162 - Courtney Bryson has seen this story too many times in our Hair of the Dog Circle community: A pet photographer hoping to partner with an animal-rescue group reaches out to them, and gets totally skunked. Emails are ignored; offers to help are declined. What gives?

This week, Courtney—whose rescue involvement led to her pet photography career—gives us the scoop on getting started working with animal rescues.  

What To Listen For:

• Why pet photogs strike out when looking for animal-rescue partners
• How to get connected if you don't have connections
• Where to snoop to make sure a rescue is legit 
• Why sometimes donating less is more
• The single best predictor of whether a rescue will promote your project

If you've been thinking of partnering with a rescue, or if you've struck out in your attempts to do so, be ready to take notes this week!

Resources From This Episode:

• Episode 41: Finding Success in a Small Town
• CM Bryson Photography
• CM Bryson on Instagram
• The Rescue Ranch on Facebook
• Nicole's Instagram
• Rescue Me!
• IRS official website
• Watch the full interview on Youtube

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.

161 - Consider me a CloudSpot fangirl. In the two years I've been using the gallery-delivery software, it's become an indispensable part of my business. It's how I share my location guide, deliver client galleries and let folks order reprints—and with the epic new feature that's about to launch, it's going to play an even bigger role in my pre-session consult. 

This week, CloudSpot founder Gavin Wade joins me to discuss the software's backstory, how it's making photographers' lives easier (and more profitable!), and the GIANT next step for the company and its clients. 

What To Listen For:

• Why Gavin set out to create a grandma-proof experience
• The advantage CloudSpot offers over other image-delivery software
• How your clients can upsell themselves with CloudSpot's QR codes
• COVID's surprising impact on wall-art sales
• The Jetsons-esque new feature that's coming soon!

Odds are, after listening to this episode you're gonna want some CloudSpot magic for yourself. Do a clicky-click on this link and you'll save 50% on your first month or first year of CloudSpot, depending on which plan you choose. Either way, you can try it first for free to make absolutely sure you love it. (You will.) ☺️

Resources From This Episode:

• CloudSpot free trial
• Delivering Happiness, by Tony Hsieh
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Hair of the Dog Elevate
• Free Hair of the Dog Community
• Watch the video podcast here!
  
  

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.

160 - Until COVID hit, photography was very much just a hobby for Tacoma, Washington-based Marie Wulfram. After kicking around the idea of a pet photography business for six months, she finally went for it in late 2020. 

Fast-forward two years and Marie just logged a $20,000 month. 😯 This, despite the unconventional approach she takes. ("I don't do phone calls in my business.") Find out what's leading to Marie's success—and what she wouldn't do again, even with the big payoff.

What To Listen For:

• Where Marie's biggest-spending clients came from
• The qualifying questions that separate the best clients from the rest
• How Marie upsells with albums
• The quickest way to repel people from your biz 😬
• Marie's unusual schedule—and the big benefit it provides

Like hundreds of other successful pet photographers, Marie's a member of the Hair of the Dog Academy. It's the place to go to sharpen your camera skills and learn how to build a business. With a 14-day money-back guarantee, joining the Academy is a no-risk, all-reward power move!

Resources From This Episode:

• Marie Wulfram Photography
• Marie Wulfram Photography on Instagram
• Marie's Facebook page
• The Tilly Project
• Dubsado client management software
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Hair of the Dog Elevate
• Free Hair of the Dog Community

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.

159 - This week we draw back the curtains on one of Heather Lahtinen's coaching calls inside the Elevate program. In this one-on-one chat with a seriously stuck student, Heather offers a new way to think about to-do lists, and a practical tool for tackling them efficiently. 

What To Listen For:

• The thing that slows you down and saps productivity
• What to ask yourself when you're drowning in to-dos
• Why you need a fluorescent Sharpie on hand
• How to assess your calendar from an energetic perspective
• When to take refuge in your linen closet

If you're a faithful listener, you know Heather hands out actionable, cut-through-the-BS advice on the regular. What you might not know is where to get your own personal dose of Heather: inside the Elevate program, where she'll help blast through any obstacles standing between you and the business of your dreams. Apply before this Friday, using the link below!  

Resources From This Episode:

• Hair of the Dog Elevate (applications close September 30th)
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Free Hair of the Dog Community

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.

