Freedom Focus Photography - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Freedom Focus Photography — Arts
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:

What you REALLY need to get started in business Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

035 - Feel like you need to learn alllll the things before you can start your business? Like you need every single duck lined up in an orderly row before you can hang your shingle?

Well, my friend, this episode's for you. Today I'm stripping things down to the bare minimum. Cutting away all the nice-to-haves and this-can-come-laters. Listen to find out exactly what you need—and what you don't—to get started with your pet photography business.

What To Listen For:

Important things to look for when it comes to insurance
Why you need a contract—even if you're shooting for free
My recommendations for website platforms
The decisions you need to make about how you'll sell your work
One huge source of friction for potential clients—and how to address it

It's not the most glamorous part of being a pet photographer, but setting up your business properly from the get-go will save you a world of trouble down the road. Listen, learn, and start checking things off your list. Then you'll be ready to enjoy the world's best job, knowing that your business is built on a solid foundation.
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

From Branding to Partnering with Holly Montgomery Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

034 - Calgary pet photographer Holly Montgomery gets bored easily. And she'd rather spend time alone than chatting with clients.

But despite what could be considered two liabilities, Holly's managed to create a wildly successful pet photography business. She also owns two retail pet supply stores under her umbrella brand. In this week's episode, Holly offers advice on creating magnetic branding to attract your ideal clients, and also shares some insights on how photographers can build strategic retail partnerships.

What To Listen For:

How Holly found success by ignoring the industry's "best practices"
What all pet photographers say on their website — and why you shouldn't say it
The secrets to getting paid just for being your authentic self
Brilliant insider tips for approaching potential retail partners
The compelling case for giving your work away for free

This week, Holly proves there's more than one way to skin a cat approach your business. Join us for this info-packed episode!

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

Community over Competition with Holly Cook and Marika Moffitt Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

033 - Being a pet photographer can be a lonely business, working from home at something your friends and family might not understand. Creating connections with others in the industry offers both a source of inspiration, and a path to feeling less isolated.

This week, I welcome Seattle pet photographers Holly Cook and returning guest Marika Moffitt, who've joined forces to prove that the benefits of community outweigh any thoughts of competition. Their shared passion for pets has led not only to collaborative projects, but also to a deep, fur-filled friendship.

What To Listen For:

Why the fear of "competition" learning your secrets is misguided
How to approach connections from a place of abundance
What sort of work Marika and Holly are creating together
The responsibility experienced pet photographers have to the industry
What it means for your community at large when you come together

Listen 'til the end for Marika's call to action, a hot tip on finding the dessert you didn't know you needed, and an exciting (if slightly premature!) announcement-slash-yet another great reason to join the Hair of the Dog Academy!

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

Squashing Imposter Syndrome with Heather Lahtinen Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

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 ready
The sneaky ways that Imposter Syndrome manifests in your work
One simple question that pushed Spanx founder Sara Blakely to succeed
How to develop a new mental script that better serves you
The 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:

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

Easy Accounting with Candus Kampfer Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

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 income
How to discover your "bread and butter" — and grow your business
Different ways of creating and organizing simple accounting spreadsheets
How to avoid burnout—and celebrate your hard work!
A handy tax trick that won't land you in the slammer

Skeptical 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:

CANDUS' 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 months

More Resources:

Have a question you'd like answered on a future podcast? Ask it here!
Hair of the Dog Academy
Hair of the Dog Facebook group

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

Find your style with Alicja Zmysłowska Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

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 skills
Two ways of assessing your body of work
The unique, autonomous life of creative ideas
Why you should stop looking at other pet photographers' work...
...And where to turn instead to find artistic inspiration

How 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:

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

Unique Handcrafted Products with Mandi Pratt Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

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 pets
Ways to make an etching even more meaningful for grieving pet-parents
Other ideas for finding unique client offerings and building artist relationships

If 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:

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

Taking Imperfect Action with Kim Hoshal Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

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 partners
The most important thing you can do to ask better questions when you're stuck
One major misconception about building out your photography business
The sanity-saving, productivity-enhancing Sunday-night planning strategy

Worried 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:

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

Back to Basics with Haron Haghuis Aug 18, 2020

Show notes

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 complaints
A rule of thumb to help you cull images before sharing with clients
Why it doesn't pay to compare your images to other photographers' work
The 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 portfolio
Create a Moody Edit Photoshop course
Haron on Facebook
Haron on Instagram
Unleash Your Style FREE 5-Day Challenge (registration open now!)
HOD Podcast episode 25 on pricing
Hair of the Dog Academy
Hair of the Dog Facebook group

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

Third Career is a Charm with Carol Moorhead Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

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 path
The important role that your "starter brand" plays
Why it doesn't matter if you're the most talented pet photographer around
Ways to connect with your community—even if they're not where you live

Those 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 Evans
The DogTog
DogTog on Facebook
Carol on Instagram
Elevate
Hair of the Dog Academy
Hair of the Dog Facebook group

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

Related Podcasts