Feeling overwhelmed by scattered systems, lost inquiries, and clients who ghost before booking? You're not alone. In this episode, systems strategist Colie James breaks down exactly how to build a client experience that runs on autopilot while still feeling personal and professional.

Colie is a Dubsado Certified Specialist, HoneyBook Educator, and the host of Business-First Creatives podcast. After spending 12 years as a family photographer, she discovered her passion for helping creative service providers streamline their businesses through automated systems and workflows.

In this comprehensive conversation, we cover the entire journey of building client experience systems that actually work. From deciding when to invest in your first CRM to creating automated workflows that still feel personal, Colie breaks down the exact strategies she's used to help hundreds of photographers book more clients while working less.

We dive into the nitty-gritty: which CRM to choose and why, the three microsystems you need to build first, how to create a booking process that converts in minutes instead of days, and the secret to writing client emails that build trust instead of confusion. Colie also shares her 3 P's framework for client communication and explains the "confidence loop" and why keeping clients informed at every step is the key to preventing ghosting and increasing bookings.

If you've ever felt like you're drowning in admin work, losing track of where clients are in your process, or watching potential bookings slip away because your systems are too complicated, this episode will give you a clear action plan to fix it.

Whether you're just starting out or you've been photographing for years with messy backend systems, you'll walk away knowing exactly what to implement first and how to build a client experience that books itself.

When to Invest in a CRM

1. The moment you can afford $40/month and have worked with about 5 clients, you should start
2. Why building systems early prevents overwhelm as your business grows
3. The hidden cost of scattered information across multiple platforms

Choosing the Right CRM

1. Colie's top two recommendations: Dubsado and HoneyBook for photographers
2. How to decide between platforms based on your business needs
3. Why starting with something is better than waiting for the "perfect" choice

The 5-Minute Booking Process

1. Why making it easy for clients to book quickly dramatically increases conversion rates
2. The three essential components: service selection, contract signing, and payment
3. Real results: clients reporting their fastest bookings ever after implementing this system

The Three Essential Microsystems

1. Instant inquiry response: What to include and why it matters
2. Booking proposal: How to present your offer in a way that builds confidence
3. Confirmation email: Setting expectations and creating excitement

The 3 P's Framework for Client Communication

1. Purpose: Every email should have a clear goal
2. Personality: Making automated emails sound like you, not a robot
3. Preview: Always tell clients what's coming next to build the confidence loop

The Confidence Loop

1. How clear communication builds trust throughout the client journey
2. Why uncertainty kills bookings (and how to prevent it)
3. The psychological impact of keeping clients informed at every step

Strategic Timing for Testimonials

1. Why asking for reviews at different stages gets you different feedback
2. How to balance process reviews with product reviews
3. Using video testimonials to capture genuine reactions

Getting Started Without Overwhelm

1. Start with your booking process - it gives you the biggest return on investment
2. You don't need everything perfect to launch your CRM
3. How to add systems gradually without disrupting your current client flow

1. Business-First Creatives Podcast by Colie James
2. Episode: "The 3 Must-Have Elements for Every Client Communication"
3. Colie's course: Email Like You Mean It
4. Colie's service: Systems In Session
5. CRM platforms: Dubsado and HoneyBook
6. Annemie Tonken's "This Can't Be That Hard" podcast

Colie James, aka the Systems Professor, helps creative service providers build high-touch, automated client experiences using Dubsado and HoneyBook. As the host of the Business-First Creatives podcast, she teaches how intentional communication and smart systems save time, increase conversions, and elevate the entire client journey.

1. Website: https://coliejames.com
2. Podcast: Business-First Creatives
3. Instagram: @coliejames
4. Email Like You Mean It Course: https://coliejames.com/email-like-you-mean-it
5. Systems In Session: https://coliejames.com/systems-in-session

1. Colie's recommended podcast episode: The 3 Must-Have Elements for Every Client Email Communication
2. Get started with Dubsado: Save 20% for your first month or year using the code inajphotography
3. Get started with HoneyBook
4. Colie's Systems In Session (Done-with-you CRM setup)
5. Email Like You Mean It Course

1. Website: https://coliejames.com
2. Podcast: Business-First Creatives
3. Instagram: @coliejames

If you feel like you know what you should be doing in your business...but your calendar is still empty, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode, I speaks directly to one of the most common and frustrating patterns I see after coaching pet photographers.

You’re not lacking information. You’re stuck between knowing and doing.

Between consuming content and seeing results.

Between trying “all the things” and still feeling like nothing sticks.

I share real conversations from inside my community, reflections from my own journey building my business while working full time, and the uncomfortable truth about the hidden cost of staying stuck.

This isn’t about finding a magic strategy.

It’s about building a system you can actually follow.

If you’ve been stuck consuming content, second guessing yourself, or hoping something will finally click, this episode is your wake up call.

You don’t need more information.

You need a plan you’ll actually implement.

WHAT'S INSIDE THE WORKSHOP:

Workshop 1 (29 Jan): The Foundation

We'll identify your ideal client, craft messaging that attracts them,

Workshop 2 (5 Feb): The Marketing Pillars

Strategic Campaign Planning, pillars and identify which suits your business best

Workshop 3 (12 Feb): The System

Learn to map out your next 90 days of marketing priorities

Plus you get:

• Ideal Client Clarity Toolkit with custom ChatGPT bot

• Brand Compass Custom GPT for writing in your voice

• 12-Month Marketing Calendar Template

• 3 Weeks Voxer Access (6 weeks if you join before 9am tomorrow)

• Pre-Workshop Prep Kit

• Private community access

• 30-day money-back guarantee

INVESTMENT:

$529 USD or $790 AUD

Payment plans available: 3 payments of $210 USD or 3 payments of $314 AUD

SIGN UP NOW

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective, it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

1. Practical marketing tips
2. Business lessons and mindset shifts
3. Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

What does it really take to run a profitable, sustainable photography business, one that still feels creative and fun?

In this episode, Ina chats with Annemie Tonkin, photographer, educator, and founder of This Can’t Be That Hard, about the business strategies that actually work and why success isn’t just about talent, but about understanding how to think like a business owner.

They dive into what’s working right now in a changing economy, how to bring creativity into your business strategy, and why photographers should stop trying to “get it right” and instead focus on consistent action. Annemie also shares how her Membership Model transformed her photography business, creating predictable income and stronger client loyalty and how any photographer can adapt it, even with in-person sales.

Plus, they explore how AI can support creativity instead of replacing it, and what to do if you’ve been resisting new technology (hint: it’s time to get curious).

• Why the photographers who thrive long-term focus as much on business as they do on their craft
• How to build a membership model that creates recurring income
• The creative “white space” habit that sparks your best business ideas
• Using AI to enhance your creative process (without losing your voice)
• The importance of fresh ideas, novelty, and attention in a crowded market
• Why embracing innovation is the key to staying relevant in 2025 and beyond

The Photo Elf:

Based on the “Secret Santa” strategy from Sleigh Your Social, The Photo Elf helps photographers boost holiday sales with a fun, done-for-you gifting app.

✨ Try it here — available free using code PHOTOELF25 until Nov 17 (Nov 16 for US)!

This Can’t Be That Hard with Annemie Tonkin

Website: thiscantbethathard.com

Instagram: @thiscantbethathard_

Annemie Tonkin is a photographer, educator, and founder of This Can’t Be That Hard — a platform empowering photographers to build profitable, sustainable businesses through smart systems, creative strategies, and modern marketing. With 16+ years in family photography, she’s helped thousands of photographers simplify their business, stay creative, and rediscover the joy that drew them to photography in the first place.

✨ Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

📲 Connect with Ina

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

If your website feels like a digital business card instead of a lead-converting machine… this episode will help you change that.

I’m joined by the brilliant Mikaela, founder of Pet Marketing Unleashed and the host of the Pet Marketing Unleashed Podcast. She designs high-converting pet business websites (yes… including pet photographers) and teaches SEO in a way that finally makes sense.

We chat about how your website can become the hardest-working part of your business. Even when you're sleeping. Even when the algorithm feels like chaos.

