The Pet Photographers Club Podcast Archives

Today’s guest studied photography in college but gave it up after a professor convinced her that she lacked creativity. Fast forward a decade or two, and she not only has a successful full-time pet photography business, but she’s also embracing all that AI offers as a creative outlet! 

I’m talking about Carol Arscott and no matter if the world of AI intimidates or excites you, today’s episode is sure to inspire not only with her work, but hearing how Carol came back to photography years after putting the camera down.

We covered:

• Carol's experience as a student
• The impact someone can have on your confidence
• Assignments as students Vs clients
• What this AI Series with Moby all about 
• What’s the future of Moby’s series 

IN THE MEMBERS-ONLY EXTENDED EPISODE:

• Mid-Journey Vs PS Beta
• Mid-journey time and cost
• The industry future in an age of AI
• What full-time looks like for Carol
• Working with rescues

Mentioned links:

https://www.midjourney.com/

www.carolarscott.com

https://www.instagram.com/carolarscottphotography/

I never quite understood the exact role of a financial planner. I mean, I have an accountant? Don't they basically cover the same thing? Do I also need to pay another finance person? In today's show, that question, among many others were answered.

And look, I know finances aren't usually a crowd favourite topic among us creatives, but I did get an amazing guest on the show today who knows exactly how it is for us as creatives to deal with everything in terms of accounting, financial planning, and then also the psychology around money.

We went well over time. So you are in for a treat.

WE COVERED:

• Why a pet photographer needs to talk to a financial planner, or not
• When do we need an accountant, and when do we need a financial planner
• How to find the best person for your business finances 
• What does working with a financial planner look like
• Do we need a business financial advisor and a separate personal financial advisor

AND IN THE MEMBERS-ONLY EXTENDED EPISODE:

• What falls under the role of “financial planner”
• The cost of a Financial Planner 
• Investing 

MENTIONED LINKS:

Episode with Anastasia Chomlack: One-to-one gratitude sessions (Giving back project)

Minerva Financial Arts

The International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards is the biggest of its kind! It was hosted by us here at The Pet Photographers Club until last year, and it's now under new management with Unleashed Education as the host.

They've introduced a few changes which will ensure the competition can continue into the future and so this week I had Craig and Charlotte join me to answer all your questions!

Here's what we covered:

• What are The Awards
• The 2023 Judging Panel
• Why there's an entry fee, what does that get you and how much is it
• Change of categories, scoring and awards

IMPORTANT DATES

• Entries close June 30th 
• Finalist announced Sept 1
• Awards ceremony Sept 7
• Feedback, scores and badges Sept 10

MEMBERS BONUS

For members this week, in lieu of the extended episode, I’ve organised a FREE entry for the first ten of you to request it! Just complete this form ASAP: https://thepetphotographersclub.com/awards-2023

Our guest today, Jeff Brown started his photography career in the defence force which gave him many opportunities. One of which was photographing the queen which of course he used as part of his branding message on his website when he ran his own studio. Today he spends his time helping other photographers grow their business. In today’s episode, we dive deep into branding and websites, and if you are a premium member Jeff gave some really practical advice in the second half to help you improve your website conversion, and stay at the top of Google!

WE COVERED:

• Jeff’s background
• How Jeff spent a £7500 grant to start his photography business
• What is a “brand”
• The importance of an easy-to-navigate website

AND IN THE MEMBERS-ONLY EXTENDED EPISODE:

• How to know what Google is ranking well
• What is EEAT
• The information that keeps people on your site, and actually helps convert them
• Is blogging still essential in 2023
• How to drive organise traffic to our site

MENTIONED LINKS:

Google's White paper

EEAT

The Photographers' Mentor

Members: Listen to the members extended episode in the portal, or, in your favourite podcast player with the private RSS feed.

You’ve heard it a thousand times before.. “add personality to your website” but.. What does that even mean other than saying “Hey I’m your wine-loving pet photographer?”.. Well today’s interview with Austrian based elopement photographer and copywriter extraordinaire, Mariah Wall has got you covered.

WE COVERED:

• How to get started with improving copy
• Tips for incorporating personality, naturally
• The benefits of repelling some clients
• Finding your own brand voice
• Brand Archetypes

AND IN THE MEMBERS-ONLY EXTENDED EPISODE:

• How to convert your website visitors into bookings, through your pricing page
• Answering objections with great copy

MENTIONED LINKS

https://mariaharianna.com/copywriting-for-photographers

https://www.instagram.com/mariahariannaphoto/

https://iconicfox.com.au/brand-archetypes/

p.s. Members don't forget to use your private RSS link to listen to the full episode in yoru favourite podcast player!

Do you always here that one of the best marketing avenues is to attend dog-friendly events to get in front of the right audience.. But, there aren’t any around you.. Or not enough? Then tune in to today’s episode to hear how our guest created her own dog day out, and it wasn’t even as overwhelming as that sounds!

