Freedom Focus Photography

Latest Episodes:

Here Comes the Cheap Competition Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

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 attributes
How to differentiate yourself from bargain-basement photographers
The paralysis your clients suffer if you don't offer this in your business
Six things every successful boutique business needs
And one extra step to cement your awesomeness in the minds of your clients

If 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 app
FREE Hair of the Dog Pricing 101 course
FREE Pet Photography Editing 101 course
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

Secrets to Growth with Krystal Hise Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

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 events
How to ignite a positive feedback loop through your attention and intention
A common trap that ensnares new pet photographers (including maybe you?)
An exercise for making your goals more concrete—and way more achievable

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

Copyright Clarity with Margaret Bryant Jul 21, 2020

Show notes

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 it
What 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 road

If 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 Margaret
Margaret Bryant Dog Photography
Follow Margaret on Instagram
Dog Photography Bootcamp workshops with Margaret Bryant and Kim Hartz
Triple Scoop Music
Animoto photo slideshow app
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

Social Marketing Made Easy with Deb Laflamme Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

022 - Social media. For most of us, it's a big, overwhelming "should" that hangs over our business like a cloud. We know we should be posting regularly, but we either avoid the whole thing or fly by the seat of our pants, posting frequently but without any big-picture plan.

Enter Deb Laflamme, owner of For the Love of Your Biz and this week's podcast guest. In this episode, Deb shares her simple, brilliant system for creating social content that connects deeply with your audience. The way she breaks it down into actionable steps takes the stress out of content planning and creation, and provides a valuable roadmap for growing your business through social media.
What To Listen For:

The four pillars of content you should be sharing regularly
A three-step strategic process that's easy on your brain and your business
When to create social content - and when you absolutely shouldn't!
Simple ways to increase your audience engagement
Loads of ideas for creating shareable content

Want even more juicy ideas? Each month Deb delivers a FREE social post calendar full of prompts, holidays (National Ice Cream Day, anyone?) and themes you can use to help shape your content and keep it timely. Just head on over to Facebook and join her group, Social Post Ideas with Deb Laflamme - link in the resource section 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

Creating Exceptional Session Offerings with Terran Bayer Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

021 - This week my San Diego-based soul sister, Terran Bayer of Westway Studio, joins me to talk about how disgusting fruit is and other important topics—most of which are related to pet photography!

Now, not all of us are lucky dogs like Terran, who has an 800-acre family ranch at her disposal for special, all-inclusive overnight pet photography packages. But in this episode, we brainstorm ways to add a high-end package to your own list of offerings and discuss the benefits that brings your business. Join us as we talk consumer psychology, brand-building, and where to find the best butter cake on the planet.

What To Listen For:

The key to building your product selection
What you must do with your pricing list to generate better sales
How to use your website's portfolio to communicate your brand
The critical importance of price anchoring
A small homework assignment with a potentially big payoff

In addition to being a crazy-talented pet photographer with mad graphic design skills, Terran also co-produces educational videos through a partnership called Professional Pooch. The videos cover topics from showcasing your business at local events to conducting in-person sales sessions (you'll get to watch two actual session, as they unfold) and everything in between.

And right now, my fantastic fruit-hating friend Terran is offering you a whopping 40% off any Professional Pooch video with the code HOD40. Go check 'em out through the 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

Calendar Contests with Jessica Wasik Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

020 - It's hard to believe we've already torn off half the pages from our 2020 calendars. Torn them off, fed 'em through the shredder and invited them to never come back. Or maybe that's just me.

Anyway. This week's episode features Pittsburgh pet photographer Jessica Wasik, who's mastered the art of running successful calendar contests. She shares her favorite tips on how to find a charity partner, promote and profit from a pet photography calendar project of your own. It’s a great way to build awareness of your brand while benefiting a local non-profit. Done well, calendar contests also grow your stable of cash-dropping private clients.

What To Listen For:

How Jessica more than quadrupled her donations in only 4 years
The magic (and potential pitfalls) of setting audacious goals
How to collaborate with other local businesses so that everybody wins
Stress-busting advice for handling contest proceeds
Client-management tips to maintain your sanity during a calendar project

If the idea resonates with you, it's not too late to orchestrate a calendar contest in your market before the holiday gift-giving season! Set yourself up for success with Jessica's Creating Profitable Pet Calendar Contests program. It's usually $197, but for you, my dear Hair of the Dog listeners? You'll get $50 off through July 7th...and an even better deal if you're an HOD Academy member (check out Jessica'a guest instructor class inside the Academy for deets).