Inside the episode:

✅ What SEO actually means in 2025

✅ Why you probably don’t need to hire someone monthly to “do your SEO”

✅ The #1 area to fix first if your website isn’t converting

✅ How to stop attracting low-intent enquiries

✅ Blogging topics that actually drive bookings

✅ Simple ways to track what’s working

✅ How AI search is changing what Google wants to see

✅ What your homepage must include above the fold

✅ Why clear, human messaging converts more than pretty layouts

✅ Should you have a freebie or opt-in? And where should it go?

If you want more enquiries from people who actually value artwork and full-service photography, make this episode your next listen.

• Pet photographer website template: https://www.petmarketingunleashed.com/pet-photographer-website-template
• Website headline tips blog: https://www.petmarketingunleashed.com/post/website-headlines
• SEO course for pet businesses: https://www.petmarketingunleashed.com/seo-course
• Copywriting service: https://www.petmarketingunleashed.com/copywriting
• 18 blog ideas for pet photographers: https://www.petmarketingunleashed.com/post/blog-post-ideas-pet-photographers

Mikaela is the founder of Pet Marketing Unleashed and host of The Pet Marketing Unleashed Podcast. She helps petpreneurs build stress-free businesses with strategic branding and websites that work hard for them. With the right systems and messaging in place, she supports pet business owners in attracting dream clients with ease.

Explore Mikaela’s resources:

Website: www.petmarketingunleashed.com

Podcast: https://www.petmarketingunleashed.com/podcast

Instagram: @petmarketingunleashed

✨ Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode?

Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

📲 Connect with Ina

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers:

https://www.inajphotography.com/coaching

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Are you holding yourself back without even realising it?

Today on The Pet Photographers’ Journal, I’m joined by the incredible Heather Lahtinen from the Flourish Academy. Heather has helped thousands of photographers shift their thinking, expand their capacity, and finally step into the business growth they’ve been chasing.

We dive into the real reasons photographers stay stuck in inconsistent bookings, low confidence, and undercharging... and spoiler alert, it’s rarely strategy. It’s usually your thoughts.

Inside this episode:

• Why talent isn’t enough without emotional capacity

• What happens when your fear gets to make business decisions

• How to recognise when you’re “playing small”

• The most common mindset traps for photographers

• Why you don’t rise to your goals… you fall to your systems

• Practical ways to stretch your identity so your business can grow with you

• How to confidently sell without feeling salesy

Heather shares powerful reframes and actionable guidance to help you show up with the emotional resilience, belief, and leadership your business actually requires.

If you’ve ever thought…

❝I know what to do… I just can’t seem to DO it.❞

This conversation will hit home.

🎧 Listen now and start becoming the version of yourself who books clients consistently, earns what you deserve, and is actually excited about the future of your business.

Website: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com

Podcast: Flourish Academy Podcast

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

Elevate Program: https://flourishacademy.mykajabi.com/elevate

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠ https://www.inajphotography.com/coaching

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

If you’ve ever struggled to show why your pet photography business matters (beyond “cute photos”), this episode will change how you think about storytelling and marketing forever.

In this heartfelt and insightful conversation, I’m joined by Beth Lambert, founder of Fuzzy Face Media, a niche video production and education brand helping pet professionals attract the right clients and team members through powerful storytelling.

Beth blends neuroscience, adult learning, and visual strategy to help brands connect emotionally, not just sell logically. Together, we explore how photographers can use video, emotion, and authenticity to stand out, create trust, and reclaim joy in their business.

• Why “storytelling” is more than just nice words — and how to make yours unforgettable
• How to use emotion-driven video to attract clients who already believe in what you do
• The difference between showing and telling your value
• How to create videos that connect with pet parents (without being overly polished)
• Why connection beats perfection when it comes to content
• Tips to simplify your B-roll, brand story, and message so your audience truly “gets it”

🎥 About Beth Lambert

Beth Lambert is the founder of Fuzzy Face Media — a niche video-production and educational brand dedicated to helping pet-care professionals attract their dream clients and team members.

After rescuing her dog Chase, Beth became passionate about helping pet businesses reconnect with their original spark using fun, emotionally intelligent video storytelling that inspires and educates.

👉 Connect with Beth:

Website: www.fuzzyfacemedia.com

Instagram: @fuzzyface.media

🎁 Free Resource: B-Roll for Pet Photographers

🎓 Register for the Pet Photographer’s Marketing Reset Webinar:

Struggling to get consistent bookings? Check out my upcoming webinar on 21 Oct and 31 October (Sydney time).

https://www.inajphotography.com.au/petphotography-marketing-webinar-register

✨ Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply here

📲 Connect with Ina

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠Learn More

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Today on The Pet Photographers’ Journal, I’m joined by Dave Pidgeon, the creative mind behind The Dog’s Pyjamas, one of Australia’s go-to commercial pet photographers for brands like Dog by Dr. Lisa.

Dave’s story is a masterclass in following your curiosity, adapting with the market, and building a niche that truly fits your personality.

After two decades in photography and retouching, Dave left the world of restaurants and interiors to focus on something closer to his heart, animals.

What started as a small studio in Sydney evolved into a thriving B2B business, working with pet brands, food companies, and product creators across Australia.

In this episode, we go deep into:

• How Dave transitioned from pet portrait sessions to full-time commercial photography
• The difference between photographing pets for people vs for brands
• How to get your first commercial client (and what to say in that first cold email)
• Why picking up the phone still beats DMs and emails
• How to price for small vs big brands and when to talk about licensing
• Why Dave’s easygoing personality and reliability keep clients coming back
• And why building real relationships (not followers) is the secret to repeat business

If you’ve ever thought about adding commercial or brand photography as an income stream, or you’re curious how to attract pet businesses as clients, this episode will give you a clear, grounded perspective from someone who’s doing it successfully without relying on social media trends. That's right, Dave doesn't actually use social media to get clients for his commercial pet photography work!

🎧 Tune in now to hear how Dave carved out a lane of his own in the pet industry and what photographers can learn from his approach.

Dave Pidgeon is a Sydney-based commercial and product photographer specialising in the pet industry. Through his business, The Dog’s Pyjamas, he creates impactful imagery for brands like Dog by Dr. Lisa and other leading pet companies.

Known for his laid-back professionalism, attention to detail, and mastery of lighting, Dave helps pet brands tell their stories through photos and videos that sell while keeping things fun on set.

Connect with Dave:

🌐 thedogspyjamas.com.au

📸 Instagram: @thedogspyjamas

🎓 Join the Free Pet Photographers’ Marketing Reset Webinar

Ready to start booking your dream clients without discounting or social media burnout?

⁠⁠⁠Register here

✨ Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply here

📲 Connect with Ina

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠Learn More

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

In today’s episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal, I’m joined by Mark Rossetto, a double Master Photographer and one of Australia’s leading photography business coaches.

Mark has spent almost 20 years in the industry, photographing over 500 families a year before becoming a full-time coach and founding the Professional Photography Business Network (PPBN) — a thriving global community for photographers.

We dive deep into what photographers are really struggling with right now, from the rise of AI to the reality that many simply aren’t doing the work.

This conversation cuts through the noise and gets practical about what it actually takes to build a sustainable, profitable photography business in 2025 and beyond.

• Why business feels harder now than it did pre-COVID, and what to do about it
• How to create urgency when clients don’t have to book (especially for pet photographers)
• Why transparency matters more than ever and why “bait and switch” is killing trust
• How to adapt your business model to fit your lifestyle and personality
• The key role of human connection in a world increasingly driven by AI
• How to use automation and AI without losing your authenticity
• Simple, high-impact marketing systems to stay booked all year
• Why building trust fast is the single biggest predictor of bookings

Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just ready to simplify your marketing, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you take confident action and grow your business.

Connect with Mark Rossetto

Website: markrossetto.com

Instagram: @markrossetto

Learn more about the Professional Photography Business Network (PPBN): ppbnonline.com

Use MONTHFREEFRIEND coupon code to get 30 Days FREE Membership upon joining.

Ready to start booking your dream clients without discounting or social media burnout?

