305 - You might think you’re avoiding certain business moves because they’re “not the right time” or “too complicated.” But what if the real reason is that you’re avoiding a feeling? 

In this conversation, Heather shares her own breakthrough about risk, safety, and the emotions we’re unwilling to feel — and how that awareness can change everything.

What to Listen For:

• How your self-concept influences your willingness to take risks
• The connection between “safety” values and growth plateaus
• Why avoiding certain feelings leads to hesitation and missed opportunities
• How to identify the emotions you’re most unwilling to feel
• Why “incompetence” isn’t failure — and how to reframe it
• Using your values (and their opposites) to uncover hidden fears
• How small risk-acceptance shifts can unlock bigger moves
• The role of capacity work in expanding your tolerance for risk
• Why the only real risk is how you’ll feel
• Practical ways to step into the next-level version of yourself

Growth always comes with some risk — but most of the time, the “danger” is just how you think you’ll feel if something doesn’t work out. When you expand your capacity to feel those emotions, you stop hesitating and start taking aligned, confident action. Listen now to learn how to shift your self-concept, stretch your risk tolerance, and step into the identity of the photographer — and business owner — you want to become.

Resources 

• Master the craft of pet photography at the Hair of the Dog Academy – www.hairofthedogacademy.com
• Stop competing on price, sell without feeling pushy, and reach consistent $2,000+ sales in the Freedom Focus Formula – www.freedomfocusformula.com
• Crack the code to booking more clients inside Elevate – www.freedomfocusformula.com/elevate
• Discover the world of commercial pet photography in the Commercial Pet Photography Academy – www.hairofthedogacademy.com/commercial
• Join the 4 Clients in 4 Weeks Challenge – www.hairofthedogacademy.com/4c4w

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.

304 - The fastest way to change your photography business? Change the way you see yourself. In this episode, Heather and I break down the self-concept shifts that help you introduce yourself confidently, market without second-guessing, and invest in your growth like a CEO. 

If you’ve ever felt like an imposter, struggled to get results from courses, or shamed yourself for “not doing enough,” this conversation will free you up to start making real progress.

What to Listen For:

• The hidden role your self-concept plays in marketing and sales success
• Why “I’m missing one secret thing” thinking holds you back
• How to confidently introduce yourself as a photographer without hesitation
• The difference between consumer and investor mindsets—and why it matters
• Why you don’t need to watch everything in a course to get huge results
• How to measure ROI on education and coaching
• Why trusting yourself to “figure it out” is an identity game-changer
• The danger of relying on social proof instead of self-belief
• How to extract value even from imperfect programs

Shifting your self-concept from “I’m just a photographer” to “I’m a professional, resourceful business owner” changes everything. When you start thinking like an investor instead of a consumer, every decision becomes about extracting value and creating results—fast. 

Listen now to discover how to step into your CEO role, trust your ability to figure things out, and start building the business (and life) you actually want.

Resources from this episode: 

• Register for 4 Clients in 4 Weeks: www.hairofthedogacademy.com/4c4w
• Master the craft of pet photography at the Hair of the Dog Academy - www.hairofthedogacademy.com
• Stop competing on price, sell without feeling pushy, and reach consistently $2,000+ sales in the Freedom Focus Formula - www.freedomfocusformula.com
• Crack the code to booking more clients inside Elevate - www.freedomfocusformula.com/elevate
• Discover the world of commercial pet photography in the Commercial Pet Photography Academy - www.hairofthedogacademy.com/commercial

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.

303 - When you're stuck between following your gut or trusting a “proven” system, what do you do? 

In this episode, Nicole and Heather unravel the real question behind the question—and it’s not what you think. We’re talking friction, experimentation, and how to confidently build a business that fits you.

What to Listen For:

• The real question photographers are asking when they’re unsure about pricing
• Why friction-free strategies are secretly a myth (and a trap)
• The key difference between fear and intuition when it comes to your gut
• Nicole’s two simple questions to test if your pricing is working
• What to do when you’re overwhelmed by all the “expert advice”
• Why Heather is rethinking how she markets Elevate
• The difference between the “right” price and a price you can make right
• What happens when you copy/paste strategy without doing the work
• How to shift your mindset from “plug and play” to “test and refine”
• Why friction is the fast lane to growth (not the roadblock)

What if your business isn't broken—it just wasn’t built for a formula? In this powerful episode of the Freedom Focus Photography Podcast, Nicole and Heather explore what happens when a proven strategy doesn’t deliver and how to stop chasing “easy” and start building a plan that actually works for you. We’re diving into the messy middle, where growth lives, and why friction isn’t something to fear—it’s something to follow. Click through and start rewriting the rules.