158 - The last few years have thrown a lot of curveballs at Michigan-based photographer Michelle Crandall. A full calendar of dog-sports event photography was washed down the drain by COVID, prompting a pivot to private sessions. Then a simple dog-safety concern spiraled into Michelle organizing her own event—a massive (and unexpected) undertaking that thrust her business into the spotlight.   

What To Listen For:

• How a local business course changed her thinking
• Where Michelle's marketing plan went wrong
• Why neighbors saw her pointing a gun at her driveway 👀
• The toilet-plunger decor that elevated her event
• How to capitalize on this "safe" connection-building strategy

You might assume that anyone coordinating with 54 different businesses to plan an event must be an extrovert. To that, Michelle offers a heaping pile of NOPE. Hear the what, why and how of Michelle's event-planning adventure in this latest episode!

Resources From This Episode:

• Pets in Focus
• Pets in Focus on Facebook
• Pets in Focus on Instagram
• Know What You're For, by Jeff Henderson (free audiobook with Audible trial)
• *SECRET LINK* to our spreadsheet-sharing party
• Episode 109 - Why You Can't Ignore Video, with Shelley Paulson
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Free Hair of the Dog Community

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.

 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 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: 

• Creating Dreamy Dog Portraits with Monica van der Maden
• Editing Commercial Quality Studio Images with Ewan Cheyne
• Secrets to the Mythical 5-Figure Client with Karinda Kinsler
• How to create a Marketing Plan in 60 Minutes with Mark Rossetto
• Unleashing Expression in your Dog Photography with Charlotte Reeves and Craig Turner-Bullock
• ...and more! 

But if you're late to the party and the live summit's already over, don't worry. You can purchase all the recordings here, to keep forever and listen to at your leisure! 

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.

We are in the middle of a replay series where we are re-releasing some of our favorite podcast episodes, specifically those featuring speakers for the upcoming Hair of the Dog Summit!

In this replay, we bring back my recent interview with Karinda Kinsler.
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153 - Karinda Kinsler might be the first pet photographer I've met who started her career photographing…cows. This week she shares her backstory, along with the epic project that launched her equine photography brand. We also talk pricing, mental obstacles to making money, and why you should bare it all for the camera. 😬   

What To Listen For:

• The urge you need to fight while building your business
• What Karinda's clients feel before they hear her pricing
• Why she resisted taking credit cards for so long
• Karinda's beef with Dave Ramsey and his financial advice
• The best way to learn about posing people with their pets

Karinda's part of the speaker lineup for our upcoming Hair of the Dog Summit—three days jammed with invaluable info on both the art and the business of pet photography. To catch Karinda's talk—Secrets of the Mythical 5-Figure Client—join the Summit now!

Resources From This Episode:

• Master Your Mind Money (Karinda's Instagram)
• Photography Business Tune Up with Karinda K. 
• Simon Sinek's TED talk 
• Episode 152: Childhood Shoes and Money Mindset, with Denise Duffield-Thomas
• Hair of the Dog Summit (Sept. 13-15)
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Free Hair of the Dog Community

JOIN THE PARTY:

• Join our free pet photography community
• More pet photography resources here
• Connect on Insta
• Ready to get serious about your pet photography? Join us inside Hair of the Dog Academy!
• Check out my gear and my favorite books.
• Grab my book! Pet and Horse Photography for Everybody

We are in the middle of a replay series where we are re-releasing some of our favorite podcast episodes that feature our for the upcoming Hair of the Dog Summit.

In this replay, we 're rebooting one of Charlotte Reeves' episode where we talked about  the best gear for pet photography. Enjoy!

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051 - Turns out, returning guest Charlotte Reeves and I have a *lot* of thoughts when it comes to camera gear! Not surprising, I guess, for two pet photographers who've been shooting for a collective 25 years. 😯 Join our lively conversation and get the lowdown on the latest gear options, plus stories about scammers, soggy dogs and my enormous man-hands. 

