Freedom Focus Photography

012 - Open up Shelley Paulson's website and it's immediately clear what her specialty is—and how incredibly talented she is within the realm of equine photography. In this episode, I chat with Shelley about her decision to niche down and focus exclusively on horses, and the explosive growth her business experienced once her energy was channeled into that seemingly narrow arena. But regardless of your specific subject matter, the wisdom Shelley shares from her 16 years as a professional photographer is worth a listen. What To Listen For: The importance of having multiple income streamsHow competition in your market creates a surprising advantageWhy it's worth spending more time on the front end with your clientsOne non-obvious skill that every animal photographer should masterIf learning to photograph horses has been on your to-do list, be sure to grab Shelley's info-packed e-book, The Quick Start Guide to Equine Photography, filled with enough helpful  hints to conduct your own successful equine session. And—bonus!—through May 15th you can save $20 (no code needed).Resources From This Episode: Shelley Paulson Photography websiteShelley's YouTube channelShelley Paulson Photography InstagramHair of the Dog Academy Hair of the Dog Facebook group Download a PDF transcript for this episode: 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.

011 - This week's episode is a conversation with portrait photographer and business coach Luci Dumas, whose photography business has survived six—count 'em, SIX!—recessions over the last 38 years, and emerged stronger after every single one. Luci, whose superpowers include consistently notching high-dollar sales, shares with us what she's learned about thriving in challenging times and offers some fantastic lockdown-friendly marketing strategies.What To Listen For: The advantage of creating a time chart for yourselfAn exercise called the "cake and cringe" (sounds delicious!)How to mine the gold you already have in your businessStretching your clients' financial comfort zone, in a non-yucky wayAs an awesome bonus, the first 10 photographers to email Luci will receive a complimentary Create the Business of Your Dreams strategy session, a $400 value for each of those lucky (and fast-fingered) listeners! Resources From This Episode: Luci Dumas CoachingThe Profitable Photographer podcast episode featuring NicoleHair of the Dog Academy Hair of the Dog Facebook groupDownload a PDF transcript for this episode: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.

010-On this episode I'm joined by Caitlin McColl, one of our beloved pet photographers Down Under. In addition to running Ragamuffin Pet Photography and co-hosting the Pet Photographer's Club podcast, Caitlin leads a brilliant program called From Concept to Coffee Table, designed to teach pet photographers how to build their client base through self-published books. If you have a book project in mind, or are looking to increase your reach, reputation and revenue, grab your pen and notepad—you'll definitely want to jot down some notes. What To Listen For: Why it's critical that people pay to participateHow to find enthusiastic promotional partnersA common trap to avoid while shooting book clientsThe one thing you must have in place before launching a book projectIntrigued and ready to learn more? Use the code HOTD to save $200 on Caitlin's 12-month resource-rich program, designed to increase your revenue many times over and get your gorgeous coffee-table book out into the world!  Resources From This Episode: From Concept to Coffee Table: Self-Publishing for Pet Photographers ProgramFREEBIE - 5 Common Self-Publishing Mistakes Photographers MakeThe Pet Photographer's Club podcast Ragamuffin Pet Photography Hair of the Dog Academy Hair of the Dog Facebook group Download a PDF transcript for this episode: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.

009 - So here we are, adjusting (perhaps?) to the new normal of staying home. If you're feeling like this is a golden opportunity to work on your pet photography business but don't know where to start, this episode's for you. In it, I take you through fifty awesome ideas for improving your business that you can do from the comfort of home.  As always, give yourself some grace. Don't beat yourself up about what you are or aren't accomplishing right now! However, if you're motivated but in need of a nudge, I hope this massive brainstorming session will do the job.   What To Listen For: Three different ways you can get organized (and make money doing it)Idea #20: Do not pass Go, do not collect $200 until you've done thisHints for running a successful sale for previous clientsAn exciting addition coming soon to the Hair of the Dog Academy!When we're overwhelmed, we often keep working on the easy, low-hanging fruit, or spend days playing around with fun new techniques. Do you have the capacity to choose one or two of the hard things off this list, and dedicate these next few weeks to accomplishing those? What would your business look like if you did?? Resources From This Episode:  50 Ways to Build Your Business PDF, Quarantine Edition Free ($97 value) Hair of the Dog Academy class about legal stuffFlodesk email service 50% discount Blog post on "mini sessions"Cloudspot custom app designerHair of the Dog YouTube channelHair 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.

008 - The sense that "we're all in this together" is something that a lot of people are feeling right now, thanks to current global events. The vital role of community, cooperation and collaboration is on full display in the daily news reports, and possibly even in your own neighborhood.In that spirit, my guest this week is Marika Moffitt of Dirtie Dog Photography, who shares how forging relationships with other pet-lovers in her Seattle community led to a total transformation of her business. As Marika says, "We can be so focused on building ourselves...that we forget how much we'll actually get out of supporting somebody else."What To Listen For: How looking at your business with a beginner's mindset can pay dividendsThe realization that prompted a complete shift in her messaging How to build momentum for events and out-of-the-box ideasThe incredible power of tapping into the "child heart" If the idea of making your pet photography business bigger than yourself resonates with you, this is a can't-miss episode!  Resources From This Episode: Dirtie Dog Photography: https://www.dirtiedogphotography.com Seattle Pet Collective podcast: https://www.seattlepetcollective.comThe Limelight Pet Project: https://www.thelimelightpetproject.com Hair of the Dog Academy: https://hairofthedogacademy.com Hair of the Dog Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hodcommunity/ Download a PDF transcript for this episode: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.

