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Freedom Focus Photography

Welcome to the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast, the essential audio hub for portrait photographers eager to launch and elevate their businesses to achieve their ideal version of success.

Hosted by Nicole Begley, a former zoological animal trainer turned accomplished family and then pet/equine photographer, this podcast is your go-to resource for transforming your photographic passion into a thriving business.

Since making the leap into photography in 2010 and quickly scaling her business to six figures, Nicole has dedicated herself to guiding photographers like you to transform their businesses from low-profit, high-stress operations into a profitable, sustainable businesses by teaching how to confidently price your services, sell products, and attract higher-paying clients.

Join Nicole and a vibrant community of like-minded photographers on the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast. Together, we’ll explore the paths to a profitable photography business that supports the life you’ve always envisioned.

Copyright: ℗ & © 2020 Hair of the Dog Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Secret Hack to Confidence with Heather Lahtinen Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

221 - Get ready to dive deep into a world where confidence reigns supreme! Join Nicole Begley and Heather Lahtinen as they uncover the secret sauce to building unshakeable confidence in your photography biz. This isn’t just any chat – it’s a journey through the ups and downs of self-trust, topped off with a surprising twist about... chocolate muffins?

What To Listen For:

Discover why self-trust is key to growing your confidence.
Learn how focusing on competence leads to increased confidence.
Uncover the impact of small actions and self-affirmations.
Nicole’s candid confession about guilt, shame, and... baked goods?
Flipping the script on self-commitment flops.

This episode is a must for any photographer looking to boost their confidence and take their business to new heights. Remember, it's all about trusting yourself!

Resources From This Episode:

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

Finding Success with Social Anxiety with Michelle Crandall Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

220 - Rejection is part of being a business owner. No … no, wait … rejection is part of being human!

Even marketing guru Seth Godin has heard the word "no" but he's at least come to understand that the rejection is more about the rejectee than it is about him. Rejectee … I just made that up.

That doesn't mean the word "no" isn't difficult to hear. It hurts sometimes and Michelle Crandall of Pets in Focus Photography in Michigan has felt that pain.

And haven't we all? We put so much heart and soul into our work and hearing "no" can paralyze you into not taking any action.

What has helped Michelle move past her fear and anxiety? Coaching with Heather, of course!

Heather has the mic again this week, sharing a recent Elevate one-on-one with Michelle. They have a candid conversation about Michelle's struggles … and her breakthroughs.

What to listen for

3:40 When Michelle needed to pivot from dog sports to portraits

8:43 The terror she felt at the thought of calling someone

14:25 Why imposter syndrome is so damaging

17:27 How Michelle pushed through the fear and doubt to take action

31:07 Who the real, confident, smart Michelle is

38:28 How coaching with Heather changed her life

I know you can confront your fears, push through the discomfort and reshape not just your business but your entire life too!

I want to know if this episode resonated with you. Comment on the 'Gram.

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

The Offline Photographer with Heather Lahtinen Part 1 Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

219 - You spoke up and we listened.

You all loved The Coaching Journals with Heather Lahtinen, Christi Baker and Monica Adalsteinsson that we're bringing them back.
Ish.

Christi and Monica are off soaring like eagles after six months of intensive coaching with Heather and the Elevate program. Today, we're introducing a spinoff series, called The Offline Photographer, and it's inspired by the challenges of the same name that Heather is currently holding in Elevate.

These challenges are designed to make you a networking, marketing boss, getting you out into your community to talk all things pet photography.

Heather is picking a photographer in the challenges each month to interview and share their journey. This month, we're hearing from Laura Wombwell of Hamilton, Ontario, who's making a name for herself with quirky fantasy composites and dramatic portraits.
What to listen for

4:24 The genius behind Laura's fundraising event

9:56 The delicate balance between charity work and business

21:19 How to overcome the fear of rejection

26:49 Why we need to retrain our brains and share our passion

35:23 Heather drops a new challenge on Laura

Guys, I am super excited to see where Heather takes this new series with her Elevate photographers. I'm confident she is going to get even more members of our community flying!

What's your takeaway from Laura's coaching? Comment on the 'Gram.

Connect with Heather

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

Split Pea Soup and Photo Feedback with Heather Lahtinen Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

218 - I completely get it if you see the word "soup" and here "NO SOUP FOR YOU" in your head.