⁠⁠⁠Register here

✨ Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode?

⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply here

📲 Connect with Ina

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠Learn More

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Branding isn’t just about having a pretty logo or the right colours. It’s about creating a consistent experience that builds trust and attracts the right clients.

In this episode of The Pet Photographer’s Journal, Ina sits down with Kate Hendry, founder of Finbo Studio, a UK-based creative studio serving pet businesses. Kate doesn’t just talk theory, she helps pet brands put branding into action through design, visuals, and messaging that actually work.

We cover:

• How to know if your brand is helping you attract clients or pushing them away
• The most common branding mistakes pet photographers and pet businesses make
• Why consistency across your website, social media, and client touchpoints matters more than you think
• Simple, practical steps to audit your brand today
• How Kate helps pet businesses bring their vision to life with design and strategy

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered why your marketing feels disjointed, why your dream clients aren’t engaging, or how to finally create a brand that feels aligned and professional without losing your personality.

About Kate

Kate Hendry is the founder of Finbo Studio, a creative studio for pet industry brands. As a pet owner, animal lover, and creative, Kate combined her passion and skills to help pet-obsessed clients achieve the visibility and results their brands deserve.

🌐 Connect with Kate:

• Website: ⁠finbostudio.co.uk⁠
• Instagram: ⁠@finbostudio⁠

Ready to start booking your dream clients without discounting or social media burnout?

⁠⁠⁠Register here

✨ Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply here⁠

Join me in my free SKOOL community for pet photographers who want to build a thriving and sustainable business. ⁠Join here.⁠

📲 Connect with Ina

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠
• Email: ⁠ina@inajphotography.com⁠
• Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

In this episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal, I sit down with Jessica Wasik, the award-winning photographer behind Bark & Gold Photography in Pittsburgh.

Jessica shares how she built a thriving pet photography business that averages 80–90 sessions a year with sales around $3,500 per client, all while staying true to her love of products, print, and creating boutique experiences.

We dive into:

• Why she’s never been a shoot-and-burn photographer and how she set herself up for profit from the start
• Her streamlined inquiry and email-driven process that eliminates the need for phone consults
• How she educates clients on artwork (without them defaulting to a single small print)
• Transitioning from calendar contests to book projects and what she’s learned from both
• The role of outsourcing and automation in freeing up time and sustaining her 90-session workload
• Her marketing mix: SEO, email marketing, contests, and events and which ones are worth the effort
• The importance of pricing with confidence and structuring offers around tangible artwork

Jessica also talks about her love for email marketing, the power of pre-purchased product credit, and why systems and processes have been key to her success.

This episode is full of actionable insights for pet photographers who want to run a streamlined, profitable, and client-focused business.

Links & Resources

• Website: barkandgoldphotography.com
• Instagram: @barkngoldphotography
• Facebook: facebook.com/barkandgoldphotography

Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply here⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Ina

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠⁠
• Email: ⁠⁠ina@inajphotography.com⁠⁠
• Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

If you’ve ever finished a consultation call with a potential client only to hear “I’ll think about it” instead of “When can we book?” , then this episode is for you.

In this solo episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal, I’m breaking down the 5-step consultation call framework that helps you stop losing clients on the call and start booking more sessions with confidence.

You’ll learn how to:

• Build instant trust and connection without sounding salesy
• Ask the right questions that uncover the real reasons clients want photos
• Guide the conversation so clients convince themselves to book
• Handle objections like price or “I need to think about it” with ease
• Turn calls into confident yeses instead of endless follow-ups

This isn’t pushy sales tactics, it’s about service, connection, and helping clients make the best decision for them and their pets.

Ready to start booking your dream clients without discounting or social media burnout?

⁠⁠⁠Register here

📥 ⁠Grab the free Consultation Call Cheat Sheet⁠ with all the key questions and objection-handling scripts mentioned in this episode.

🔗 If you’d like personalised support to master your own booking conversations, you can also ⁠book a free 15-minute strategy call⁠ with me.

✨ If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another pet photographer who’d love the inspiration.

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Finding Confidence, Consistency, and Clients with Bree Ruby Photography

What happens when you love photographing pets but struggle with pricing, consistency, and building confidence in your offers?

In this live coaching call, I chat with Bree Colenso of Bree Ruby Photography, a Melbourne-based pet photographer with a background as a vet nurse who specialises in heartfelt end-of-life sessions. Bree is passionate about creating meaningful memories for her clients, but like many photographers, she’s been navigating the challenges of growing her business sustainably.

In this episode we talk through:

• Building confidence in pricing and learning to charge for the full value of your work
• How to avoid projecting money fears onto clients
• The importance of pre-session education and creating an easy “yes” offer
• Why consultations and guiding clients step-by-step leads to stronger sales
• Practical strategies to generate consistent bookings and grow beyond “hustle and hope”

Bree’s honesty and openness in this session will resonate with anyone who has ever questioned whether they’re “good enough” or worried about whether clients will buy. If you’ve been stuck in self-doubt or struggling to bring in consistent revenue, this episode is for you.

Connect with Bree

• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠Facebook⁠
• ⁠Website⁠

Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply here⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Ina

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠
• Email: ⁠ina@inajphotography.com⁠
• Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

What do you do when you've been in business for 13 years, you can take beautiful photos, but you just can't seem to get the clients? Do you give up, or do you get help?

In this honest and vulnerable episode, Sydney-based dog and equine photographer Allira Fontana shares her journey from event photography burnout to building a sustainable private session business. Allira opens up about the moment she nearly threw in the towel, the game-changing decision to invest in business coaching with Mark Rossetto, and why the old "do free sessions for a few months" approach simply doesn't work anymore.

If you've ever felt stuck in your business, struggled with marketing, or questioned whether you should keep going, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

1. How to know when it's time to invest in business coaching (and how to find the right coach for you)
2. Why marketing was the missing piece in Allira's business puzzle
3. The importance of finding accountability partners in your photography journey
4. How to navigate burnout without giving up on your dream
5. Why it's okay to pivot, pause, or change direction in your business
6. The real timeline for building a profitable pet photography business (spoiler: it's not 3 months)

About Allira Fontana:

Allira Fontana is a Sydney-based dog and equine photographer with almost 13 years of experience in the industry. After starting with event photography and experiencing significant burnout, Allira pivoted to private sessions and invested in business coaching that transformed her approach to marketing and client acquisition. She's passionate about supporting other photographers on their journey and is an accountability partner to Ina.

Instagram: @allirafontanaphotography

Website: https://www.allirafontana.com/

Allira's Social Media Pet Photographers Facebook Group

WHAT'S INSIDE THE WORKSHOP:

Workshop 1 (29 Jan): The Foundation

We'll identify your ideal client, craft messaging that attracts them,

Workshop 2 (5 Feb): The Marketing Pillars

Strategic Campaign Planning, pillars and identify which suits your business best

Workshop 3 (12 Feb): The System

Learn to map out your next 90 days of marketing priorities

Plus you get:

• Ideal Client Clarity Toolkit with custom ChatGPT bot

• Brand Compass Custom GPT for writing in your voice

• 12-Month Marketing Calendar Template

• 3 Weeks Voxer Access (6 weeks if you join before 9am tomorrow)

• Pre-Workshop Prep Kit

• Private community access

• 30-day money-back guarantee

INVESTMENT:

$529 USD or $790 AUD

Payment plans available: 3 payments of $210 USD or 3 payments of $314 AUD

SIGN UP NOW

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective, it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

1. Practical marketing tips
2. Business lessons and mindset shifts
3. Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

What does it really take to step out of being the bottleneck in your photography business and start building a team?

In this episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal, I sit down with Caitlin J. McColl, pet photographer, business coach, founder of Tails of the World, and host of the Focused on Time Podcast. Caitlin has grown her studio, Ragamuffin Pet Photography, into a thriving business supported by associate photographers and virtual assistants.

