Freedom Focus Photography

131 - When it comes to designing your website, the first step is to step back from the design elements.  Sound counterintuitive? This week Mikaela Vargas of Pet Marketing Unleashed sheds some light on what makes an effective website, and where to begin your web-design process. We talk about minimum viable websites, and—for those further along—the automations that will next-level your business.   ...

130 - This week we revisit a conversation from a recent episode, where Heather lost her mind over a $35,000 used Hermès purse. Spoiler alert: she's still bent out of shape about it!    Regardless, we're circling back to the self-assigned task of spending an (unfortunately) imaginary $100,000 in an entirely frivolous way. You'd think this would be easy, but we both struggled! Find ou...

129 - Unless you're a newcomer to the Hair of the Dog ecosystem, you know that we recently moved our community group from Facebook to Circle. And if you were part of our free Facebook group, you might be aware that the change went over like a lead balloon.  Or did it?! This week, Heather and I discuss decisions—big ones, little ones, hard ones, easy ones—and what happens when you piss people...

128 - Calling Tracy Goodwin a voice coach is like calling The Rock just a wrestler. Her work goes far beyond, say, training actors in a convincing Irish brogue—though she can do that, too! We're fortunate to have Tracy with us this week for a fascinating episode on the psychology of voice. There's more to it than you might expect, and it's stuff you need to know. Because unpacking w...

127 - This week we're on a quest for the holy grail of the modern world: more time. In the interest of brevity, I offer you our shortest-ever podcast, with just one helpful bit of "homework" to do.  What To Listen For:   The predictable pitfall of the human brain The non-negotiable hours you need in your schedule  How to do a time audit, to see where your time really goes Hit play,...

126 - As a money management and mindset coach, Erinn Bridgman works with female entrepreneurs to not only design profitable businesses, but to actually grow their personal wealth. And this week on the show, Erinn joins me to talk about what photographers (of any and all genders!) should be doing to get their financial pups in a row.  What To Listen For:   The biggest money-management mistake Erinn...

125 - Today, we have a throwback Thursday episode, and this is going way back in the archives to episode number 31, Easy Accounting with Candus Kampfer.  ----------- 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!  QuickBo...

124 - A photographer's truism: There's always going to be someone cheaper.  With the new year just underway, you might be revisiting your pricing or making changes to the way you do business. This short episode is your reminder to not freak out if there are cheaper pet photographers in your market! Choose your business model with intention, be strategic, be visible, offer value, and gues...

123 - This week, Heather's in a prison of her own making, and I attempt to help with her jailbreak. The topic of discussion is a $35,000 Hermès purse, but the implications go far beyond that.   Join us for an emotion-packed episode on judgment, shame spirals, and why 2022 Heather is having a good laugh at 2018 Heather's expense.  What To Listen For:   Why I diagnose Heather with a "...

122 - Forget the classic Andy Williams Christmas song. This, right now , is the most wonderful time of the year! A new year, a fresh Trello board, resolutions unsullied by the siren song of Crumbl Cookies—there's nothing better than January's promise and potential!!  And this week, Heather and I discuss how to make the most of the opportunity. Now's the time to set yourself up for s...

121 -  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...

120 - You've seen her as the 'Pupparazzi' on Nat Geo WILD. You've drooled over her signature, sapphire-sky pet portraits. Your coffee table might even be adorned with her brand-new book, Dogtography.  And now it's time to buckle up, because this week's episode features a mile-a-minute conversation with my dear friend, the inimitable Kaylee Greer. You'll hear all...

119 - Welcome to Biz Tip Thursday!  These are short actionable episodes in which Nicole takes something that's going on in her life or business and relates that to something that you can do NOW in your business!  Great smelling soap brings me momentarily happiness throughout the day, so when I was near Bath and Body Works I popped in to grab some Christmas varieties. Little did I know that th...

118 - Tracy Munson's town in New Brunswick, Canada has no stoplights. None. In Harvey Parish, a "traffic jam" is when cows or chickens are blocking the road.   And yet since moving to this tiny outpost in 2018, Tracy's managed to go full-time with her pet photography business AND find success with it. Hear how this week, in a fantastic conversation that covers moving, marketing...

117 -  This week, Heather Lahtinen and I wrap up our 6-part series on moving past your money hangups and opening the door to more abundance in your life. In this episode we share a dozen real-world examples of financial self-sabotage, and discuss how to dismantle those behaviors. You'll also hear me justify the 3 speeding tickets I got in Brazil (oops) , and hear Heather invite your loved one...

116 - It's hard to believe that Bryn Bonino started her pet photography business just 7 months ago. Already, she has some massive wins under her belt—including an $8,000 sale. But Bryn doesn't attribute her success to her background in marketing.  This week, Bryn joins me for a fantastic conversation about mindset, meditation, and how the mass of every human on earth could fit inside a s...

115 - 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&apos...

114 - Welcome to Biz Tip Thursday!  These are short actionable episodes in which Nicole takes something that's going on in her life or business and relates that to something that you can do NOW in your business! We all hear that we need to schedule self-care and take care of ourselves first - but why is that so hard? If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening...

113 - 'Tis the season to start planning for the season that's just around the bend: those frenzied weeks of holiday gift shopping. Staying on the sidelines—offering no Black Friday, Cyber Monday or Small-Business Saturday specials—is a perfectly valid choice. But you may still have people looking to buy gift certificates for their loved ones.  This week, Mandi Pratt from Greyboy Pet Prin...

112 - This week, mindset-ninja Heather Lahtinen and I return to our series on money. We talk about a common deep-seated fear that blocks financial success, and also go down some kooky tangents—like why I don't want to be seen on a boat (blame the 2009 SNL video?).  If your bank account balance still isn't where you want it, do yourself a favor and listen to this episode. You might need t...

111 - This week's podcast 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 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:   Overhaul (or Create) Your Website to Maximize Your Sales Phot...

110 - It's fair to call it a major pivot: When Alex Cearns went full-time as a pet photographer in 2009, she left behind a career in counterterrorism. And although the work was more joyful, it still felt like baptism by fire to successfully manage a full calendar of clients.  These days, thankfully, up-and-coming pet photographers have far more people to turn to for advice—including Alex hers...

109 - Earlier this year, head of Instagram Adam Mosseri announced that IG is no longer a photo sharing app. Cue the record scratch. Say wut??   If you've spent a minute on social media lately, the pivot to prioritizing video comes as no surprise. Equine photographer Shelley Paulson has been watching the trend develop for years, which is why she started dabbling in video creation back in 2014....

108 -  Welcome to Biz Tip Thursday!  These are short actionable episodes in which Nicole takes something that's going on in her life or business and relates that to something that you can do NOW in your business!  We all have things that we value enough to have a little spending "splurge" now and then. For me, it's never shoes - but often travel. However, even I might run into...

107 - This week, a short and celebratory podcast. Now that the Hair of the Dog Conservation Fund is officially a 501(c)3 non-profit, I want to talk about finding my life's purpose—and what it might look like for you to find yours.  What To Listen For:   The limiting misconception about "finding your purpose" What it feels like to be in alignment How to get closer to your core purpos...