It means you might be old enough to remember Seinfeld on NBC every Thursday night. Or maybe you've seen that episode on Prime video.

Heather and I are talking about soup on this week's episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast. No, not chicken soup for the soul.

Split pea soup.

More specifically, the split pea soup Heather's daughter made the annual soup cook-off fundraiser at their church.

It was awful.

And Heather had to find the right way to tell Ella.

Together, we turn it into a mindset shift for you in learning how to take feedback on your photos …

and equally as important, to whom you should be listening for feedback that will help you grow your craft.

What to listen for

4:38 The ethical dilemma of saying something

11:19 How to serve a "critique" sandwich

16:59 Whose feedback is most valuable to you

26:47 My friend hates my skirt and that's OK

28:39 How to evaluate that feedback and move forward

Feedback and personal growth are so important as a pet photographer and as an entrepreneur but your value as a pet photographer -- heck, as a human -- is not calculated by the opinions of people who don't matter.

See? Your mom was right!

Now do me a favor and give me some feedback on this episode. Comment on the 'Gram.

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

Rock your Financial Goals with Heather Lahtinen Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

217 - I’m going to take a stab in the dark at something. I’m guessing you’re pretty stoked when you hit a big revenue goal in your pet photography business.

Who wouldn’t be, right? Cha’ching!

BUT ...

What are you making that number mean? ESPECIALLY if you miss a revenue target — or if you were to have your revenue dip?!? 😱

If you’re human, you might feel like you failed or that your business is broken or you’re going to end up losing it all and living in a van down by the river.

* Shout out to Chris Farley for the motivational speaker!

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about goals — but not any goals. We’re talking about NRVs, or non-revenue victories — and how they’re critical for your success.

What to listen for

1:55 How revenue-related goals can lead to unrealistic expectations

9:17 Why security and stability come from within, not from sales

20:19 How Heather and I define success and security

28:56 The non-revenue victories you might look for

29:57 The connection between NRVs and The Gap and The Gain

You guys! We can challenge the traditional notion of success and work toward a more fulfilling approach that includes celebrating our personal experiences and the relationships we build in our businesses.

For me, it's all about freedom and flexibility in my schedule … the freedom to head to the barn and ride my horses, the flexibility to leave my office and take my kids on a trip to South America.

What does success actually look like to you? What are your NRVs? Comment on the 'Gram.

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

Dog Sports 101 with Brian Batista Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

216 - Let me be quite clear: There are no cats at a Fast CAT event. Not a single feline to be found, I swear!

Nope, Fast CAT — fast coercing ability test — is all about dogs. Dogs of every size, dogs of every color, dogs of every breed and dogs of every origin.

In fact, FastCAT, which is essentially the 100-metre dash for dogs, might be the most inclusive events on the planet.

So how much fun would it be to travel around the United States photographing Fast CAT competitions?

We get to find out in this week's Hair of the Dog podcast when I sit down with Brian Batista of Brian Batista Photography. Based out of Birmingham, Alabama, Brian left behind a 24-year career in information technology to chase dogs with his camera.

What to listen for

3:56 Why Brian learned to create a safe space for rescue dogs

9:15 When he got addicted to dog sports and photography

15:05 How to get started in dog sports photography

19:24 The challenges of managing event photography

34:43 If you don't like road trips, this may not be the gig for you

There's so much more than Fast CAT when it comes to dog sports photography. You can get into dock diving, lure coursing, flyball or agility … and all of it brings the biggest grin to Brian's face.

Are you interested in this niche of pet photography? Tell me on the 'Gram.

Where to find Brian

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

The Secrets of SEO with Inkpot Creative Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

215 - So many of us are heading into the "offseason" right now, which means it's time to spiff up our websites and plan for 2024.

OK, OK … take a little break after you fulfill all your client orders but then it's time to get down to brass tacks. One of the things you might want to put on your to-do list is working on your SEO.

Search.

Engine.

Optimization.

It isn't as hard you might think. The No. 1 thing you need to focus on is putting your personality, your unique experience and your style on display for your website visitors.

For real, you guys! That is what will attract people to your website and keep them there.

KP and Jessie of Inkpot Creative join me this week on the Hair of the Dog podcast and they stress how your experience and style set you apart from other photographers in your area.

They also run down specific tactics with SEO, like keywords, listicle blog posts (what the heck are they?), image resolution and size, video, and all the things.

