The Pet Photographers' Journal

Not long ago, Stacey Sherman's pet photography business still felt like a hobby. It wasn't the real, paying business she wanted, and it frustrated her. A self-described procrastinator who struggled hugely with confidence. Today she's opening her second studio. In this episode, Ina sits down with Stacey Sherman of BarkHop Studio, a founding member of the Consistent Bookings Mastermind, for an hones...

If you've ever felt like you're posting and posting and still staring at an empty calendar, this one's for you. In this episode I'm sharing a small change to the podcast (more solo episodes, and moving to fortnightly), and why that decision is actually the exact lesson I want to talk about: doing more isn't what gets you booked. Doing the right things, on purpose, is. I break down the difference b...

Have you ever scrolled past a shelter dog and thought "that photo doesn't do them justice"? Adam Goldberg had the same thought, and he did something about it. Adam is the founder of AGold Photos and the creator of Second Shot, a mission-driven adoption photography programme placing professional photographers inside shelters to give animals a real chance at being seen. What started as weekend volun...

In one week, it will be a year since I released the very first episode of The Pet Photographers' Journal. I honestly didn't know if I'd still be here doing this. I didn't know if I'd stay consistent. I didn't know if it would matter to anyone. But here we are. Over 5,000 downloads later, and I get messages from photographers telling me these episodes have genuinely helped their businesses. That me...

When Kirstie McConnell found out she was moving back to Australia after six years in Italy, she had six months to prepare. By the time she landed in Melbourne, a city where she knew almost no one professionally, she had 26 sessions already booked. Her first three shoots were four days after arriving home. In this episode, Ina sits down with Kirstie, one of Australia's original pet photographers an...

What if you could run four campaigns a year, spend around $40 to acquire each client, and predict exactly how many sessions you'd fill? That is exactly what Jason Krieger-Baum has built at Fido Photo in Toronto. He has been photographing pets for over 17 years, and in this episode he pulls back the curtain on the giveaway-based lead generation model that now drives his entire business. No organic...

Right now I've got 16 sessions booked for May, ordering appointments to run, editing to get through, and prints to deliver. And I'm still marketing. I know that probably sounds like a lot. This episode is about what that actually looks like, and why having a system already in place means marketing doesn't have to stop just because life gets full. I also share the moment that changed how I think ab...

I'm recording this right at the start of my busiest month. Sixteen sessions in May. And almost every single one of them was booked from campaigns I ran back in January and February. That gap between when the marketing happens and when the bookings land is the thing most photographers miss. And it's exactly what this episode is about. If you're in a busy season right now and you're not thinking abo...

Why You Can't Make Yourself Show Up Online (It's Not a Confidence Problem) with Miss Marissa You know what you should be doing. Post more. Show up consistently. Put yourself out there. And yet something keeps stopping you. In this episode, I sit down with Marissa, a personal brand therapist, coach, and former national TV hypnotist who works at the intersection of neuroscience, subconscious rewirin...

How I Know What a Client Will Spend Before They See Their Photos If you've ever had a client ghost you after the session, or show up to their ordering appointment completely shocked by the pricing, this episode is going to hit close to home. Because here's the thing: the problem usually isn't the ordering appointment itself. It's everything that came before it. In this solo episode, Ina walks thro...

If you've ever thought about offering end-of-life sessions, or you already do and you want to do them better, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with Angela Schneider from Big White Dog Photography for an honest, emotional and deeply practical discussion about what it really takes to photograph families during one of the hardest chapters of their lives. Angela is an adventur...

Cat Race has been photographing dogs professionally since 2013, and she is one of the most recognisable names in the industry. Her work has won awards, appeared in national and international publications, and her Scarf Project is one of the most distinctive bodies of work in dog photography today. She is also refreshingly honest about the things most photographers don't talk about out loud. In thi...

