Freedom Focus Photography

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...

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 e...

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 photograph...

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...

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 fiv...

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...

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 eve...

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 s...

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 photograp...

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...

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 relate d 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 way...

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 tip...

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&a...

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...

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&apos...

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 hap...

015 - One soft, squishy golden retriever pup was all it took for Kim Hartz to abandon a promising career start as a food and general portrait photographer. Fast-forward ten years and Kim not only specializes in pets, but she's also the educator behind the much-loved Pet Photography EDU, a technical course nested within the Hair of the Dog Academy.  In today's episode, Kim joins me to tal...

014 - International award-winning photographer Craig Turner-Bullock is a bit dubious about calling himself an award-winning photographer. Find out why, and pocket some sage advice on developing your own creative style from the masterful New Zealand artist, teacher and mentor behind Furtography .   What To Listen For:   What it is that truly defines your style (in other words, what's your &quo...

013 - Across the country and throughout the world, things are slowly starting to re-open. What happens now with your business?  This episode is a short and sweet check-in, to get you thinking about how to handle your business in these next few months once Peak COVID-19 has passed. Yes, there's uncertainty, but the reality is that as entrepreneurs, we have more control over our careers than mo...

012 - Open up Shelley Paulson's website and it's immediately clear what her specialty is—and how incredibly talented she is within the realm of equine photography. In this episode, I chat with Shelley about her decision to niche down and focus exclusively on horses, and the explosive growth her business experienced once her energy was channeled into that seemingly narrow arena. But regar...

011 - This week's episode is a conversation with portrait photographer and business coach Luci Dumas, whose photography business has survived six—count 'em, SIX!—recessions over the last 38 years, and emerged stronger after every single one. Luci, whose superpowers include consistently notching high-dollar sales, shares with us what she's learned about thriving in challenging times...

010-On this episode I'm joined by Caitlin McColl, one of our beloved pet photographers Down Under. In addition to running Ragamuffin Pet Photography and co-hosting the Pet Photographer's Club podcast, Caitlin leads a brilliant program called From Concept to Coffee Table, designed to teach pet photographers how to build their client base through self-published books.  If you have a book p...

009 - So here we are, adjusting (perhaps?) to the new normal of staying home. If you're feeling like this is a golden opportunity to work on your pet photography business but don't know where to start, this episode's for you. In it, I take you through fifty awesome ideas for improving your business that you can do from the comfort of home.   As always, give yourself some grace. Don&...

008 - The sense that "we're all in this together" is something that a lot of people are feeling right now, thanks to current global events. The vital role of community, cooperation and collaboration is on full display in the daily news reports, and possibly even in your own neighborhood. In that spirit, my guest this week is Marika Moffitt of Dirtie Dog Photography , who shares how...

007 - As you envision the future of your pet photography business, it's really helpful to hear from other pet photographers about the evolution of their businesses. In this episode, I chat with Shaleena Jones of Give a Dog a Bone Photography about her journey from an all-digital, bargain-basement-price model to a boutique business, and about the lessons she's learned along the way.  What...