Additional Resources:

• Join the free challenge: www.hairofthedogacademy.com/4C4W
• Master the craft of pet photography: www.hairofthedogacademy.com
• Join the Freedom Focus Formula: www.freedomfocusformula.com
• Crack the code to more clients with Elevate: www.freedomfocusformula.com/elevate
• Learn commercial pet photography: www.hairofthedogacademy.com/commercial

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.

302 - This episode dives into the sneaky little phrase we all use—“life happens”—and why it may be holding you back more than helping you cope. Heather shares a coaching conversation that will change how you handle disruptions, delays, and the real-life rollercoaster of being a business owner.

What to Listen For:

• The surprising mindset shift that keeps you from spiraling when things go wrong
• The hidden cost of saying “I’m just being realistic”
• What it means to truly own your choices as a business owner
• How your brain proves your thoughts right—good or bad
• Heather’s take on building margin into your deliverables
• Why judgment and shame only multiply the problem
• The story of Heather’s husband’s heart surgery—and what it taught her
• How to reframe unexpected events as neutral circumstances
• A tangible example of how to create a mental protocol for client deadlines
• How to shift into empowerment even during chaos

Running a photography business isn’t about perfectly sticking to plans—it’s about how you think when plans go sideways. This episode is your permission slip to drop the guilt, ditch the drama, and approach challenges like the boss you are.
 
Hit play to hear the full conversation—and if this resonated, make sure to subscribe and leave a review!

Additional Resources:

• Join the free challenge: www.hairofthedogacademy.com/4C4W
• Master the craft of pet photography: www.hairofthedogacademy.com
• Join the Freedom Focus Formula: www.freedomfocusformula.com
• Crack the code to more clients with Elevate: www.freedomfocusformula.com/elevate
• Learn commercial pet photography: www.hairofthedogacademy.com/commercial

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.

301 - Ever felt weird about “selling” your photography services—especially to people you know? You’re not alone. In this episode, we dive into the hidden mindset blocks that stop you from confidently sharing your business. And spoiler alert: it’s not about needing a better pitch or new pricing guide. It’s about how you're thinking.

What to Listen For:

• Why feeling “sold to” may be triggering your own sales anxiety
• How projecting your beliefs can sabotage your marketing
• The emotional difference between “getting” and “serving” clients
• How to share your offers without pressure or awkwardness
• Why being nervous about selling is rooted in past experiences
• A mindset reframe to help you feel less sales-y
• How to stop judging your worth through others’ reactions
• Why no interaction is ever wasted (even if it feels like it)
• A simple mantra that makes awkward moments feel lighter
• How to use “I just want you to know” energy in networking

The way you think about selling is directly impacting your ability to grow. When you shift from “I need clients” to “I want to serve,” you’ll feel more confident—and so will your clients. Tune in now and start changing how you show up in your business.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a photographer friend who needs it!

Additional resources:

• Register for a free coaching workshop with Heather: www.getcoachedbyheather.com
• Master the craft of pet photography at the Hair of the Dog Academy - www.hairofthedogacademy.com
• Stop competing on price and reach $2,000+ sales with the Freedom Focus Formula - www.freedomfocusformula.com
• Crack the code to booking more clients inside Elevate - www.freedomfocusformula.com/elevate
• Discover the world of commercial pet photography - www.hairofthedogacademy.com/commercial

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.

300- Your photography inquiry process that’s been being taught for years is broken. In this episode, Nicole and Heather unpack a bold new approach to make your services easier to book and your client experience smoother from the very first click.

What to Listen For:

• Why the traditional inquiry process is broken
• The psychology behind why clients bounce without booking
• How your website is sabotaging your bookings (and how to fix it)
• The importance of making your pricing accessible without scaring people off
• Nicole’s innovative new strategy to replace phone consultations
• How to build desire for your services like a luxury brand
• Why removing friction in your inquiry process increases bookings
• The power of “behind the scenes” opt-ins for your website
• How to market desire instead of pain (and why it matters)

Your inquiry process shouldn’t feel like a locked vault to your clients. This episode will help you rethink how you present your services to make booking simple, fast, and confidence-boosting for both you and your clients.

Listen now, subscribe to the podcast, and start transforming how your photography business books clients today.

More Resources:

Master the craft of pet photography at the Hair of the Dog Academy - www.hairofthedogacademy.com

Stop competing on price, sell without feeling pushy, and reach consistently $2,000+ sales in the Freedom Focus Formula - www.freedomfocusformula.com

Crack the code to booking more clients inside Elevate - www.freedomfocusformula.com/elevate

Discover the world of commercial pet photography in the Commercial Pet Photography Academy - www.hairofthedogacademy.com/commercial

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.

