Freedom Focus Photography

Latest Episodes:

The Coaching Journals - Part 6 of 6 Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

211 - I can't believe we are at the end of this journey.

Has it been six months of The Coaching Journals already? Good grief, where has the year gone?

For the last six months, Heather Lahtinen, our head guru at Elevate and Flourish Academy, has been sharing her coaching sessions with two Elevate students on the Hair of the Dog podcast. This week's episode is the final episode and Part 6 takes us into the wrap-up stage.

Christi and Monica aren't just ready to fly … they're already flying!

Shortly after Christi of Christi Baker Photography in Atlanta started this journey with Heather, our head guru at Elevate and Flourish Academy, she learned she was – drum roll if you haven't been following – PREGNANT! And Heather has been guiding her through the process of simplifying and streamlining her pet photography business so she can take maternity leave.

Meanwhile, Monica at Pup and Me Photo in Phoenix has been disappointed in her bookings lately and struggling with her self-confidence. In this final episode, Heather helps Monica explore her thoughts related to clients saying no and not perceiving the value of her services.

With Heather's guidance, Monica leaves The Coaching Journals on a happy note, understanding the importance of guarding one's heart and mind and celebrating her healthy decisions and boundaries.

What to listen for

5:09 What Christi has been up to in her third trimester

7:39 How she's planning ahead for 2024

22:59 The changes Christi made to reframe her perspective

26:20 The challenges Monica has been facing

33:45 How rejection helps build character

46:48 Why it's OK to say "no" to a client

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

Don't Listen to This! Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

This week's episde was recorded specifically to tell you...don't listen to this week's podcast!

Today is the first day of our live Hair of the Dog Summit V online, so we're currently over there, soaking up all the trainings from our fantastic summit speakers. Won't you come join us?

What To Listen For:

The Art of Storytelling to Sell Your Photography with Anne Thomas
Unleash the Power of PR in your Pet or Portrait Photography Business with Zoe Hiljemark!
5 Secrets to Becoming an Irresistible Top Photographer with KT Merry
Stabilizing your Business with a Portrait Membership with Annemie Tonken
...and more!

But if you're late to the party and the live summit's already over, don't worry. You can purchase all the recordings here, to keep forever and listen to at your leisure!

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

Making the Best of Things with Heather Lahtinen Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

210 - I’m Nicole and I'm an ENTJ on the Myers-Briggs and that means I struggle with the stuff that doesn't excite me – and despise things that aren’t efficient.

Like life stuff. Hanging out at a soccer tournament all day long when my son is playing in one game. One game! Aren't there other things I could be doing? What could I be knocking off my Hair of the Dog Academy to-do list instead of sitting here on a chair watching kids that aren't mine?

It feels unproductive. It feels like I could be doing something more worthwhile.

I know you get like that too. Frustrated, agitated … you might even get a little snarky with the people around you.

But my friends, those are thoughts and those thoughts can be transformed. Right? Right! You can shift your thinking to put yourself in a place that helps you enjoy these tasks more.

Our friend Heather Lahtinen – head coach at Elevate and Flourish Academy – puts me on the hot seat on this week's Hair of the Dog podcast and explores my processes in shifting from frustration to a more positive mindset.

What to listen for

5:18 Where my frustration with unproductive time surfaces

12:48 How I can make the most of my unproductive time

16:31 Why changing your environment can help shift your thinking

25:30 Determine what you are dreading in your life

30:33 Can you trust yourself to get all the things done?

Oh my friends, you can maximize your time but you have to work on shifting your thoughts to a new perspective. And once you get there, you can free yourself from dread and find more creative space in your brain.

Comment on the 'Gram and let me know what you dread and how you're changing your thoughts around that task.

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

Photography Memberships with Annemie Tonken Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

209 - Annemie Tonken had to take a break once and get back to business. Guys, we're talking about a "major surgery and three months on crutches" kind of break.

That's when she came up with her idea to get her family photography clients into a membership service. Newly divorced, she needed to stabilize her income and make her business more resilient.

One day, UPS dropped off her recurring shipment of air failters and it was an aha moment like she's never had! She realized people often forget to schedule their annual family photography sessions. Why not get them signed up to a subscription so they never forget?