WE COVERED:

• Why Kelly got into pet photography
• What the event was about 
• The logistics of hosting an event of this size
• The importance, or not, of a business name

AND IN THE MEMBERS-ONLY EXTENDED EPISODE:

• How the event was branded
• Marketing the event
• Charging for mini session spots
• Upselling digitals

MENTIONED LINKS

Www.kschulzphotography.com

Www.instagram.com/kschulzphotography

You are in for a real treat with today's episode- John runs not one, but two studios, and over the last couple of years has focused his marketing to become known as an expert pet photographer, despite offering other genres and today, 70% of his million dollar revenue comes from pet photography!

It is a not-to-be-missed, long interview so pop your headphones in, take your dog for a stroll and be prepared to stop to jot down notes.

We covered:

• Working with a team
• Can you be a specialist and a generalist
• Incorporating humans w dogs 
• Where John’s clients come from
• The importance of education

And in the members-only half

• Having employees- is the headache worth it?
• Can you learn to be a manger 
• How much the business needs to make to pay the bills 
• The number of leads it takes to run a studio with these overheads
• Conversation rates and average sales
• John’s booking funnel

MENTIONED LINKS:

https://johnglaserphotography.com/

https://www.facebook.com/johnglaserphotography

https://www.instagram.com/johnglaserphotography/

If the horse world intrigues you.. But you’re not quite sure about offering equine portraits, do not miss this episode with two of the world's most respected equine photographers, Emily Hancock and Hannah Freeland of Training Barn. 

We discussed if and how a pet photographer can also offer horse photography but then we went well and truly beyond that. We chatted about marketing and why shooting competitions was the opposite of helpful for Hannah trying to book equine portraits. We chatted safety and horse behavior. 

And then in the members half of this interview Emily gave us an insight into the world of creating and selling art in the traditional sense. She also shared her experience working with a marketing firm for both her portraits and her fine art work, as well as how she sells her fine art work to interior designers. 

Hannah shared exactly how she books great clients through referrals, and why clients would fly her to the other side of the world and pay £30k+ for portraits.

• Can you successfully offer equine photography alongside pet photography or is it it’s own niche?
• Why being an equine competition photographer isn’t the type of exposure that helps you grow your business
• Safely offering horse portraits

IN THE MEMBERS-ONLY EXTENDED EPISODE

• Transitioning from equine portraits to equine art
• Hiring a marketing team
• Working with an agent for art commissions
• How to find 20k clients
• How Hannah booked overseas clients
• Why clients would pay 30k+ for a photoshoot

If you're a member, don't forget to use you private RSS feed to listen in your favourite podcast player. That was emailed to you from "captivate" when you first joined. Instructions here: https://thepetphotographersclub.com/rss-feed

How would you like to have repeat clients, purchasing only digitals, coming back to you multiple times per year? That’s what your calendar can look like as a commercial pet photographer.

Today’s guest, Rowan Williams has a background in high level marketing and brand management- and today uses that knowledge to successfully offer commercial pet photography. 

She shared what that entails including creating briefs and pricing structures plus in the members extended episode we covered charging for dog models, the impact of Reels and Tik Tok and of course- marketing! 

WE COVERED:

• Rowan’s marketing background
• The charity that introduced Rowan to dog photography
• Briefs and getting the information for shot lists
• Rowan’s pricing structure and when she collects the funds

EXTENDED MEMBERS-ONLY EPISODE:

• The difference between Small business Vs Big Business as clients
• Sourcing and paying dog Models
• Impact of video and Reels
• Where Rowan’s small business clients find her
• How big business book Rowan
• The different options that clients need

Successfully launch a profitable commercial pet photography offering!

Get into profitable commercial pet photography

Rowan is guest instructing a workshop in May to help you launch a commercial pet photography offering.

If you’d love to learn step by step how to win big brands as clients, book local small businesses and understand things like usage rights and briefs.. Then this Zoom workshop is for you!

Places will be strictly limited for the live workshop to ensure your questions can be answer.

JOIN THE WAITLIST

OTHER MENTIONED LINKS:

Mayhew - The charity Rowan supports

Dubsado - For client management and automating contracts / invoices

Narrative Select - For AI assisted culling

ImagenAI - For AI assisted lightroom editing

Link’s to Pooch & Pineapple Dog Photography:

Website: poochandpineapple.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/poochandpineapple

Instagram: www.instagram.com/poochnpineapple

Todays guest is Chris Miller, one half of the husband-wife team behind MIL Pet Photography in the UK. He photographs 30 clients a year as his version of semi retirement and in todays episode he shared why it’s worth setting up LinkedIn for your pet photography, and finding a couple of minutes a day to dedicate to the platform.

WE COVERED:

• Working as a husband and wife team
• Why 60 images is too many
• Intro in how LinkedIn is working for MIL

EXTENDED MEMBERS-ONLY EPISODE:

• Managing so many social channels 
• How does LinkedIn even work?
• How Chris has reduced the time spent on Social Media

MENTIONED LINKS:

LinkedIn for Photographers course

Andrew’s VLOG Challenge

Chris’ LinkedIn post about the career change

Link’s to MIL Pet Photography:

Website: https://www.millersimage.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millersimage/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/millersimage/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mil_pet_photography/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillersImage

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/mil_pet_photography/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@milpetphotography