Building on the ideas from Episode 298, Nicole and Heather are here to bust the myth of the “perfect way” to run your photography business. 

What if your business felt light, easy, and exciting again? Let’s dismantle the myth of the “right way” to build your photography business and reveal how to create a business model that works for you – not against you.

What to Listen For

• Why there is no single “right way” to build your photography business
• The mindset shift that can make your business feel fun again
• How to tell if discomfort is growth or misalignment
• Why discomfort is simply data, not a problem
• Questions to ask when your business feels heavy or overwhelming
• How to turn something you hate into something you love
• The power of experimenting and adjusting your approach
• Heather’s current favorite mantra.

There is no universal formula for photography success – only your way. In this episode, Nicole and Heather share how to build a business that feels light, fun, and profitable. Listen now, subscribe for more mindset-shifting conversations, and explore how Elevate can support you in this journey.

Looking for more help?  

Hair of the Dog Academy – Master the craft of pet photography

Freedom Focus Formula – Stop competing on price and reach consistent $2,000+ sales

Elevate – Crack the code to booking more clients

Commercial Pet Photography Academy – Discover the world of commercial pet photography

Get Coached by Heather – Free coaching calls with Heather

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.

298 - Raise your hand if you've ever thought: "There must be a right way to run this business—and I just haven't found it yet." This episode unpacks the very human urge to follow a blueprint...and why YOUR success might actually be waiting inside the one thing you’ve been avoiding.

What to Listen For:

• The lie we believe about there being one “right way” to build a business
• Why doing “everything right” can still leave you stuck
• How a health setback led to a major mindset breakthrough
• The difference between trying harder and trying differently
• The role of forced experiments (and how to create them without a crisis)
• How to manage your mind when you're not seeing results
• Why belief matters more than immediate proof
• A strategy Heather committed to for a full year before seeing results
• How to know if it’s time to change direction or double down
• The ultimate mindset shift: “This is still working for me—even if I can’t see it yet”
• Three powerful lessons every photographer needs to hear (especially if you're stubborn 😉)

There’s no single blueprint that guarantees success in this business—but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Sometimes the best breakthroughs happen when we ditch the rules and try something unexpected. If this episode sparked something for you, share it with a friend and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an aha moment.

Keep experimenting. Keep going. You’ve got this. 💪

Want more support like this? Learn how Elevate can help you go from stuck to thriving at www.freedomfocusformula.com/elevate. And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.

297 - What do you do when someone close to you—like a spouse, a friend, or a parent—doubt your photography business? In this powerful coaching session, we dive into what it means to seek approval, how to set emotional boundaries, and why your success doesn’t hinge on anyone else’s validation.

What to Listen For:

• Why seeking approval is such a common (and tricky) mindset trap
• How to protect your confidence when others don’t believe in your vision
• The real reason someone might criticize your pricing or business
• What to do when your spouse calls your business a “failure”
• How to stop trying to change people—and find peace instead
• Ways to approach hurtful comments without internalizing them
• Why compassion can be your superpower—even when it’s hard
• The surprising impact of letting others have their own journey
• How boundaries and encouragement can coexist
• One of the best mindset tools you’ve probably never used (and how this student’s husband is using it!)

When those closest to you don’t support your business, it stings. But you don't need their permission to succeed. Your approval is enough—and your journey is yours. If this conversation resonated, consider joining us inside Elevate for the support and tools to keep going strong: www.freedomfocusformula.com/elevate

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.

296 - What do you do when you're doing all the “right” things… and it still feels like nothing’s working? This week’s episode is a raw and honest look inside a coaching call with one of our Elevate members—and how we used a mindset model (powered by a custom GPT!) to unravel thoughts that were keeping her stuck and spiral-y.

What to Listen For:

• Why your “social battery” might not be the real problem
• The sneaky thought that creates a business spiral
• What the phrase “was it worth it?” actually signals
• How mindset—not circumstance—is what creates burnout
• The power of noticing your unintentional thought loops
• How to build an intentional thought model that fuels action
• Why venting to your spouse (hi, we’ve all been there) isn’t the same as self-coaching
• What “graspy tasks” look like—and why they keep you stuck
• How to feel empowered even when your latest experiment flops
• A new thought you can borrow the next time things don’t go as planned

If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling in comparison, frustration, or burnout, this episode is for you. You’ll walk away with a practical tool to shift your mindset quickly—so you can get back to creating momentum in your business.

Want more support like this? Learn how Elevate can help you go from stuck to thriving at www.freedomfocusformula.com/elevate. And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Tired of slow inquires? Don't let anything impact your bookings or your success any longer. This free challenge will help you take control of your bookings so that you never feel stuck again.  Register here.

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.