You did everything right. The session was amazing, the dog was a star, the client loved it. Then you sent the gallery link or reached out to book their ordering appointment. And nothing. In this solo episode, Ina gets honest about what's actually happening when clients go quiet after a session. And it's probably not what you think. Spoiler: it's almost never a closing problem. It's a communication...

AI Won't Replace Pet Photographers. But Here's What Will Change. If you've been scrolling photography groups lately, you've probably seen the panic. "AI is coming for us." "Is pet photography even safe?" It's loud, and honestly, it's understandable. So in this solo episode, Ina addresses it head on. Not to dismiss the concern, but to give you an honest, grounded take from someone who is deep in AI...

When Yunet Solarzano reached out to Ina on Instagram, she had been trying to build her pet photography business for about a year, had no paying clients, and was at a crossroads. She'd already invested in all the creative gear, tried collaborating with local businesses, and spent money on templates and equipment. None of it moved the needle. In this episode, Yunet shares what actually changed when...

If your marketing plan starts and ends with Instagram, this episode is for you. I sat down with Claire Lauer, an SEO and content marketing strategist who works specifically with photographers, to talk about what a real content strategy looks like for pet photographers in 2026. We covered why Google and AI search tools are becoming one of the most powerful ways to attract the right clients, what bl...

Documenting Your Own Dogs: Personal Photography Projects with Kerry Martin Most episodes of The Pet Photographers’ Journal focus on the business side of photography. Marketing, pricing, and building a sustainable photography business. But this episode is a little different. Instead of talking about strategy or sales, this conversation steps back into something much more personal. Photographing our...

Is your website quietly turning away clients? Most photographers have a website. Far fewer have one that actually converts. In this episode, Ina sits down with Alex Vita, a web designer who works exclusively with photographers and has nearly 20 years of experience helping them get more enquiries through their sites. They cover the most common content and user experience mistakes photographers make...

In this solo episode, Ina shares the moment that changed how she thinks about marketing forever. After quitting her six-figure government job to go full time in photography, attending an overseas retreat, and coming home to zero bookings in January and February, she learned the hard way that posting on social media and having a marketing strategy are two very different things. She also introduces...

What does it take to transform from photographing 1,000+ weddings to running one of Northern Ireland’s most successful boutique pet photography studios? In this episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal , we sit down with Graham Crichton of Belfast, Northern Ireland, who has built a premium studio brand with over 400 five-star Google reviews and an average sale of £1,500–£2,000 per client. You’ll...

Marketing can feel overwhelming. Email lists. Social media. SEO. AI. PR. Sub-niching. Ads. Reviews. If you’re a pet photographer wondering where to actually focus your energy, this episode brings clarity. Ina is joined by Tarryn Michie, co-founder of Pet Biz Creatives, a pet-industry marketing agency that partners with ethical, purpose-driven pet brands to help them grow sustainably without burnou...

Do you feel like your marketing is scattered or your marketing reactively instead of proactively? Are you posting on social media just to "post something," hoping it leads to a booking? In this special episode, I’m sitting down with Sharon Canovas, a talented pet and family photographer based in Ontario (and a professional stuntwoman!). Sharon joined my Consistent Bookings Workshop because she was...

Feeling overwhelmed by scattered systems, lost inquiries, and clients who ghost before booking? You're not alone. In this episode, systems strategist Colie James breaks down exactly how to build a client experience that runs on autopilot while still feeling personal and professional. Colie is a Dubsado Certified Specialist, HoneyBook Educator, and the host of Business-First Creatives podcast. Afte...

If you feel like you know what you should be doing in your business...but your calendar is still empty, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I speaks directly to one of the most common and frustrating patterns I see after coaching pet photographers. You’re not lacking information. You’re stuck between knowing and doing. Between consuming content and seeing results. Between trying “all th...

What do you do when you've been in business for 13 years, you can take beautiful photos, but you just can't seem to get the clients? Do you give up, or do you get help? In this honest and vulnerable episode, Sydney-based dog and equine photographer Allira Fontana shares her journey from event photography burnout to building a sustainable private session business. Allira opens up about the moment s...