007 - As you envision the future of your pet photography business, it's really helpful to hear from other pet photographers about the evolution of their businesses. In this episode, I chat with Shaleena Jones of Give a Dog a Bone Photography about her journey from an all-digital, bargain-basement-price model to a boutique business, and about the lessons she's learned along the way. What To Listen For: The nerve-wracking experience that finally shifted her away from digital-onlyWhy not offering prints is a disservice to your clientsThe change she made to entice more clients into buying albumsA mindset shift in how to think about "failures" Don’t forget that when you leave a review (wherever you listen to podcasts), you can include questions about what you're struggling with in your business. I'd love to tackle those topics in future podcast episodes, so let me know what's on your mind.  Resources From This Episode: Give a Dog a Bone Photography: https://www.giveadogabonephotography.com Hair of the Dog Academy: https://hairofthedogacademy.com Hair of the Dog Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hodcommunity/ Download a PDF transcript for this episode: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.

006 - We interrupt your regularly scheduled podcast for this special message: Shit got crazy.  With COVID-19 bringing life as we know it to a standstill, I'm guessing that many of you, like me, contracted into a state of fear and overwhelm. It's understandable; this is a really big deal. At a certain point though, it's counterproductive to continue binge-watching the news and stress-eating your way through your stockpile of snacks.   In this episode, I talk about how to overcome your fears, refocus your thoughts, and use this time productively to further your goals. The actions you take now are going to directly affect what your business looks like once these storm clouds pass and we emerge from this unprecedented mess (and sooner or later, we will emerge).   What To Listen For: The critically important thing that you can control in these uncertain timesAn exercise to help shift your mindset into more positive territoryThe importance of continuing to show up for your clients/audienceHow to reframe this situation as something beneficial for you and your business Ideas for making the most of this time of staying home and social distancingWith the world essentially hitting the "pause" button, there's a huge opportunity to take a deep breath, refocus, and move forward with grace and gratitude. Will you join me in taking advantage of that? Stay safe and healthy, friends— —NicoleResources From This Episode: The Jim Fortin Podcast: https://www.jimfortin.com/podcast/ Hair of the Dog Academy: https://hairofthedogacademy.com Hair of the Dog Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hodcommunity/ Looking for where to get your marketing focus during this time?  Grab my free masterclass detailing the 3 marketing strategies that built my business:  https://www.hairofthedogacademy.com/marketing Download a PDF transcript for this episode: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.

#005 - Repeat after me: I can get paid well while doing work that I love! Determining prices for your pet photography business often feels like throwing a dart at the wall. Are you charging too much? Too little? Will you ever land one of those four-figure sales you see other photographers talking about on Facebook?? This episode covers how to approach your pricing strategy, and how to think about the value you're offering potential customers. Whether you're looking to shoot high-volume, low-cost or take on only the occasional high-end client, it's important to be deliberate in creating your pricing model and the business structure that supports it. What To Listen For: How to avoid the common pricing mistake most photographers makeWhat “brand alignment” means, and why it’s critical for your businessWhy creating amazing images isn’t enough to justify high pricesOne super-simple way to increase your perceived valueDon’t forget that when you leave a review (wherever you listen to podcasts), you can include questions about whatever’s been a challenge for you in your business. This is the stuff of future podcast episodes, so take advantage of the opportunity to ask!  Resources From This Episode: Hair of the Dog Academy: https://hairofthedogacademy.com FREE Pet Photography Pricing Guide: https://learn.hairofthedogacademy.com/pricing Hair of the Dog Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hodcommunity/ Download a PDF transcript for this episode: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.

#004 - One of the things pet photographers often tell me is that they just need to develop more confidence. With more confidence, they’d put themselves out there, start booking clients, and finally build the pet photography business they’ve dreamed of.  Sound familiar?  In this episode, award-winning photographer and teacher Heather Lahtinen joins me to call BS on this line of thought.  Learn why it’s not actually confidence you’re after, and how to reframe your thinking around improving your craft. What To Listen For: The difference between comparison and inspiration, and inspiration vs. copyingHow a lack of confidence can lead to unhappy customersThe importance of determining your core valuesHow feeling stressed out is actually a giftWhy you need to master the art of taking terrible photographs :) Hear how to outsmart your self-sabotaging brain, shift your focus away from lack, and build a business—and a life!—that’s aligned with your deepest values. Resources From This Episode: Hair of the Dog Academy: https://hairofthedogacademy.comSteal Like An Artist, by Austin Kleon: https://austinkleon.com/steal/ The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield: https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/ Heather’s Core Values exercise: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gt3nhjyhmztbwgu/FA%20Values.pdf?dl=0Hair of the Dog Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hodcommunity/ 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.

#003 - Are you ready for some tough love? Here’s the truth: Building a pretty website and posting on social media isn’t nearly enough to develop a sustainable pet photography business. Overreliance on “organic marketing”—customers naturally finding their way to your website through search or social—is a common mistake among new pet photographers. In today’s episode, we’ll talk about ways to extend your reach beyond organic marketing.  What To Listen For: What type of organic marketing you should focus onHow to capture valuable leads from your websiteThe right way—and wrong way—to use model calls One simple thing that will increase the conversion rate of your offersHow to let go of email unsubscribers with love :) Tune in to learn about lead magnets, urgency, and other important tricks to succeeding at your trade! Resources From This Episode: Hair of the Dog Academy YouTube channelHOD Podcast - Episode 1 (What Procrastination Really Means)  Hair of the Dog AcademyHair of the Dog Pet Photographers 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.