Freedom Focus Photography

252 - In this final installment of our travel hacking series, we're diving into the art of redeeming points.  Now that you've accumulated a collection of points and miles, it's time to learn how to use them to unlock unforgettable travel experiences. From booking long-haul flights in business class to scoring luxury hotel stays for free, this episode is packed with tips and strategi...

251 - Welcome back to the Freedom Focus Photography podcast! In this second episode of our three-part series on travel hacking, we're diving into the exciting world of earning points. If you love to travel and dream of doing so for free or at a significantly reduced cost, this episode is a must-listen. I'll be sharing my tried-and-true methods for maximizing points through credit card st...

250 - Welcome to the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast!  In this special episode, we're kicking off a three-part series dedicated to one of the most exciting and requested topics: travel hacking.  If you've ever dreamed of traveling for free or at a fraction of the cost, you're in the right place. Today, we'll explore how to leverage credit card points to maximize your travel r...

249 - In this episode of the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast, we’re jumping into our imaginary DeLorean and time traveling to share the ultimate 3-step success formula we wish we had known from the start!  Join Heather and me as we reveal how making decisions, taking action, and trusting yourself can transform your photography business.  We also share personal stories and insights on overcoming...

248 - In today's episode of the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast, I'm flexing my superpower – digging into a photographer's pricing and helping them make quick and easy changes that result in majorly elevated sales! Today, we're chatting with Michaela from BMac Photography in San Diego, who was running a very successful business with a $1,700 average sale. Most of her clients...

247 - In today's episode of the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast, we're diving into the art of raising your prices in your portrait photography business without losing your clients.  Whether you're just starting out with a low-cost all-inclusive model or you're already seeing high sales and aiming to break into an even more luxurious market, we’ve got you covered.  Join us to...

246 - In today’s Freedom Focus Photography Podcast, join Nicole Begley as she chats with financial expert Mel Abraham to break down the ins and outs of financial planning for creatives.  In this episode, Mel demystifies the process of building your own "money machine"—a system designed to cultivate financial independence and long-term security.  This conversation dives into why it's...

245 - Welcome back to the latest episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast!  Ever had one of those moments where you think, “Is this actually happening?”. I had one of those moments early in my photography business that I’ll never forget.  Picture this: I'm standing in the bank, clutching my first check for $105 and change, ready to open my shiny new business account.  The minimum to o...

244 - Welcome back to the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast! I'm your host, Nicole Begley, and today we have a very special guest, Daniel Usenko, the creative force behind Pixellu, developers of my favorite album design software, Smart Albums. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting to explore the possibility of adding albums to your services, this episode is packed with insights...

243 - Welcome to this exciting episode of the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast!  Today, we're diving into a unique and impactful marketing strategy with our guest, Michaela Trujillo from BMAC Pet Photography in San Diego, CA.  She’s masterfully combined art, community engagement, and philanthropy through her innovative Gallery Wall Contest - creating a powerful trifecta of collaboration. In...

242 - Welcome back to the latest episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast! In this session, we dive deep into some intriguing personal revelations with Heather, who unexpectedly found herself discussing ME with her business coach! 😳 Talk about our mind jumping to conclusions!  Imagine what I was thinking when I found this out!  In this episode, you’ll discover what I did to trigger her (s...

241 - Welcome to our final episode of The Offline Photographer! Throughout this series, we've explored the art of in-person marketing, empowering photographers to step away from screens and cultivate genuine, face-to-face connections in their local communities.  By focusing on offline engagement, we've helped photographers find innovative ways to build relationships and grow their busine...

240 - In today's episode, we're diving into the realm of marketing automation and its incredible benefits for photographers. Whether you're juggling multiple roles in your business or looking for effective ways to streamline your marketing efforts, this episode is packed with insights and practical advice. Joining us is special guest Dayna Schaaf, a marketing guru from "This Ca...

239 - Welcome back to the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast! As emerging photographers, many of you might be grappling with the question: "Am I ready to start charging for my services?"  It's a hurdle that every new photographer faces at some point. You might feel like your skills aren't polished enough or your portfolio isn't vast enough to justify setting a price. Perhap...

238 - Welcome back to the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast! In this episode, we're continuing our exploration of the common excuses photographers make that stall their progress.  Heather Lahtinen joins us once again as we call BS on these all-too-familiar myths. Whether it’s the size of your audience, your personal skills in sales, or misconceptions about what clients value, we’re here to br...

237 - Welcome back to the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of running a successful photography business!  Today, Nicole Begley and our mostly-co-host, Heather Lahtinen, tackle the tricky terrain of photography pricing and those stubborn beliefs that just might be holding your business back.  Ever whispered to yourself, "That strategy won't work for my...

236 - This episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast, hosted by Heather Lahtinen, delves into the "Offline Photographer Challenge" introduced in episode 219. The challenge is part of the Elevate program, designed to help photographers enhance their in-person marketing strategies by engaging with their local community. Heather invites Laura Wombwell to share her experiences and ins...

235 - Heather Lahtinen has been a regular guest on the Freedom Focus Photography podcast, bringing her insights and experiences to our vibrant community of photographers.  But today's episode unveils a side of Heather we've never seen before - a side that she used to keep hidden.  In a candid and transformative conversation, Heather steps into the hot seat not just to share her expertise...

Welcome to another episode of the Creative Freedom Rebellion - a podcast series within the Freedom Focus Photography podcast, hosted by Nicole Begley and J. Nichole Smith, AKA Nic.   Through the past 10+ years of mentoring pet photographers, we’ve noticed that the “why” of many pet photographers falls into one of three buckets.  The love of art, the goal of lifestyle, or the love of dog. It’s impo...

233 - Today’s episode of the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast is an episode that will resonate with photographers across all specialties.  In this enlightening conversation, I sit down with Karen Bartos, a boudoir photographer whose journey from landscape and high school senior photography to the intimate world of boudoir is a narrative of transformation and self-discovery that every photographer...

232 - Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast! This time, our host, Nicole Begley, sits down with the incredibly talented Korina Joseph, a pet photographer who has truly made waves in the industry. Korina's had her photography business for a few years, but since that virus which shall not be named her business has been on the back burner.   First from...

231 - Ryan Erickson takes us through his transformative journey from wedding photography to launching his mobile dog portrait studio, Fetch Photo Truck.  The pandemic prompted him to reassess his career path and follow his true passion for dog photography – a move that has certainly paid off!  Ryan dives into the ups and downs of managing a mobile business and stresses the need for setting clear b...

230 - We're diving deep into the heart of in-person marketing with our special series, "The Offline Photographer." Hosted by Heather Lahtinen, today's episode is all about the art of the pivot. Chatting with Laura Wombwell from Laura Wombwell Photography in Ontario, Canada, we're unpacking the big question: When is it right to shift gears in your business?  From unexpected...

229 - Buckle up for an action-packed adventure with Nicole Begley and Heather Lahtinen, where we dive into the superhero transformation of everyday photographers into unstoppable business heroes, all thanks to theProgress Lab! This episode is like opening a comic book where the characters leap off the page, each with their own tale of bravery and triumph over the business villains of doubt and fea...

228 - In this innovative episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast, Nicole Begley introduces a compelling new series titled "The Creative Freedom Rebellion," featuring regular guest J.Nichole Smith. This series is dedicated to emphasizing the importance of defining personal freedom and success on one's own terms.  In today’s episode Nicole and Nic delve into various aspects o...