We dive into:

• The mindset shift from “my clients only want me” to building a trusted associate team
• How Caitlin trained and onboarded her associate photographers to deliver the same client experience
• Her practical hiring process — from job ads and test shoots to contracts and client feedback
• Outsourcing editing, admin, and other time-consuming tasks without losing quality
• Overcoming fears about client perception, competition, and having enough work for a team
• The freedom that comes from moving into the CEO role and focusing on marketing and client relationships

Caitlin’s journey is both inspiring and practical, proof that you can design a pet photography business that fits your life, not just drains your weekends.

Connect with Caitlin

• ⁠caitlinjmccoll.com⁠
• ⁠Ragamuffin Pet Photography⁠
• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠Facebook⁠
• ⁠Focused on Time Podcast⁠

Want to Be Coached Live?Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply here⁠⁠

Connect with Ina

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠ina@inajphotography.com⁠⁠

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠⁠

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

What happens when your business plan is built around selling $25 digitals… and then a global pandemic cancels every single dog sports event on your calendar?

For Michigan-based pet photographer Michelle Crandall of Pets in Focus, that reality became the turning point of her career.

In this honest and inspiring conversation, Michelle shares how she:

• Pivoted from dog sports photography to pet portraits during the pandemic
• Faced (and overcame) her fears of working one-on-one with clients
• Shifted from selling cheap digitals to confidently offering in-person sales and high-value artwork
• Navigated money mindset challenges and learned not to project her own money beliefs onto her clients
• Successfully ran a breed-specific Dachshund book project—49 dogs photographed in just 5 months—while turning a deeply personal grief into a powerful business opportunity

We also talk openly about:

• Pricing for profit vs. “charging your worth”
• Finding your real ideal clients (hint: it might not be who you thought)
• Why community and support make the biggest difference when tackling big projects
• How overwhelm and imposter syndrome show up, even for experienced photographers

Michelle’s story is a reminder that you’re not alone in the struggles of running a pet photography business. Whether you’re thinking about raising your prices, starting in-person sales, or tackling a book project, her journey proves that growth is possible with the right mindset shifts.

Connect with Michelle

Website: ⁠petsinfocusphoto.com⁠

Instagram & Facebook: ⁠@petsinfocusphoto⁠ & ⁠Pets in Focus Photo⁠

Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode?

⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply here⁠

Connect with Ina

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠

Email: ⁠ina@inajphotography.com⁠

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠

If this episode resonated, please share it with a fellow photographer or leave a review, it means the world and helps more people find the show.

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

In this solo episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal, I’m unpacking a recent negative comment from a troll on one of my Instagram reels about marketing for pet photographers. Instead of letting it get under my skin, I took it as an opportunity to have a real conversation about what marketing actually is, why it matters for your photography business, and why the people who “don’t get it” aren’t the ones you’re speaking to.

We’ll talk about the difference between marketing and selling, why marketing is not about being pushy, and how to market in a way that feels authentic to you and your clients. I’ll also share how I approach marketing in my own business, creating content that builds trust.

If you’ve ever worried that marketing feels “salesy” or been put off by unhelpful opinions online, this episode will help you reframe marketing as something you do for your clients, not to them.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to handle unhelpful or negative comments without losing focus
• How to attract the right clients while filtering out the wrong ones
• How to build desire for pet photography
• Practical examples of authentic marketing you can implement right now

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode especially if you’ve ever had someone misunderstand what marketing really is. Send me a DM on Instagram or email me at ina@inajphotography.com.

Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode?

⁠⁠⁠Apply here⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Ina

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠⁠⁠
• Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠Learn More⁠⁠
• 12-Month Marketing Workshop Waitlist: ⁠⁠Join the Waitlist⁠⁠

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Today I’m joined by Nicole Begley, former zoological animal trainer turned pet photographer, educator, and the founder of Hair of the Dog Academy and Freedom Focus Formula. Nicole runs multiple businesses, helps pet photographers master both craft and business, and still finds time to run a non-profit supporting wildlife conservation.

In this episode, we dig into:

• Why many photographers lose clients during the inquiry process and how to fix it
• How to follow up without feeling pushy
• Creating urgency in a niche without fixed timelines (like pet photography)
• The one question that reveals what your client really values
• Why premium sales start with your own belief in your value
• The real path to consistent $2K–$3K sales (and why you don’t need $10K sales to thrive)
• Simple, sustainable marketing strategies that work
• When and how to start outsourcing in your business

If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Pet Photographers Journal on your favourite podcast app and leave a 5-star review so more pet photographers can find us.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Websites: ⁠⁠Freedom Focus Formula⁠ and ⁠Hair of the Dog Academy⁠
• Connect with Nicole on Instagram: @⁠⁠nicolebegleyofficial⁠⁠ and @⁠⁠hairofthedogacademy⁠⁠
• Nicole’s Free Charitable Marketing Guide: ⁠freedomfocusformula.com/charitable-marketing⁠

Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode?

⁠⁠⁠Apply here⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Ina

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠⁠⁠
• Email: ina@inajphotography.com
• Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠Learn More⁠⁠
• 12-Month Marketing Workshop Waitlist: ⁠⁠Join the Waitlist⁠⁠

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Feeling stuck competing with $150 sessions? In this episode, Ina redefines what luxury really means in pet photography, and it's not what you think. Discover how to position your business as a premium experience without needing a commercial studio or gold foil packaging, and learn the mindset shifts that helped Ina's clients invest $2,000-$6,000 regularly (with one $11,000 sale!) all from her home studio.

• Why luxury isn't about expensive packaging or fancy studios
• The difference between problem-solving marketing vs. building desire (crucial for luxury positioning)
• The real reason clients invest in premium pet photography
• 5 practical steps to add luxury touches to your client experience without breaking the bank
• How to separate your money beliefs from your clients' reality
• Why "charge your worth" advice can actually be dangerous

Audit your client experience (not your price list!) and ask:

• Where can I add something small but memorable?
• How can I simplify my communication?
• What would make my clients feel more confident and excited?
• Where can I build trust sooner in the process?

Want to Be Coached Live?Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode?⁠Apply here⁠

Connect with Ina

• Instagram: ⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠
• Email: ⁠ina@inajphotography.com⁠
• Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠Learn More⁠
• 12-Month Marketing Workshop Waitlist: ⁠Join the Waitlist⁠

If this episode shifted how you think about positioning your business, screenshot this episode and tag ⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠ on Instagram, I'd love to hear what resonated with you!

And if you found this valuable, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It truly helps other pet photographers discover the show.

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

In this episode, I’m joined by J. Nichole Smith, brand architect, creative strategist, and founder of Joy First World. We explore what branding really means beyond logos and colours, how to stand out in a saturated pet photography market, and why emotional connection is the key to building a business that lasts.

We talk about:

• Why “pet photographer” isn’t a niche anymore
• How to build desire instead of just selling information
• Using your brand to confidently raise prices
• The psychology behind visual branding
• Growing your business through commercial pet photography
• What the future of the pet industry might look like

J. Nichole Smith

• Website: joyfirstworld.com
• Instagram: @joyfirstworld and @jnicholesmith
• Joy First Podcast - Listen here
• Brand Personality Quiz: Take the Quiz
• Commercial Pet Photography Academy: Join Here

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode?

⁠Apply here⁠

• Instagram: ⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠
• Email: ina@inajphotography.com
• Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More
• 12-Month Marketing Workshop Waitlist: Join the Waitlist

In this episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal, I chat with Gabi Kline Leon — an award-winning pet photographer known for creating bold, emotional images and consistently achieving $7K–$10K+ sales (including a recent $50K client!). Gabi shares how mindset, clear client communication, and purposeful pricing helped her build a sustainable, high-end business.

We unpack her client journey, pricing structure, how she markets her business, and the key shifts that helped her break through the $2K average sale plateau. Whether you’re just starting or feeling stuck with low sales, Gabi’s approach will inspire and challenge you to think bigger.

