret made just for you. She breaks down the steps and walks you through how to register your images for maximum legal protection. Build copyright registration into your workflow and you'll rest easier at night, knowing that your intellectual property is as safe as can be in this crazy internet age. Resources From This Episode: How to copyright your photos - a 22-minute video from MargaretMargaret Bryant Dog PhotographyFollow Margaret on InstagramDog Photography Bootcamp workshops with Margaret Bryant and Kim HartzTriple Scoop MusicAnimoto photo slideshow appHair 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.