Welcome to the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast, the essential audio hub for portrait photographers eager to launch and elevate their businesses to achieve their ideal version of success. Hosted by Nicole Begley, a former zoological animal trainer turned accomplished family and then pet/equine photographer, this podcast is your go-to resource for transforming your photographic passion into a thriving business. Since making the leap into photography in 2010 and quickly scaling her business t ...
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Story Brand Your Business with Karen Bartos
36:35
36:35
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256 - In this episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast, we're diving into one of the most powerful tools in business: storytelling. If you’ve ever struggled to connect with your clients or wondered how to make your website work harder for you, this episode is a must-listen. I’m joined by Karen Bartos, a certified StoryBrand Guide, who’s her…
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258 - In this episode of the Freedom Focused Photography Podcast, we're thrilled to welcome back Jeff Brown, The Photographer's Mentor, for an insightful conversation on how to elevate your photography business by harnessing the power of positivity, gratitude, and strategic visibility. Jeff shares his unique journey from military photographer to re…
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Money Story Shattering with Heather and Kerry
45:22
45:22
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256 - In this episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast, join me as we welcome back Kerry Jordan. She bravely opens up about a major block that’s been affecting her work for decades - a feeling of being disingenuous selling luxury artwork to private clients and being particularly uncomfortable with the sales process around upselling products…
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255 - If you’ve been feeling the weight of a slow season or just need a little boost in your business (and mindset), this episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast is for you. I’ve got Johl Dunn back on the podcast, and we’re diving deep into some game-changing strategies that can help you navigate tough times, overcome stress, and shift you…
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Inside the High School Senior Market with Dan Frievalt
54:47
54:47
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254 - In this episode of the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast, your host Nicole Begley dives into the exciting world of high school senior photography with special guest Dan Frievalt from Frievalt Photography. Whether you’re interested in photographing high school seniors or not - this episode is still full of applicable tips for ANY genre! Dan sh…
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Portrait vs. Commercial Work with Kerry Jordan
45:48
45:48
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253 - In this episode of the Freedom Focus Photography podcast, we welcome Kerry Jordan from Fur and Fables Photography. Kerry shares her incredible journey of pivoting from private client photography to a thriving commercial pet photography business. Discover the challenges and rewards Kerry faced during this transition and gain valuable insights …
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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 episod…
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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 …
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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 poin…
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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 sh…
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Pricing Review - Jumping from $1700 to $3800
29:58
29:58
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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 aver…
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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 …
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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…
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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 sh…
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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 service…
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Gallery Wall Contests with Michaela Trujillo
24:36
24:36
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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 - creatin…
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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 episod…
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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 bu…
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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, …
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10 Thoughts that Hold Photographers Back Part 3
35:26
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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…
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10 Thoughts that Hold Photographers Back Part 2
35:51
35:51
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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 misconception…
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10 Thoughts that Hold Photographers Back Part 1
35:11
35:11
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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 yours…
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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 W…
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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 ho…
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Art, Lifestyle, or Love: What Drives Your Business?
54:56
54:56
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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 g…
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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 transfor…
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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 busin…
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Fetching Multi-6 Figures with Ryan Erickson
37:59
37:59
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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 bu…
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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 b…
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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 t…
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The Four Levels of Commercial Photography
57:09
57:09
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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 an…
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We're Now the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast
23:49
23:49
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227 - In this pivotal episode, Nicole Begley announces a significant change: the podcast is now the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast! This rebranding comes with exciting new directions and offerings, particularly the Freedom Focus Formula course, designed to radically transform the businesses of photographers through pricing, sales, and messaging …
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226 - In this insightful episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast, Heather Lahtinen is taking over the mic for our 2nd episode of ‘The Offline Photographer’. This series is all about getting you out from behind your computer and actually INTO your market so that you can meet an connect with marketing partners and/or potential clients. This is the tri…