What to listen for

6:42 Why you should focus on local SEO

16:16 How to blog your way to SEO success

24:10 How to optimize the images on your website

26:57 Why AI content is OK but you need to personalize it

29:36 How to use call-to-action buttons effectively

37:49 The right way to use video on your website

SEO and websites are an ever-evolving method of reaching our potential clients. I love the way KP and Jessie simplify it all for us.

Do you feel like your website is holding you back? Comment on the 'Gram and let me know.
Connect with Inkpot Creative

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

Navigating Thought Spirals with Heather Lahtinen Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

214 - I screwed up.

You guys, I'm human and I'm not (too) embarrassed to admit that I made a mistake. And I'm baring it all in this week's episode of The Hair of the Dog podcast.

Here's the gist:

I made some pretty serious assumptions about a client I booked last Christmas. I sold him a gift certificate as a gift for his girlfriend.

I assumed -- because he is an acquaintance, not a cold sale -- that I didn't have to go through my entire process with him, that I knew what his giftee's budget was and that she would go above and beyond in sales what the gift certificate was worth.

Nuts.

I was staring down a potential $,5000 sale for wall art and an album … and it went over like a fart in church.

Self-doubt hit me hard, and our good friend Heather Lahtinen of Flourish Academy walks me through my thought process and out of my negative space.

What to listen for

How I dropped the ball on communicating my process
When self-doubt and worry started to creep in
The initial thought that snowballed into anxiety
How to handle a difficult money situation with a client
The difference between a $500 photographer and a $10K photographer

I share these moments to help you think through not only your communication processes with your client but also the way our thoughts and emotions can lead us to get stuck in unnecessary worry and anxiety.

What's keeping you stuck? Hit reply or comment on the 'Gram and let me know.

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

The Secret to Building Value for your Photography Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

213 - Do you know what some of my favorite moments are?
When my clients cry.
I realize that makes me sound cold-hearted — but they’re crying because they’re so happy!
Inevitably, they point at photos that roll across my slideshow, happy tears well up in their eyes and they gasp, "OHMIGOSH, THAT IS SO BENNY."
That is always the moment I know when I've done my job.
Because, my friend, I am not just selling photos that spit out of my Canon R5. I am selling emotions, connections and memories.
And so are you.
I'm flying solo this week on the Hair of the Dog podcast and I am dropping some serious truth bombs about how we create value in our pet photography businesses.
What to listen for
3:43 Why it's OK to price yourself low when you're starting out
8:28 The five levels of marketing sophistication
10:41 What your unique selling proposition can do for you
18:35 How to identify your ideal client
22:59 Craft your messaging to attract your ideal client
You can position yourself in your market by understanding and appealing to the unique characteristics and values of your ideal client! Listen to this episode and learn how to really resonate with your audience.
Do you think you're appealing to your ideal client? Comment on the 'Gram and let me know if this episode has changed you and your business.

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

How Fear is Holding You Back with Heather Lahtinen Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

212 - To fear is human.
Heather Lahtinen fears snakes (and I am never going to stop reminding her).
For me, it's tech. I fear learning new tech and it has kept me from moving forward with this new thingie I bought, the Atomos Ninja. It's an external screen that lets me see what I'm shooting as I'm shooting.
It sounds awesome, doesn't it? But there it sits in a box unopened and unused.
WHY?!?!?
Maybe I fear the time it takes me to learn something new, distracting me away from the tasks I enjoy doing. But then I'm procrastinating on learning this new device I want to use in my pet photography business.
AAARRRGGH!
It's a conundrum I know you face sometimes too.
Like the fear of putting yourself out there with marketing. Or the fear of going to a networking event and -- OMG -- talking to people.
The fear stops us from taking action, and that's what Heather and I are talking about on this week's episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast.
What to listen for
4:58 How fear helps us build up our negative self-talk
7:26 What happens when challenge our own thoughts
13:08 Why we must recognize our own value and share our passion with others
15:51 The common fears and doubts we face
21:24 How to find the opportunity on the other side of fear
Acknowledging and understanding our fears is vital in overcoming them. Once we know what our fears are, we can conquer them and take our pet photography businesses to new heights.
What fears are stopping you from moving forward? Hit reply on this email or comment on the 'Gram and let me know if this episode has changed you and your business.

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:

Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com

Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com

Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com

Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

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