• Gabi’s journey into pet photography
• The structure of her pricing and what products clients actually buy
• The story behind her $50K client experience
• How she attracts high-ticket clients organically
• What to focus on if you’re stuck at lower average sales
• Marketing strategies that worked for her

Interested in being featured on a live coaching call?: Apply Here

• Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo
• Contact: ina@inajphotography.com
• Mentoring and Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

• Website: gabiklinephotography.com
• Education site: gpp-e.com
• Instagram: @gavriella_petphoto_boca_raton

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

In this episode of the Pet Photographers Journal, host Ina J Photography delves into the critical topic of pricing and mindset in the pet photography business. She shares her personal journey from undercharging as a side hustle to recognising the importance of valuing her work. The conversation highlights the hidden costs of undercharging, including burnout and attracting the wrong clients, and provides practical steps for photographers to confidently raise their prices. Ina emphasises the need to confront limiting beliefs about money and to communicate value effectively to clients, ultimately encouraging listeners to take actionable steps towards a more profitable photography business.

Takeaways

• Many photographers struggle with pricing due to fear and limiting beliefs.
• Undercharging can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction in your work.
• Your upbringing and money beliefs can impact your pricing strategy.
• You cannot project your own financial beliefs onto your clients.
• High pricing can filter out clients who are not a good fit.
• Knowing your cost of doing business is essential for pricing confidently.
• Simplifying your pricing structure can reduce decision fatigue for clients.
• Creating a premium experience can justify higher prices.
• Confidence in communicating your pricing is crucial for success.
• Taking action on pricing changes can lead to significant business growth.

Review your pricing and ask: “Am I paying myself fairly for my time and talent?” Then DM Ina on Instagram to share your biggest pricing challenge.

Interested in being featured on a live coaching call?: Apply Here

• Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo
• Contact: ina@inajphotography.com
• Mentoring and Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

What happens when you combine pet photography with a 10-acre farm, alpacas, ponies, chickens, and sunsets that take your breath away? In this heartwarming episode, Ina chats with Sarina Veliz of Fuzz Design Photography, based in Monteith, South Australia, about building a one-of-a-kind photography experience on her own property.

Sarina shares her journey of leaving Sydney, relocating to the countryside, and transforming a dream into a thriving business where every session is an adventure. From building her own photography studio to managing marketing, IPS sessions, and local events—this episode is packed with inspiration and practical insights for photographers considering using their space as part of the client experience.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Sarina turned a shipping container move into a thriving farm-based photo business
• Why clients travel from Adelaide for her unique sessions
• The value of combining outdoor photography with an indoor studio experience
• How she uses events and giveaways to build brand awareness and book clients
• Her honest insights on digital vs. product packages and maintaining profitability
• Tips for using your own property as a client-friendly photography location

Mini Takeaways:

• Treat every client like they’re a $1,000 client—even if they come for a free print
• The farm vibe helps clients and dogs relax naturally
• Make the booking journey simple and the experience unforgettable

🔗 Connect with Sarina Veliz:

• Website: ⁠https://fuzz-design.com⁠
• Instagram: ⁠@fuzzdesignphotography⁠
• Facebook: ⁠Fuzz Design Photography⁠

📣 Want to Be Coached on the Podcast?Apply for your live coaching session: ⁠https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29⁠

🎧 Follow Ina:

• Instagram: ⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠
• Website & Mentoring: ⁠https://www.inajphotography.com⁠

In this episode, Ina addresses the common issue of inconsistent client bookings in the pet photography business. She identifies three major gaps that may be causing this inconsistency: unclear offers, weak marketing rhythms, and leaky lead funnels. The discussion emphasizes the importance of having clear value propositions, a consistent marketing strategy, and effective client management systems. Ina provides actionable steps for photographers to improve their business practices and encourages them to focus on one area at a time for sustainable growth.

Mini Homework Included: Choose ONE focus area—offers, marketing, or lead conversion—and take a small, intentional step forward.

Takeaways

• You're not alone in facing client inconsistency.
• Many photographers struggle with the business side, not the creative side.
• Clear offers and value propositions are crucial for attracting clients.
• A weak marketing rhythm can lead to inconsistent client flow.
• Understanding your client's buying awareness journey is essential.
• Consistency in marketing is more important than intensity.
• Streamline your inquiry and booking process to avoid leaks.
• Implement a follow-up system for potential clients.
• Nurturing past clients can lead to repeat business.
• Building a sustainable business requires solid backend systems.

Apply for a live coaching call: ⁠https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29⁠

Follow Ina on Instagram: ⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠

Mentoring & Coaching Info: ⁠https://www.inajphotography.com/coaching⁠

Sign up for my marketing workshop wait list

⁠https://www.inajphotography.com/marketing-workshop-wait-list⁠

What actually makes a pet photography business sustainable long term?

In this episode, Ina sits down with Tatum from The Social Dog Company for a raw, honest conversation about what it really takes to build a profitable pet business without burning out or relying on paid ads.

Tatum shares her journey from running dog-friendly events and rescue fundraisers to rebuilding her business from absolute rock bottom and growing a multi six-figure marketing company serving pet businesses around the world. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a real look at resilience, business models, and the unglamorous work that actually moves the needle.

Together, they unpack why so many talented photographers struggle to book clients, why “just posting on Instagram” isn’t a strategy, and how simplifying your offer and messaging can completely change how people respond to your business.

This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by marketing, or frustrated that your work isn’t translating into consistent bookings.

1. Why incredible photography alone doesn’t build a successful business
2. The biggest mistake pet photographers make with marketing
3. Why organic marketing foundations matter before running ads
4. How to stop confusing potential clients with too many offers
5. What “hustle” actually means in the early stages of business
6. Why going viral doesn’t always help your business
7. How to attract the right clients instead of more followers
8. The difference between awareness, consideration, and conversion
9. Why email marketing still outperforms social media for sales
10. How to think like a business owner, not just a creative

1. Simplify your offers and sell one core service clearly
2. Use stories to sell through pain point, solution, and outcome
3. Stop waiting until everything feels perfect before putting yourself out there
4. Focus on consistent action instead of chasing quick wins
5. Build marketing systems that support your life, not consume it

Instagram: @thesocialdogcompany

Website: https://www.thesocialdogcompany.com

Tatum also offers free social media audit and regularly runs practical social media challenges for pet business owners who want better visibility and clearer messaging.

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

In this episode, Ina discusses the multifaceted nature of success in the pet photography business. She shares her personal journey from a stable government job to pursuing her passion and going into her pet photography business full-time, emphasising the importance of defining success on one's own terms. The conversation highlights the need for clarity in business goals, client relationships, and work-life balance, encouraging listeners to create a vision that aligns with their values and aspirations.

Takeaways

• Success looks different for everyone.
• It's important to define what full-time means for you.
• My journey to pet photography was sparked by personal loss.
• Transitioning to full-time photography requires careful planning.
• I invested in a business coach to set up my photography business.
• Burnout can occur when juggling multiple responsibilities.
• Success is not just about income; it's about freedom and fulfillment.
• Defining your ideal week can help clarify your goals.
• You should set your own targets for revenue and sessions.
• Don't chase someone else's version of success; create your own.

Apply for live coaching call at : ⁠https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29⁠

Follow me on Instagram ⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠

⁠Mentoring and Coaching for Pet Photographers⁠

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

In this inaugural episode of the Pet Photographers' Journal, your host Ina J introduces the podcast's mission to support pet photographers in building sustainable and profitable businesses. She reflects on the closure of the Pet Photographers Club and the opportunity it presents for a fresh start. Ina shares her journey from a full-time public servant to a successful pet photographer, emphasising the importance of intentional business strategies and community engagement. The podcast will feature solo episodes, guest interviews, and monthly coaching calls to address common challenges faced by photographers.

Apply for live coaching call at : ⁠https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29⁠

Follow me on Instagram ⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠

⁠Mentoring and Coaching for Pet Photographers⁠

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Season Two of The Pet Photographers’ Journal is officially here.

In this solo episode, Ina kicks off 2026 with a grounded, honest reset for pet photographers who want more clarity, more momentum, and a business that actually supports their life.

Ina shares what she’s seeing across the industry, what the data is telling us, and where photographers should focus their energy this year. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what works.

If 2025 felt noisy, overwhelming, or unpredictable, this episode will help you cut through the chaos and start the year with intention.