Brilliant! Annemie joins me on the Hair of the Dog podcast this week to give us all the details – and FWIW, this doesn’t just work for family photographers. We have an Elevate member making this work with her pet photography business.

What to listen for

9:38 Why Annemie shifted her perspective on running a photography business

12:40 How she launched her membership program to her clients

17:18 The pros and cons of her subscription model

23:25 How to set your membership up for success

32:27 Why it's important to know your numbers before you start

Interested in learning more about how to create a membership model? Listen to this podcast episode and then get registered for this year’s Hair of the Dog Summit, going down Sept. 26-27 and Annemie is sharing all the important deets.

Have you signed up yet? Grab your ticket now!

Where to find Annemie

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

Coaching Journals Part 5 Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

208 - What is stopping you from reaching your goals? What are your thoughts behind "I can't"?

You know, those thoughts that can paralyze you into inaction -- not only in your pet photography business but also in your life.

Both Monica Adalsteinsson of Pup + Me Photo and Christi Baker of Christi Baker Photography get challenged by their thoughts, and each has different fears and anxiety behind those thoughts. Monica and Christi are back for this week's episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast, The Coaching Journals, Part 5.

Monica and Christi are sharing their Elevate journey with business and mindset coach extraordinaire Heather Lahtinen. This month, Heather walks them through planning for their pet photography businesses and how it can bring consistency and stability to their businesses and their lives.

Monica finds herself limited by the fear of returning to Corporate America (ugh!) while Christi struggles with maintaining an excellent customer experience while taking maternity leave.

What to listen for

6:13 Monica's anxious thoughts about not hitting her August goals

9:56 The clarity she found by creating a 12-month marketing calendar

17:13 How more intentional thoughts can wipe away fear and anxiety

27:52 Christi's motivation to keep tweaking her customer experience

30:35 Her move to a hybrid IPS process with online galleries

38:01 How to reframe "tweaking" as "experimenting"

The thoughts you're having that are limiting you, that are leading to stress and anxiety … can you plan your way out of them?

You bet you can! You know what else happens when you plan? You open time and space in your life to be more creative and inspired, and nothing about that sounds wrong.

Connect with Heather
Flourish Academy
Flourish Academy on IG
Flourish Academy on FB
Connect with Christi
Christi Baker Photography
Christi Baker Photography on IG
Connect with Monica
Pup + Me Photo
Pup + Me Photo on IG

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

Soul Aligned Marketing with Lucy Baum Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

207 - The idea of work-life balance is a myth.
We don't ever really balance the many facets of our lives: our businesses, our families, our health, our free time, etc. We give enough attention to each one just to keep going every day.
That, my friend, is not balance. That is just surviving. Instead of looking for balance, my friend Lucy Baum says, we should be looking for consistency and steadiness.
Lucy, the head cheese at ShineSparkL, a marketing and business education platform for photographers, joins me on the Hair of the Dog podcast this week to chat mindset, intuition and intention to help you approach your business from a perspective that integrates all aspects of your life.

What to listen for

7:42 Why we shouldn't take it personally when someone says "no" to us

10:03 How Lucy's five-pillar approach to marketing aligns with the five koshas

18:29 The power of listening to your intuition

31:55 How to turn fear into something positive

46:58 What is stopping you from advancing in your business
Lucy is a champion for recognizing that everything we do – whether it's work-related or personal – contributes to our life's work.
Rather than seeking "balance," we should create a steadfast approach where all aspects of our life support each other. That's when we can really feel good about our pet photography businesses and see our pet photography businesses take off!

Where to find Lucy

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

Authentic Social Media with Deb Laflamme Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

206 - Commitment is a four-letter word to some people I know.
And when we talk about social media and the commitment it takes to keep your feeds updated and interesting, they unleash a string of four-letter words.
It can get stressful when you feel like you're dancing like a puppet to the algorithms pulling our strings.
But we are here to break it down and simplify it for you. Deb LaFlamme, content coach and top dog at For the Love of Your Business, joins me on the Hair of the Dog podcast this week to talk about how to deliver content that will make your followers say "yes" to you.