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

Leaving 9 to 5 with Kristen Murray Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

019 - The day I sat down to record this episode was a momentous one in the life of today's podcast guest. Richmond, Virginia-based Kristen Murray had just given notice that she'd be leaving her full-time job to focus on her rapidly growing pet photography business!

As Dolly Parton sings in her classic hit "9 To 5," "There's a better life, and you dream about it, don't you?" In this episode, Kristen shares how she's making her dreams a reality, and the role that the Hair of the Dog Elevate program played in her readiness to make the transition to full-time pet photographer.

What To Listen For:

Why other people weren't taking her pet photography seriously
What finally helped Kristen recognize and overcome her fears
Why it's okay—even beneficial—to be nervous about making changes
How Elevate allowed her to stop asking permission, and to start trusting herself
The crazy-fun niche that Kristen's carved out in her market

If you have your own dreams of making pet photography more than a hobby, this is a great episode to listen to. I know you're trying to avoid infectious things right now, but I promise Kristen's contagious enthusiasm will make you feel better, not worse!

Resources From This Episode:

Kristen Murray Photography
Kristen's Instagram
Kristen Murray Photography on Facebook
Hair of the Dog Elevate program (open for enrollment through 6/25)
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

Moving Forward when the Sky is Falling with Heather Lahtinen Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

018 - Today's episode brings back Elevate coach and personal development superstar Heather Lahtinen, who you might remember from our convo a few months ago about gaining confidence. Hooooboy, that one must've touched a nerve, because it's our most popular podcast episode to date!

This week's discussion is even juicier, I dare say. Heather and I go deep into living from a place of action instead of reaction, the power of the subconscious mind, how to live a life of purpose and positive impact, and all sorts of fantastic life hacks to help you unleash your potential—even in chaotic times. The "woo-woo" factor in this episode is high, which is a sorry/not sorry sort of thing. Buckle up!

What To Listen For:

What it means to work from the inside out, rather than the outside in
How to ask yourself questions that empower rather than self-sabotage
How the Law of Believability affects our sense of what's possible
Three habits to build into your life to maximize your potential
The twist that makes daily affirmations an even more powerful practice

For anyone feeling distracted or out of sorts lately, or like you aren't yet living your best life (I think that covers all of us?), tune in and try out some of the suggestions from this meaty 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

Location Scouting Secrets with Charlotte Reeves Jun 09, 2020

Show notes

017 - If you've been in the pet photography world for any length of time, you're no doubt familiar with the amazing Charlotte Reeves, an award-winning dog photographer and educator based in sunny Brisbane, Australia.

A master of working with natural light, Charlotte joins me in this week's episode to talk about choosing session locations, making the most out of them, and why we'll all want to move to Queensland after listening to this episode. (Kidding! You won't need to, cause you'll learn to uncover amazing locations right in your own backyard.)

What To Listen For:

How where you live affects your shooting style
Tips for discovering awesome new photography locations in your market
The importance of a location guide in helping clients understand what to expect
How much variety you need in a location, and how to make the most of what's there
An exercise to stretch your creative muscles and work on shooting more variety

Episode bonus: Through the end of June, Charlotte's fantastic Working with Natural Light foundation course is available for Hair of the Dog listeners at half price! Use the code HODpodcast to save yourself fifty bucks, and learn the fundamentals of light that will elevate your work and guide your session flow.

Resources From This Episode:

Charlotte Reeves Photography
Learn Pet Photography (home of RealShoots, the daily tip series and so much more)
Working With Natural Light course (don't forget the HODpodcast code!)
Toggl, Harvest and Sunseeker apps
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

A Marketing Trifecta Win Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

016 - In this episode, I'm diving into my *all-time favorite* way to build a pet photography business: charitable marketing. Partnering with a local charity is a feel-good, everybody-wins approach to finding new clients. Play it right and you'll walk away with goodwill toward your business, increased brand awareness and beaucoup bucks from the sales you'll make—not to mention a happy partner organization and delighted clients. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

What To Listen For:

An awesome time-sensitive announcement (right there in the first 3 minutes)!!
The pros and cons of involving a for-profit business in your marketing effort
Tips for creating an irresistible offer to bring in new clients
A common point of confusion for potential customers—and how to avoid it
How to make it super easy for your partners to promote your campaign

With the recent economic shutdown affecting non-profits' typical fundraising cycle, now's a great time to get the ball rolling on a strategic charity partnership promotion. Go get after it!

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