Freedom Focus Photography

106 - 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! Have you ever found yourself in a situation in which you had everything planned out, dare I say perfectly, and then something happens to make it all go COMPLETELY off the rails? I&apo...

105 - Deciding when to start charging for your work is like having a baby: You're never going to feel completely ready. If you're a human—and I assume that you are—you'll always make mistakes and have room for improvement. Regardless, this week Heather and I hope to convince you that if someone in your market is willing to pay you for photography, then forpetessake LET THEM PAY YOU!...

104 - 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! Creating beautiful images and high-end products aren't always enough to truly offer your clients a high-end service. Join me on the Great Lobby Search of 2021. If this episode in...

103 - As I sneak off to Iceland this week with the hubs, I'm turning the reins over to podcast regular and mindset maven Heather Lahtinen. And...Heather has a question for you. All these principles and personal growth strategies we talk about on the podcast—are you putting them into practice in real life? Do you even notice when your emotions are hijacking your thought process? (That's t...

102 - 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! What do you do when your to-do list is miles and miles long and you are feeling that there is no possible way that you will be able to complete all of these tasks? You fill up the soa...

101 - This week's it's another money-minded podcast, with favorite guest—and newly certified Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner!—Heather Lahtinen.   Everyone has a money story. Play along as I try to uncover Heather's story, by presenting different scenarios to see what triggers her. What comes up for you as you listen? How would you answer these questions? Did you buy Bitcoi...

100 - This week I'm boiling down over a decade in business into five essential takeaways. If you're newer in business or an aspiring pet photographer, consider these hard-won lessons a head start on your path. And if you're multitasking while you listen, pleeease pay close attention to #4. You'll hear about one of the hardest things you can possibly do—and the enormous payoff y...

099 - This week, as we creep toward a major podcast milestone, I look back at both the humble beginnings and the happy evolution of Hair of the Dog.  What have I learned along the way that you can put to use in your own business? If you're a regular listener, the "secrets to success" won't entirely be a surprise. But I hope that framing these in a new way—and sharing a few thou...

098 - The more pet photography clients you have, the more likely it is that something—or someone—will slip through the cracks. Once Pittsburgh-based photographer Jessica Wasik reached the point of potential client-management chaos, she realized it was time to upgrade her workflow and client tracking system. Fast-forward to today and Jessica's a full-on Dubsado evangelist, sharing with fellow...

097 - Learning off-camera flash opens up a world of possibilities for your photography. Want images with more depth and dimension? Try off-camera flash. Want the freedom to shoot at 2pm on a sunny day, without your images looking dog-awful? Try off-camera flash! This week, Elevate and Academy coach Kim Hartz joins me to demystify what is, for many photographers, an intimidating topic. We share the...

096 -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!  Quality matters - and sorry Hydrox, but you just don't cut it when I'm expecting Oreos! Today I'm crying in my ice cream about the lack of cookies in my cookies and cre...

095 - Do you have holes in your underwear?  Yeah, I know—it's none of my business. But I'm talking about it anyway this week, with mindset champion and podcast regular Heather Lahtinen. Because the state of your underpants can reveal more than you might think.  In this episode, we're talking about your relationship to money, how your environment affects your mindset, and simple ways...

094 - 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!  Would you like some ice today? That's a regular question when checking in at our boat club on Lake Norman - and a service that they could 100% charge for! However, they don&apos...

093 - Finding your style as a photographer doesn't happen overnight. I was six or seven years into my photography career before landing on a "signature look"—and that was after many whispers of the devilish voice in my head, saying you're just not creative!   Sound familiar? Well, to all those nay-saying voices out there, I say pfffffft. If you were born human, you were born wi...

092 - It’s Laser Coaching time again, which is a member benefit inside the Hair of the Dog Academy when members get to schedule a 15-minute 1:1 call with Nicole to discuss any issue that they are currently facing in their business.  Alan is planning a mini-session event and is looking to create it in a way in which he creates awareness, attracts potential long-term clients, and makes some money. ...

091 - When it comes to "speaking dog," very few pet owners are fluent. And that language barrier, if you will, leads to misunderstandings and unnecessary fear on the part of our four-legged friends.  As professional pet photographers, we need to do better. Understanding canine body language and social norms means not only will your sessions go more smoothly, but your subjects will be hap...

090 - 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! Have you ever purchased something and despite being super excited to start using it - that item sits unused for an embarrassing length of time? I'm looking at your Wacom tablet....

089 - This week we cover the last of the six business pillars: marketing. Once the foundation of your business is in place, it's time to start telling the world. Because as much as we'd like the easy "build it and they will come" success, that's rarely how it works.   Thankfully, as you'll learn in this final episode of the series, the three phases of marketing your b...

088 -  It’s Laser Coaching time again, which is a member benefit inside the Hair of the Dog Academy when members get to schedule a 15-minute 1:1 call with Nicole to discuss any issue that they are currently facing in their business.  Inquiries!  How much is too much to share on the website, in the inquiry, and at the sales session?  In this conversation, Nicole and Joy discuss the pros and cons of...

087 - When it comes to mapping out your workflow, think of it as an investment of time and brainpower that your future self will effusively thank you for. Because once you have your workflow mapped and the pieces in place, you won't need to reinvent the wheel every time a potential new client appears. Stress drops significantly; scaling your business becomes possible.   And while it's no...

086 - 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! I have a three pillow system for getting a good night's sleep. So when my ENTIRE family is sharing one hotel room, we obviously need some extra pillows!! In today's Biz Tip...

085 - We're on to the fourth business pillar this week, and it's one that makes joyful fireworks explode in the nerd-center of my brain: PRICING!  Yep, this week I channel my inner CPA to help you sort through the numbers. Because if you want to be in business, you need to ensure that you're actually making a profit. There are pricing traps waiting to swallow up unsuspecting new pho...

084 -  It’s Laser Coaching time again, which is a member benefit inside the Hair of the Dog Academy when members get to schedule a 15-minute 1:1 call with Nicole to discuss any issue that they are currently facing in their business.  In this conversation, Ina has been building her pet photography business with great success, but has hit a snag with finding some qualified clients.  Together in this...

083 - This week we're diving into the third business pillar: your website. It's your virtual storefront and yes, you need to have one if you're open for business!  It doesn't need to be flash bang whiz fancy (and probably shouldn't be), but it does need to follow some best practices. In this episode, I'll walk you through what those are.  What To Listen For:   What to...

82 - 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! How diligent are you about asking your clients for reviews? How many reviews is "enough" so you can rest easy? In today's episode, I'm sharing my recent experience...