Freedom Focus Photography

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 secret that I'm a huge fan of automation, in this episode I share specifics of the very analog system that served me well for years. No need to get fancy—you just need to get this done!

What to Listen For:

• What I mean by workflow, and why you need to map one out
• The 3 distinct parts of the process (and the easiest place to start)
• How to use the "magazine rack" CRM system
• The single most forgotten step at the end of your process
• Why you'll want to recruit an "inquiry buddy"
• ...And an exciting new course coming to the HOD Academy!!

Trust me when I say this: Future You really, really wants Present You to make this a priority!

Resources From This Episode:

• Spreadsheet of CRM software options (download available for Academy members)
• Episode 79: Business Pillar #1 - Legal & Admin
• Episode 81: Business Pillar #2 - Branding
• Episode 83: Business Pillar #3 - Website
• Episode 85: Business Pillar #4 - Pricing
• Dubsado, Honeybook, and Sprout Studio
• JotForm, ToDoist, Trello and AirTable
• Episode 40: Inquiries that Convert, with our Elevate Coaches
• Episode 45: Using Video to Book More Clients, with Andrew Hellmich
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Hair of the Dog Facebook group
• Hair of the Dog Elevate coaching program

Are you enjoying the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast? Please leave a rating or a review!

JOIN THE PARTY:

• Connect with us on Instagram
• Explore valuable pet photography resources here
• Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers.
• Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that.
• Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

135 - How do you create a personal connection with potential new clients, when their inboxes are overflowing and they're unlikely to answer the phone? According to Australian photographer and podcast host Andrew Hellmich, the secret to standing out is video.

In this engaging episode, Andrew shares a long list of ideas, resources, and insider tricks for using video to boost your business. And don't worry—his ideas are as simple to execute as they are brilliant. Leave your DSLR on the shelf, and start leveraging the power of quick-and-easy videos to fill your calendar.

What To Listen For:

• The importance of putting a face to your personal brand
• A simple strategy to build relationships with local businesses
• Who you should invite to crash your videos (your viewers will thank you!)
• How to leverage short, simple videos to rank higher in search
• What it means to use a “dog-whistle headline”
• Ways to repurpose your video content for maximum mileage

After listening to this episode, there's no doubt you'll be convinced of the value of using video. But if you're feeling awkward or unsure about the execution side, you'll want to join Andrew's Daily Vlog Challenge. It's a safe space for getting comfy with video, and you'll be amazed at how much you'll improve in just 21 days!

Resources From This Episode:

• PhotoBiz Xposed
• Nicole's appearance on Andrew's podcast
• Brian Bossamy on Andrew's podcast
• BombBomb (video email with built-in GIFs)
• Loom (screen and video recording software)
• Bonjoro (desktop recorder and mobile app)
• Rev (video transcription service)
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Free Hair of the Dog Community
• Hair of the Dog Elevate

Are you enjoying the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast? Please leave a rating or a review!

JOIN THE PARTY:

• Connect with us on Instagram
• Explore valuable pet photography resources here
• Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers.
• Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that.
• Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

As you might have heard by now, the Hair of the Dog Summit is coming back from Sept.13-15. But in the meantime, I thought it would be really fun to replay some of the podcast episodes of some of our Summit speakers.
In this replay, we bring you another incredible episode from one of our regular coaches inside the Academy, Kim Hartz of Kim Hartz Photography.
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140 - Chances are, you have a lot on your plate. Maybe you're running a business, or working in a full-time job. You might be parenting small humans or be the primary caretaker of pets. Or maybe—bless you, dear listener—you're doing all of the above.

So how do you keep all those balls in the air, without losing track of things or feeling overwhelmed? That's what my conversation is about this week with Kim Hartz, photographer extraordinaire, Academy and Elevate coach, wife and busy mother of three.

What To Listen For:

• Why we're feeling nostalgic for the early-COVID days
• How Kim maps out her year, to keep things on track
• What you can expect to pay for outsourced editing work
• The magical words to use when guiding your clients
• And a challenge for you, from Nicole—do it this week!

Regardless of your specific responsibilities, you'll appreciate this week's real-talk and life-management recommendations!

Resources From This Episode:

• Episode 15: The Key to Client Inquiries, with Kim Hartz
• Episode 97: Getting Started with Off-Camera Flash, with Kim Hartz
• Kim Hartz's website
• Evolve Edits retouching
• Denise Duffield-Thomas money-mindset blog
• Tweek calendar app
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Free Hair of the Dog Community
• Hair of the Dog Summit (Sept.13-15)

Are you enjoying the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast? Please leave a rating or a review!

JOIN THE PARTY:

• Connect with us on Instagram
• Explore valuable pet photography resources here
• Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers.
• Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that.
• Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

209 - Annemie Tonken had to take a break once and get back to business. Guys, we're talking about a "major surgery and three months on crutches" kind of break.

That's when she came up with her idea to get her family photography clients into a membership service. Newly divorced, she needed to stabilize her income and make her business more resilient.

One day, UPS dropped off her recurring shipment of air failters and it was an aha moment like she's never had! She realized people often forget to schedule their annual family photography sessions. Why not get them signed up to a subscription so they never forget?

Brilliant! Annemie joins me on the Hair of the Dog podcast this week to give us all the details – and FWIW, this doesn’t just work for family photographers. We have an Elevate member making this work with her pet photography business.

What to listen for

9:38 Why Annemie shifted her perspective on running a photography business

12:40 How she launched her membership program to her clients

17:18 The pros and cons of her subscription model

23:25 How to set your membership up for success

32:27 Why it's important to know your numbers before you start

Interested in learning more about how to create a membership model? Listen to this podcast episode and then get registered for this year’s Hair of the Dog Summit, going down Sept. 26-27 and Annemie is sharing all the important deets.

Have you signed up yet? Grab your ticket now!

Where to find Annemie

• This Can't Be That Hard
• Facebook Group
• Instagram: @thiscantbethathard_
• Megapixie Photography
• The Family Narrative

Are you enjoying the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast? Please leave a rating or a review!

JOIN THE PARTY:

• Connect with us on Instagram
• Explore valuable pet photography resources here
• Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers.
• Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that.
• Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.

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 Offline Photographer, and it's inspired by the challenges of the same name that Heather is currently holding in Elevate.

These challenges are designed to make you a networking, marketing boss, getting you out into your community to talk all things pet photography.

Heather is picking a photographer in the challenges each month to interview and share their journey. This month, we're hearing from Laura Wombwell of Hamilton, Ontario, who's making a name for herself with quirky fantasy composites and dramatic portraits.
What to listen for

4:24 The genius behind Laura's fundraising event

9:56 The delicate balance between charity work and business

21:19 How to overcome the fear of rejection

26:49 Why we need to retrain our brains and share our passion

35:23 Heather drops a new challenge on Laura

Guys, I am super excited to see where Heather takes this new series with her Elevate photographers. I'm confident she is going to get even more members of our community flying!

What's your takeaway from Laura's coaching? Comment on the 'Gram.

Connect with Heather

• Flourish Academy
• Flourish Academy on FB
• Flourish Academy on IG

Are you enjoying the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast? Please leave a rating or a review!

JOIN THE PARTY:

• Connect with us on Instagram
• Explore valuable pet photography resources here
• Discover effective pricing and sales strategies for all portrait photographers.
• Ready to grow your business? Elevate helps you do just that.
• Check out our recommended gear and favorite books.