Freedom Focus Photography

354 - Cats might be the most overlooked clients in pet photography, and Dave Mayes is making a strong case for changing that. He shares how he photographs cats in their own homes, what his cat clients actually buy, and how his book Tough Kitties raised money for a local rescue.
What to Listen For
Why cat sessions feel like wildlife photography indoors
The weather problem that pushed Dave into cat photography
Dave’s go-to lighting and backdrop setup for home sessions
Why the owner is your secret weapon on shoot day
The pre-shoot visit that sets every cat session up
What cat clients actually buy (hint: not artwork)
The silly composite his clients can’t stop asking for
How a 5% donation shifts how clients think about artwork
The type of client most drawn to cat sessions
Three must-know tips for your next cat session
Cat sessions take patience, planning, and a great relationship with the owner, but the payoff is images your clients could never get on their own. Give this episode a listen and see if cats deserve a bigger spot on your calendar.

Find Dave online:
Tough Kitties (Australia’s first cat photography book, sold through Maneki Neko Cat Rescue) 
Instinct Pet Photography website
Dave on Instagram: @instinctpetphoto
CONNECT + LEARN MORE:
Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com
Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com
Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com
Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

353 - If you have been calling yourself lazy lately, this episode is for you. Heather and I get honest about the summer that wrecked us both, what burnout actually is, and the simple shift that gave us our momentum back right as busy season arrives.
What to Listen For
The definition of burnout that stopped me cold
Three dimensions that separate burnout from tired
Why self employed burnout turns into self blame
The difference between exhausted and burnt out
What happens when you drop the judgment
Heather's overwhelm protocol in two questions
The equation for pain, resistance, and suffering
Why sitting still can make things worse
How to move stuck energy out of your body
If you have been powering through and wondering why nothing feels aligned anymore, this conversation will give you language for it. Tune in, then go take a walk. Seriously.
Revenue Sprint with Heather Lahtinen, $47, four calls over four weeks plus two pricing reviews from Nicole in week three: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/offers/omYQubWo/checkout
Elevate, Heather's coaching program, includes complimentary access to all mini courses: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/elevate
CONNECT + LEARN MORE:
Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com
Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com
Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com
Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

352 - The next four months are the most profitable stretch of the entire photography year. September, October, and November are when the money shows up, and the photographers who prepare now are the ones who cash in. This week Heather Lahtinen and I talk about how to go into this season playing a much bigger game.
What to Listen For
Why first quarter revenue is almost always your lowest
The number photographers misread every single summer
What "behind" actually costs you mentally
How to set a goal you might not hit
The one shift that can double your average sale
How to measure success when you cannot control results
What to do in the next six weeks to prepare for more income this year
Set the big goal. Decide right now that hitting it is optional and going after it is not. Listen in, then join us for the revenue sprint and see what you are actually capable of.

Revenue Sprint: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/offers/omYQubWo/checkout
CONNECT + LEARN MORE:
Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com
Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com
Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com
Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

351 - I spent the last year and a half cutting things out of my business. Fewer programs, fewer moving parts, less of everything. So when Nic called me with an idea, I said no before she finished the sentence, and then I said no a few more times while she kept talking. Fifteen minutes later I was all in, and this episode is the story of what changed my mind and what Nic and I have been building since.
What to Listen For
Why I said no three times
Flaky, or actually aligned? How to tell
The year Nic built the wrong thing
Scrapping a launch eight weeks out
The four C's, and the hidden fifth
Rooms that say "we don't talk about that"
Where 5% of profit goes
Diagnosed with ADHD at 48, #thereweresigns
Eight years building for brains like ours
A million Chase points and a spreadsheet
If you've been carrying the feeling that you want to do something and you don't know what, or that your business and the rest of your life are pulling against each other every week, this conversation is for you. We recorded a longer call about all of it, with more detail on what the year actually looks like and who it's for. You can watch it, or listen to it in sections on a dog walk, at the link below. Applications are open, but spots are going faster than we imagined.
Watch or listen to the full call: NicoleBegleyEDU.com/rebellion
The Joy First Podcast with J.Nichole Smith
Hair of the Dog Conservation Fund

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:
Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com
Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com
Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com
Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial

350 - Someone in your circle just posted a huge sale, and instead of feeling inspired, you feel like garbage. In this episode, Heather Lahtinen and I break down why photographers take other people's wins personally, and the simple mental shift that turns comparison into curiosity.
What To Listen For (10 bullets)
Why "what game do you want to play" changes everything
Part-time business does not mean part-time pricing
The non-revenue wins you keep skipping over
Why your brain hunts for the gap automatically
What comparison is really costing you
The moment comparison turns into taking it personally
Why that number has nothing to do with you
The three words that shift everything: tell me more
How service mode fixes marketing anxiety
Why focusing on yourself makes you miserable
Comparison shuts the door. Curiosity opens it. If you have been quietly making other people's success mean something about your worth, this episode is your permission slip to stop. Hit play and pick a different thought.
Join Elevate here: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/elevate

CONNECT + LEARN MORE:
Explore all things photography education at nicolebegleyedu.com
Ready to build a profitable photography business? Visit freedomfocusformula.com
Master the craft of pet photography at hairofthedogacademy.com
Follow along on Instagram - @nicolebegleyofficial