The state of the photography industry heading into 2026

1. Why the technical side of photography is easier than ever
2. Why the business side feels harder and noisier
3. What industry reports are revealing about revenue, client behaviour, and sustainability

How to actually win in 2026

1. Why connection and client experience matter more than gear or trends
2. What photographers doing In-Person Sales (IPS) are earning compared to digital-only studios
3. Why print is far from dead and how it continues to drive long-term revenue

Two simple January action steps to build momentum

1. The Friction-Free Client Audit
2. How to secret shop your own website and remove the small points of friction that quietly kill bookings.
3. The Warm Circle Wake-Up
4. Why your next bookings are likely already in your world and how three short voice notes can restart engagement without selling.

How to choose the right level of support for where you’re at

1. The difference between needing a roadmap, a reset, or an engine
2. When to plan, when to refine, and when to take action
3. Why predictable bookings come from systems, not algorithms

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

It is officially the Season Finale! Whether you are wrapping presents, driving to visit family, or taking a well-deserved break, join me, Ina for this short, special solo episode to wrap up 2025.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on my first full year of coaching. From the surprise success of launching The Pet Photographers Journal after the closure of The Pet Photographers Club, to the very real battles with imposter syndrome, this is an unfiltered look at what it takes to grow.

Plus, we celebrate YOU. I break down the incredible Spotify Wrapped stats that made this show an "Instant Hit," reveals the most-played episode of the year, and I share exactly what is coming up in January 2026 (including something you won't want to miss).

A Personal Note from Ina: "Thank you to the 6 superfans who had this show as their #1 podcast this year, and to everyone who has listened, shared, and reviewed. I’m taking a short break to be with family in Bali, but I’ll see you in January for an incredible 2026!"

Review & Subscribe: Don't miss the 2026 season launch! Subscribe and leave a review to help other pet photographers find the show.

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

This episode is a deep, honest look at what it really takes to run a photography business with multiple moving parts.

I’m joined by equine and pet photographer Louise Sedgman, who has spent more than a decade refining a business that holds two very different models at once. High-volume seasonal Santa sessions, and slow, boutique fine-art equine portraiture.

We talk through how her Santa sessions evolved over 11 years, from unstructured walk-ins and four-hour queues to a mostly smooth, booked system photographing over a thousand families each season. Louise shares the practical decisions she made around pricing, bookings, team support, client education, and workflow to make that volume manageable.

But this conversation goes further than Santa sessions. We also dive into her equine work, in-person sales process, pricing expectations, lead generation through trade shows, and why boundaries became non-negotiable after experiencing burnout.

This episode is for photographers navigating growth, complexity, and energy management. If you’re trying to balance income, creativity, and sustainability without pretending it’s easy, Louise’s story will resonate.

• A single business can hold both high-volume and boutique work
• Systems and education matter more as volume increases
• Pricing clarity filters the right clients before the session
• Burnout leads to better boundaries, not failure
• Sustainable growth comes from refining, not constantly adding

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

This episode is your gentle reset before we step into a brand new year. If you’ve been feeling the pressure of feast-or-famine bookings, uncertainty around pricing, or the constant juggle between loving the art and dreading the business side… you’re not alone. So many pet photographers have lived the same roller coaster, and this conversation will help you step off it.

In this episode I walk you through the real work of reviewing your year without judgement, finding the lessons inside both the wins and the flops, and using that clarity to plan a more profitable, joyful 2026. You’ll hear about the marketing habits that keep photographers stuck, the mindset patterns that drain confidence, and the small shifts that create a completely different business year.

If you want 2026 to feel more consistent, calm, and profitable, this episode will help you take those first steps with clarity and confidence.

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

Today’s guest is Jodie Humphries, a pet-obsessed SEO specialist and freelance copywriter who helps pet businesses connect with the dog parents searching for them. She blends her background in SEO with her lived experience as a devoted dog mum to Wally, bringing a unique understanding of what pet owners actually want to read, search for, and buy.

In this episode, we walk through her Simple SEO Method and how pet photographers can start improving their organic search presence without feeling overwhelmed. Jodie explains the role of keywords, why structure matters more than ever, and how to use intentional blogging to educate clients before they enquire.

She also shares three actionable SEO steps any photographer can implement in the next 30 days:

• Start blogging consistently using FAQs and client questions

• Review and improve the copy on your core pages

• Use a pre-publish checklist for headings, metadata, links and alt text

Stay through to the end for something special. Jodie shares her story as a pet photography client who entered through a free session giveaway. She walked in thinking, “I’ll just take my free print.” She walked out with thousands of dollars in artwork… multiple times. Her insight is pure gold for anyone doubting whether giveaway campaigns can attract high-value clients.

About Jodie

Jodie is a dog mum, SEO expert and freelance pet copywriter based on the NSW Central Coast. She helps pet brands and service providers grow through SEO-friendly content, keyword research, blog strategy and messaging that speaks directly to pet parents. She blends data, SEO best practice and genuine connection to help pet businesses get found and trusted online.

Website: https://jodiehumphries.com/

Instagram: @jodielhwriter

Link to Jodie’s SEO-friendly pre-publish checklist:

https://jodiehumphries.com/free-seo-checklist-for-pet-businesses/

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

What separates the photographers who stay consistently booked from those who struggle month to month?

In this episode, Ina sits down with Andrew Hellmich, host of the legendary PhotobizX Podcast and one of the most respected voices in the photography business world. After more than 600 interviews, Andrew has seen the patterns, the pitfalls, and the powerful habits that set successful photographers apart.

They dive into what’s actually working right now in 2025, why so many photographers overcomplicate marketing, and the surprisingly simple strategies that consistently generate more bookings, higher sales, and better clients.

Andrew also shares his insights on:

• Why the fastest-growing photographers are willing to get people in front of their camera for free
• How to turn cold interest into paid clients through an intentional process
• What most photographers misunderstand about pricing and perceived value
• The difference between “busywork” and revenue-generating activity
• How high-performing studios nurture relationships and create repeat clients
• Why photographers must prioritise experience over perfection

Ina and Andrew also unpack the psychology behind offers, the power of connection, and why real growth comes from showing up and serving, not shouting louder online.

Whether you’re a pet photographer or any portrait photographer wanting more consistency, this episode is packed with clarity, strategy, and mindset shifts you can implement straight away.

Andrew Hellmich is a wedding and portrait photographer who built a thriving business in the Central Coast of NSW. He’s the host of PhotobizX, one of the most influential photography business podcasts in the world, interviewing hundreds of industry leaders and uncovering what truly works for photographers wanting profitable, fulfilling businesses.

PhotoBizX Podcast: https://photobizx.com

PhotoBizX Premium Membership Tria: http://photobizx.com/try

Facebook: https://facebook.com/photobizx

Black Friday Offer http://photobizx.com/blackfriday

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: Learn More

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

What does it take to transform from photographing 1,000+ weddings to running one of Northern Ireland’s most successful boutique pet photography studios?

In this episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal, we sit down with Graham Crichton of Belfast, Northern Ireland, who has built a premium studio brand with over 400 five-star Google reviews and an average sale of £1,500–£2,000 per client.

You’ll learn why photography alone won’t grow your business in today’s AI-driven, competitive market and what actually will.

From gift voucher strategies and transparent pricing, to automated client touchpoints, reveal sessions, premium sales techniques, and the psychology behind perceived value, this episode breaks down the full luxury client journey step-by-step.

If you want to:

1. Raise your prices with confidence
2. Increase your average sale
3. Stop attracting price shoppers
4. Deliver a premium client experience
5. Build long-term reputation and referrals

This episode is your blueprint.

1. Why you’re not in the photography business — you’re in the service business
2. Building a high-end pet photography studio model
3. How to design a complete client journey from first inquiry to product pickup
4. Using gift vouchers strategically (without attracting time-wasters)
5. Why transparency in pricing increases trust
6. How to prepare clients for higher investment without “selling”
7. The power of video in pet photographer marketing
8. Creating perceived value through small experience details
9. Handling price objections the right way
10. Why over-promising and under-delivering destroys trust
11. Getting (and leveraging) 400+ five-star Google reviews

1. Stop introducing yourself as “just a photographer.”
2. Think like hospitality, not like an artist.
3. Ask: What does my client experience feel like at every touchpoint?