 What To Listen For: 

• What to consider when choosing your camera body
• How to build up your kit if you're just starting out
• The lenses we couldn't live without—and the one that I'm drooling over!
• Which lens brands tend to require micro-adjustments
• The advantages and disadvantages of using a lens adapter
• Practical ways to use Animal Eye AF (and when you should avoid it)

If you've found yourself frustrated that you can't nail your shots, well, it might be a matter of needing more practice. But it might also be that the gear you have isn't suited to the job you're asking it to do. After listening to this episode, you'll be well-equipped to make better decisions about buying (or selling!) your gear.     

Resources From This Episode: 

• Learn Pet Photography (home of the Free Daily Tip series!)
• Charlotte Reeves Photography
• Charlotte's Working with Natural Light course
• Charlotte's RealShoots series
• HOD Podcast Episode 17: Location Scouting Secrets w/Charlotte
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Free Hair of the Dog Community
• Hair of the Dog Summit (Sept.13-15)

JOIN THE PARTY:

• Join our free pet photography community
• More pet photography resources here
• Connect on Insta
• Ready to get serious about your pet photography? Join us inside Hair of the Dog Academy!
• Check out my gear and my favorite books.
• Grab my book! Pet and Horse Photography for Everybody

We are in the middle of a replay series where we are re-releasing some of our favorite podcast episodes that are specifically by our upcoming speakers for the Hair of the Dog Summit, which will run from Sept. 13-15.

In this replay, we bring back Shelley Paulson and her episode where we talked all about the need for video in our business.
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109 - Earlier this year, head of Instagram Adam Mosseri announced that IG is no longer a photo sharing app. Cue the record scratch. Say wut?? 

If you've spent a minute on social media lately, the pivot to prioritizing video comes as no surprise. Equine photographer Shelley Paulson has been watching the trend develop for years, which is why she started dabbling in video creation back in 2014. 

This week, Shelley joins me to talk about what's changed in the world of video, and how you can take advantage of video's emotional power—both for increased reach in your marketing efforts and to create a better experience for your clients.   

What To Listen For: 

• How standards for video production have shifted in recent years
• The most challenging part of offering video to clients
• Ideas for mixing stills and video
• How to leverage video for commercial opportunities
• What Shelley predicts for the future of video and technology

Resources From This Episode: 

• Shelley Paulson Photography
• Shelley Paulson on Facebook
• Shelley on Instagram
• Adobe Premiere Rush
• Animoto
• Remco Veurink Equestrian on IG
• Hair of the Dog Summit 
• Hair of the Dog Academy 
• Free Hair of the Dog Community
• Hair of the Dog Summit (Sept.13-15)

JOIN THE PARTY:

• Join our free pet photography community
• More pet photography resources here
• Connect on Insta
• Ready to get serious about your pet photography? Join us inside Hair of the Dog Academy!
• Check out my gear and my favorite books.
• Grab my book! Pet and Horse Photography for Everybody

We are in the middle of a replay series from our favorite podcast episodes, and actually, these episodes are with some of the speakers for the upcoming Hair of the Dog Summit!

In this replay, we are bringing back our interview with Jeff Brown - The Photographer's Mentor!

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137 - Jeff Brown may have the most unique photographer origin story I've heard yet. And while he's made his share of goofs—like forgetting to load the film while photographing Prince Phillip—these days, he puts his hard-won business knowledge to work as The Photographers' Mentor. 

Join me this week to hear what Jeff learned while building multiple 6-figure photography businesses, and how you can find similar success. 

What To Listen For:

• Why focusing on financial goals is a mistake
• What led other photographers to resent Jeff and his business partner
• The power of binary goals and deconstructing goals
• The one critical thing Jeff does every Sunday night
• How to leverage joint ventures in your marketing

If you struggle to get through your to-do list, you'll especially appreciate Jeff's hacks for getting things done (and you might just appreciate his journal, linked below). 

Resources From This Episode:

• The Ambitious Photographer's Journal
• The Photographers' Mentor
• The Photographers' Mentor on LinkedIn
• Jeff's Facebook page
• Hair of the Dog Academy
• Free Hair of the Dog Community
• Hair of the Dog Summit (Sept.13-15)

JOIN THE PARTY:

• Join our free pet photography community
• More pet photography resources here
• Connect on Insta
• Ready to get serious about your pet photography? Join us inside Hair of the Dog Academy!
• Check out my gear and my favorite books.
• Grab my book! Pet and Horse Photography for Everybody