She fills us in how to stand out in the crowd, why you should create a content strategy and why video needs to be a big player in your social media game.

What to listen for

9:22 Why it isn't really the algorithm's fault

17:30 How to make it easier for your dream client to choose you

21:48 What content sets you apart from the competition

30:04 Why you need to stop hiding behind your gear

32:45 What clients need to learn about you

Our social media feeds can't just be filled with amazing photos of pets. They need to educate your dream client on why they should pick you.

What do you need to change in your social media posts to start climbing your relationship ladder?

Where to find Deb

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

Coaching Journals Part 4 Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

205 - Let's talk inquiries this week.

How are you getting them? Where are they coming from? How many become paying clients?

It is so incredibly important that you are clear on the answers to these questions because this data will help you streamline your process and focus your energies on what works for your pet photography business.

Heather Lahtinen of Flourish Academy and our head guru at Elevate brings us this month's installment of The Coaching Journals for this week's Hair of the Dog podcast episode. Heather talks through inquiries with Monica Adalsteinsson of Pup and Me Photo and Christi Baker of Christi Baker Photography.

Monica is wondering whether she can get more clients through the door with discounts and special offers, while Christi needs to manage clients and prepare for maternity leave.

What to listen for

7:00 How Monica used the gap and the gain process when she missed June's revenue goal

12:00 Why August's inquiry numbers are making her feel stuck

14:31 The thoughts that are keeping Monica from offering special promos

35:01 How Christi can scale up her business while taking time off

21:17 The data Christi needs to know to make it all come together

49:01 Heather's trick for getting previous clients to work with you again

If you're just doing shoots and taking but not tracking your numbers, you're not effectively working toward growing your pet photography business.

No matter what your vision of success is -- and that looks different for everybody -- it's crucial to know where you are and how got here so you can take steps forward!

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

What's Holding Photographers Back from Email Marketing with Heather Lahtinen Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

204 - Have you ever sent an email and felt immediately deflated when a couple of people hit that ol' unsubscribe button?

Have you ever had a little panic attack and thought, "I'm bothering these people and I suck at this."

Let's take a deep breath right now and remember that when people say "no" to you, it's about them and their story, not about you and your story.

Aaaaaaand let's also consider those people who didn't unsubscribe. They are actual humans who WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

On this week's episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast, Heather Lahtinen and I tackle the subject of email marketing and why you need to start a list and connect with it.

What to listen for

2:08 The power of your email marketing
7:24 How to create value with your email content
12:11 What holds many pet photographers back from emailing their list
18:15 Why people unsubscribe from your list
28:20 How to connect with your potential clients via email

Starting an email list and keeping those potential clients engaged is a marketing non-negotiable for your photography business.

Don't let fear hold you back. Eat the frog and get to emailing your people!

Comment on the 'Gram and let me know what's holding you back.
Connect with Heather
Flourish Academy
Flourish Academy on IG
Flourish Academy on FB

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

Personal Finance for Photographers with Colleen Patel Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

203 - Budgets and financial planning are fascinating subjects, aren't they?

I mean, who doesn't want to get lost in a world of numbers and spreadsheets and interest rates and taxes?

Now that you're on the edge of your seat …

Haha! Oh my friend, I get it. Talking about financial health seems so dry and it's easy to tune out but bear with me for a few minutes.

Or 40 minutes. That's all you'll need to listen to this week's episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast during which I sit down with Colleen Patel, a financial coach who works with busy women to master their financial health one small step at a time.

What to listen for

8:00 Why we need to take more interest in our finances
12:00 Take your first step toward financial health
15:08 A few simple ways to start your monthly budget
22:47 How to shine a light on where your money is going
25:22 Why you need to pay yourself first (and save for the tax man!)
35:03 How to let go of the emotional baggage we attach to money

Colleen reminds us that it's A-OK to treat ourselves occasionally and I am here for it. Anyone else hear chocolate martinis or a trip to the Bahamas calling?

Is budgeting a four-letter word for you? Comment on the 'Gram and let me know.
Connect with Colleen:
Colleen Patel
Colleen's *Prescription for Financial Health* (Facebook Group)
Colleen Patel on IG

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