1. Map every stage: website → inquiry → call → session → reveal → pickup.
2. Remove friction and uncertainty at each step.
3. Repeat key messaging (especially around pricing and products).

1. Avoid free vouchers that attract non-buyers.
2. Include full pricing transparency in the experience box.
3. Follow up proactively before expiry dates.

1. Use phrases like “We shoot for product.”
2. Prepare clients before the reveal session.
3. Send questionnaires asking what and where they plan to display artwork.

1. Offer premium coffee or small thoughtful touches.
2. Personalise welcome screens with client names.
3. Create an immersive slideshow reveal experience.

Small details create big emotional impact.

1. Four out of five people may think you’re expensive — that’s normal.
2. Your job isn’t to convince everyone.
3. It’s to attract and nurture the right clients.

1. Under-promise and over-deliver.
2. If turnaround is 5 weeks, say 5 — even if it might be 3.
3. Trust builds reputation. Reputation builds premium positioning.

Graham is a photographer and educator with nearly 20 years of professional experience across multiple genres. For the past decade, he has specialised in high-end pet portraiture and runs one of the very few specialist pet portrait studios in his country.

With a boutique studio model focused on client experience over volume, he has built a highly profitable pet photography business, earning over 400 five-star Google reviews and establishing a reputation for exceptional service and premium wall art sales.

What does your client journey currently look like?

Are you relying on your photography to sell… or are you intentionally designing an experience worth investing in?

Share your biggest takeaway from this episode inside the community, we’d love to hear what you’re implementing next.

If this episode shifted your perspective, send it to another pet photographer who needs to hear it.

📲 Instagram: @theexperienceengine

Listen to the Experience Engine on Spotify

Website: www.grahamcrichton.com/engine

📲 Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

🌐 Mentoring & Coaching: https://www.inajphotography.com/coaching

🌐 Sign up for the Consistent Bookings Workshop or Find out more about the Consistent Bookings Program

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective, it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

1. Practical marketing tips
2. Business lessons and mindset shifts
3. Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another pet photographer who needs to hear it.

And if you haven’t started building your email list yet… this is your sign.

Marketing can feel overwhelming.

Email lists. Social media. SEO. AI. PR. Sub-niching. Ads. Reviews.

If you’re a pet photographer wondering where to actually focus your energy, this episode brings clarity.

Ina is joined by Tarryn Michie, co-founder of Pet Biz Creatives, a pet-industry marketing agency that partners with ethical, purpose-driven pet brands to help them grow sustainably without burnout. With a background in investment banking, naturopathy, and strategic marketing, Tarryn blends data-driven strategy with meaningful storytelling to help pet businesses get visible and convert.

While Tarryn works heavily with pet product brands, the strategies she shares are incredibly relevant for service-based businesses like pet photography, especially when it comes to email marketing, trust-building, and future-proofing your visibility.

📩 Why email marketing is still one of the highest ROI tools available

1. The real reason you shouldn’t rely on social media alone
2. Why inbox fatigue is often just a mindset block
3. How often you should email (and what to actually send)
4. What to do if your email list has gone dormant
5. How to set up a simple welcome sequence that builds trust

🎯 Sub-niching to increase conversions

1. Why speaking to “all pet parents” weakens your message
2. How narrowing your audience actually grows your business
3. Examples of powerful sub-niches for pet photographers

🤝 Case studies, testimonials & reducing buyer anxiety

1. Why pet parents hesitate before booking
2. How sharing real client experiences removes fear
3. A simple way to guide clients when asking for reviews

🚀 Getting visible beyond social media

1. Practical ways to approach PR (even without a big budget)
2. How to leverage awards, media mentions, and podcasts
3. Why backlinks and third-party credibility matter more than ever

🤖 AI, SEO & being found in the future

1. What AEO/GEO really means
2. How AI tools decide who to recommend
3. Why blogs, FAQs, and structured website content still matter
4. How to position yourself as a trusted authority online

🧠 The mindset piece

1. Imposter syndrome in business
2. Why comparison kills momentum
3. Feeding your brain the right inputs as a business owner

If you feel overwhelmed by marketing, don’t try to do everything.

Start here:

✔️ Build or activate your email list

✔️ Send one value-packed email per month

✔️ Share more of yourself and your story

✔️ Focus on connection before conversion

Email is intimate. It builds trust. And trust is what converts pet parents, especially when bookings can take months or even years.

🌐 Website: https://petbizcreatives.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Tarryn Michie

🎁 Free lead magnet: Pet Parent Decision Making Matrix

📲 Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

🌐 Mentoring & Coaching: https://www.inajphotography.com/coaching

🌐 Sign up for the Pet Photographers Marketing Reset Free Masterclass

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective, it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

1. Practical marketing tips
2. Business lessons and mindset shifts
3. Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another pet photographer who needs to hear it.

And if you haven’t started building your email list yet… this is your sign.

Mentioned in this episode:

Free Webinar Ad - Pet Photographers' Marketing Reset

Stop doing "random acts of marketing" and start building a repeatable system. I have an upcoming free Masterclass, the Pet Photographers' Marketing reset where I'll cover: - The 3 specific shifts that took me from panicking about bills to consistent bookings - Why consistent posting on social media does NOT equal consistent bookings. - The system I use to stay booked weeks in advance without relying on the algorithm. 👉 Register for the Free Webinar Here: https://www.inajphotography.com.au/webinar-registration-3041

Do you feel like your marketing is scattered or your marketing reactively instead of proactively? Are you posting on social media just to "post something," hoping it leads to a booking?

In this special episode, I’m sitting down with Sharon Canovas, a talented pet and family photographer based in Ontario (and a professional stuntwoman!). Sharon joined my Consistent Bookings Workshop because she was tired of the being overwhelmed with marketing and wanted a clear path forward.

We dive deep into how she went from random social media posts to mapping out her entire year of marketing in advance. Sharon shares exactly how implementing a proper marketing strategy took her from uncertainty to being fully booked for the entire Spring season for the first time ever.

If you think you don't have time to market your business, you need to hear this. Sharon balances her photography business while working 15-hour days on film sets doing stunts and she still made it happen.

In this episode, we cover:

1. The shift from "Scattered" to Strategic: How Sharon stopped posting random "cute dog" photos and started posting with a purpose.
2. Planning 12 Months Out: How mapping out the year eliminated her anxiety about "what to do next".
3. The Power of AI Tools: How Sharon uses the tools from the workshop to brainstorm social media posts and emails in her dogs' voices, saving her hours of work.
4. Passive vs. Active Marketing: Why relying on social media alone isn't enough and how Sharon used pop-up events to drive leads.
5. The "Walk the Talk" Difference: Why it matters to learn from an educator who is still actively shooting and testing strategies in the trenches.

Memorable Quote:

"I took December off... I just sat down and planned everything out. So now I'm posting on social media with purpose... My Spring is fully booked. It's the first time that this is happening in my business." — Sharon Canovas

Connect with Sharon:

Sharon is a Hamilton Pet Photographer serving the Hamilton region in Ontario. Sharon balances her work in pet photography with her work as a stuntwoman and stunt coordinator. Since starting her business, she is most proud of having been voted Giggster Top 5 Best Pet Photographer from Hamilton, Ontario and has Won Platinum Award by Hamilton Spectator, Reader's Choice. Additionally, she's a certified pet grief specialist through One Last Network, equipped to better serve her clients in challenging times with End Of Life Pet Photography.

1. Website: https://canovasphotography.com/
2. Instagram: @scanovasphotography
3. Facebook: Canovas Photography
4. IMDB: Sharon Canovas on iMDB

Want to map out your year and fill your calendar just like Sharon did? The next Consistent Bookings Workshop launches in March!

Be the first to hear when doors open and get early access to the strategies that will take you from scattered and overwhelmed to having a clear plan and system for marketing.