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225 - In this episode, Nicole Begley shares her insights on what she would do if she were starting her photography business from scratch in 2024. We start with the importance of finding your niche, specifically identifying what you love about that niche and your products. Then, the second (often overlooked) step is dialing in your messaging and cre…
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224 - Today’s conversation is focusing on marketing our photography businesses, because if there’s one area that frustrates most photographers, it’s the challenges they face in finding new clients. In this episode, I’m joined by my friends Heather Lahtinen, Dorie Howell, and Tavia Redburn to have a candid conversation to help photographers unlock t…
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223 - In this episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast, Nicole and Heather discuss the power of thoughts and how they can shape our lives and businesses. They share their most influential thoughts from 2023 and the thoughts they plan to carry into 2024. By changing our thoughts, we can change our outcomes. Nicole and Heather introduce a model that sh…
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222 - As the year wraps up, it's the perfect time to get your photography business prepped and polished for the new year! Join me, Nicole Begley, as I dive into the essential year-end action items to help you put a bow on 2023 and prepare for success in 2024! What to listen for: Get practical tips on handling finances, from tracking expenses to pre…
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The Secret Hack to Confidence with Heather Lahtinen
48:15
48:15
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221 - Get ready to dive deep into a world where confidence reigns supreme! Join Nicole Begley and Heather Lahtinen as they uncover the secret sauce to building unshakeable confidence in your photography biz. This isn’t just any chat – it’s a journey through the ups and downs of self-trust, topped off with a surprising twist about... chocolate muffi…
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Finding Success with Social Anxiety with Michelle Crandall
53:49
53:49
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220 - Rejection is part of being a business owner. No … no, wait … rejection is part of being human! Even marketing guru Seth Godin has heard the word "no" but he's at least come to understand that the rejection is more about the rejectee than it is about him. Rejectee … I just made that up. That doesn't mean the word "no" isn't difficult to hear. …
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The Offline Photographer with Heather Lahtinen Part 1
36:03
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219 - You spoke up and we listened. You all loved The Coaching Journals with Heather Lahtinen, Christi Baker and Monica Adalsteinsson that we're bringing them back. Ish. Christi and Monica are off soaring like eagles after six months of intensive coaching with Heather and the Elevate program. Today, we're introducing a spinoff series, called The Of…
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Split Pea Soup and Photo Feedback with Heather Lahtinen
33:02
33:02
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218 - I completely get it if you see the word "soup" and here "NO SOUP FOR YOU" in your head. It means you might be old enough to remember Seinfeld on NBC every Thursday night. Or maybe you've seen that episode on Prime video. Heather and I are talking about soup on this week's episode of the Hair of the Dog podcast. No, not chicken soup for the so…
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Rock your Financial Goals with Heather Lahtinen
40:51
40:51
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217 - I’m going to take a stab in the dark at something. I’m guessing you’re pretty stoked when you hit a big revenue goal in your pet photography business. Who wouldn’t be, right? Cha’ching! BUT ... What are you making that number mean? ESPECIALLY if you miss a revenue target — or if you were to have your revenue dip?!? 😱 If you’re human, you migh…
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216 - Let me be quite clear: There are no cats at a Fast CAT event. Not a single feline to be found, I swear! Nope, Fast CAT — fast coercing ability test — is all about dogs. Dogs of every size, dogs of every color, dogs of every breed and dogs of every origin. In fact, FastCAT, which is essentially the 100-metre dash for dogs, might be the most in…
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215 - So many of us are heading into the "offseason" right now, which means it's time to spiff up our websites and plan for 2024. OK, OK … take a little break after you fulfill all your client orders but then it's time to get down to brass tacks. One of the things you might want to put on your to-do list is working on your SEO. Search. Engine. Opti…
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Navigating Thought Spirals with Heather Lahtinen
50:44
50:44
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214 - I screwed up. You guys, I'm human and I'm not (too) embarrassed to admit that I made a mistake. And I'm baring it all in this week's episode of The Hair of the Dog podcast. Here's the gist: I made some pretty serious assumptions about a client I booked last Christmas. I sold him a gift certificate as a gift for his girlfriend. I assumed -- be…
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The Secret to Building Value for your Photography
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213 - Do you know what some of my favorite moments are? When my clients cry. I realize that makes me sound cold-hearted — but they’re crying because they’re so happy! Inevitably, they point at photos that roll across my slideshow, happy tears well up in their eyes and they gasp, "OHMIGOSH, THAT IS SO BENNY." That is always the moment I know when I'…
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How Fear is Holding You Back with Heather Lahtinen
37:37
37:37
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212 - To fear is human. Heather Lahtinen fears snakes (and I am never going to stop reminding her). For me, it's tech. I fear learning new tech and it has kept me from moving forward with this new thingie I bought, the Atomos Ninja. It's an external screen that lets me see what I'm shooting as I'm shooting. It sounds awesome, doesn't it? But there …
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211 - I can't believe we are at the end of this journey. Has it been six months of The Coaching Journals already? Good grief, where has the year gone? For the last six months, Heather Lahtinen, our head guru at Elevate and Flourish Academy, has been sharing her coaching sessions with two Elevate students on the Hair of the Dog podcast. This week's …
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This week's episde 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 V 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: The Art of Storytelling to Sell Your Photograp…
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Making the Best of Things with Heather Lahtinen
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210 - I’m Nicole and I'm an ENTJ on the Myers-Briggs and that means I struggle with the stuff that doesn't excite me – and despise things that aren’t efficient. Like life stuff. Hanging out at a soccer tournament all day long when my son is playing in one game. One game! Aren't there other things I could be doing? What could I be knocking off my Ha…
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