👉 Sign up for the Waitlist here

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective, it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

1. Practical marketing tips
2. Business lessons and mindset shifts
3. Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Register for the Pet Photography Marketing Reset Webinar

🎓 Join the Free Pet Photographers’ Marketing Reset Webinar Ready to start booking your dream clients without discounting or social media burnout? https://www.inajphotography.com.au/petphotography-marketing-webinar-register

Most episodes of The Pet Photographers’ Journal focus on the business side of photography. Marketing, pricing, and building a sustainable photography business.

But this episode is a little different.

Instead of talking about strategy or sales, this conversation steps back into something much more personal.

Photographing our own dogs.

Ina Jalil sits down with Kerry Martin from Puppy Tales, an award winning Melbourne based dog photographer who has spent more than sixteen years documenting life with dogs across Australia.

Together they talk about the importance of personal photography projects. The kind that are not created for clients, awards or social media, but simply to capture the everyday moments with the dogs who share our lives.

Kerry shares how small projects such as photographing daily moments or recording a one second video each day can become deeply meaningful over time. Especially when those quiet memories are all that remain after our dogs are gone.

For pet photographers who spend their careers documenting other people’s dogs, this episode is a gentle reminder to turn the camera back toward the lives unfolding at home.

1. How Kerry Martin started her pet photography journey after leaving the Navy
2. The evolution of pet photography over the past 16 years
3. The story behind Kerry’s photography projects including Snow Dogs and Dog Tales of Australia
4. Why personal photography projects are different from client work
5. How to start a meaningful photography project documenting your own dog
6. The one-second-a-day video project that changed how Kerry remembers her dogs
7. Why simple, imperfect moments often become the most meaningful photographs
8. How documenting our own dogs can reshape how we photograph for clients
9. The emotional value of creating memories before time runs out

As photographers, we spend so much time creating beautiful images for clients that we sometimes forget to turn the camera toward our own lives.

This episode is a reminder that personal photography projects don’t need to be perfect. They just need to exist.

Future you will be grateful that they do.

Kerry Martin is the photographer behind Puppy Tales, a Melbourne based photography and storytelling platform dedicated to celebrating the bond between dogs and their people.

She considers pets very much part of the family and shares her work to inspire fellow pet parents to create incredible memories of life with their dogs.

Kerry travels throughout Australia offering her award winning dog photography and is known for her seasonal photography experiences, most notably Snow Dogs, as well as her studio based project Project Dogalogue.

Over the past sixteen years she has received many national and international photography awards. Highlights include Master of Photography, Australian Pet and Animal Photographer of the Year, and the Pets and People category winner at the 2024 International Pet Photography Awards.

As she travels with her own beloved dogs, Kerry also writes and shares stories about dog photography, dog friendly travel, and life with dogs. Her content reaches a community of more than 500,000 dog lovers across the Puppy Tales website and social media platforms.

Through her writing and photography she encourages dog inclusive lifestyles, shares practical resources to help dogs live happy and healthy lives, and tells heartfelt stories about the relationships between dogs and people.

Puppy Tales is also a business for good, operating as carbon negative and supporting local charities through photography and fundraising. Kerry founded the Australian Dog of the Year Awards in 2021 to recognise the incredible contribution dogs make to people, communities and society.

Website: https://puppytales.com.au/

Instagram: @puppytalesphotos

Facebook: Puppy Tales

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you subscribe and leave a five-star review. It helps more pet photographers discover the show and join the conversation.

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective — it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographers

Is your website quietly turning away clients?

Most photographers have a website. Far fewer have one that actually converts. In this episode, Ina sits down with Alex Vita, a web designer who works exclusively with photographers and has nearly 20 years of experience helping them get more enquiries through their sites.

They cover the most common content and user experience mistakes photographers make, what good SEO actually involves in 2025, and how the rise of AI tools is changing the way potential clients find you. There is a lot of practical, actionable advice in this one whether your website is brand new or years old.

Key takeaways:

1. Your homepage has about five seconds to tell someone who you are, where you are, and why they should choose you. A slideshow does not do that. A collage of four strong images with a clear heading, location, and differentiator does.
2. Backlinks still matter more than almost anything else in SEO. Cleaning up your H1 tags is helpful but it will not get you to page one if your competitors have years of quality links behind them. PR and genuine outreach are the longer-term answer.
3. AI tools are already recommending photographers to potential clients. Consistent business details across every platform, an FAQ section on your homepage, testimonials throughout your site, and content that shows your expertise all help you show up in those recommendations.
4. Pricing on your website does not have to be a full price list. It should address investment in some way. Gating it behind a newsletter subscribe might gain you a few subscribers but it reduces conversions and, as Alex puts it, it is a bit icky.
5. Your service page is not just about pricing. It is about the experience of working with you, the benefits, the process, the social proof, and then the investment. All of that together is what converts.

About Alex Vita

Alex Vita runs Foreground Web, a web design, SEO, and consulting service built specifically for photographers. He started out as a photographer himself before his computer science background pulled him back toward the web. He has worked with hundreds of photographers worldwide and is known for his in-depth articles, courses, and honest, no-fluff approach to helping photographers build websites that actually work.

Connect with Alex

Instagram: @foregroundweb

Website: foregroundweb.com

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

Useful Links on Alex's Website:

Articles:

https://www.foregroundweb.com/ai-proof-photography-website/

https://www.foregroundweb.com/displaying-prices/

https://www.foregroundweb.com/seo-obsession/

Sign Up to Alex's Newsletter: https://www.foregroundweb.com/subscribe/

Contact Alex directly via email through his website, he replies to every single one.

💬 Join the Pet Photographers' Collective

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective — it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

✨ Want to Be Coached Live?

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

📲 Connect with Ina

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographers

In this solo episode, Ina shares the moment that changed how she thinks about marketing forever. After quitting her six-figure government job to go full time in photography, attending an overseas retreat, and coming home to zero bookings in January and February, she learned the hard way that posting on social media and having a marketing strategy are two very different things. She also introduces her Consistent Ideal Client Method, the three part framework she now teaches to pet photographers who are ready to stop guessing and start building a system. If you're stuck in the feast and famine cycle, this one is for you.

Key takeaways:

1. Why posting consistently is not the same as marketing
2. The difference between passive and active marketing
3. Why the feast and famine cycle is a structure problem, not a talent problem
4. The Consistent Ideal Client Method: Magnetic Visibility, Aligned Positioning, and Intentional Client Experience

🌐 Sign up for the Consistent Bookings Workshop or Find out more about the Consistent Bookings Program

📲 Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

🌐 Mentoring & Coaching: https://www.inajphotography.com/coaching

🌐 Sign up for the Pet Photographers Marketing Reset Free Masterclass

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' collective, it’s a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

1. Practical marketing tips
2. Business lessons and mindset shifts
3. Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? ⁠Apply here⁠

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another pet photographer who needs to hear it.

And if you haven’t started building your email list yet… this is your sign.

You did everything right. The session was amazing, the dog was a star, the client loved it. Then you sent the gallery link or reached out to book their ordering appointment. And nothing.

In this solo episode, Ina gets honest about what's actually happening when clients go quiet after a session. And it's probably not what you think.

Spoiler: it's almost never a closing problem. It's a communication breakdown that happened much earlier in the process.

Ina also shares a personal update on how the current economic climate is affecting her own business, what she's still seeing work, and a question she wants your input on.

What This Episode Covers

• Why ghosting after a session is rarely a sales problem, and what it usually is instead
• The full client journey Ina uses, from the first phone call through to the ordering appointment, and why each step matters
• How to talk through pricing at the consultation so clients arrive at the ordering appointment already knowing what they want
• The single shift that has done more for Ina's conversion rate than anything else (it happens at the end of the session itself)
• An honest update on Ina's own bookings and conversion rate in the current economy
• A question Ina wants your input on before she builds something new

Key Takeaway

By the time a client gets to the ordering appointment, they should already know what they want to buy. Your job at that point is just to show them the photos and help them design their walls.

If that's not happening, the answer isn't a better closing script. It's going back and looking at where the communication broke down earlier in the journey.

And if you're doing nothing else from this episode: stop letting clients leave their session without booking in their ordering appointment on the spot. That one shift, right there in the moment while they're still on a high, is the most reliable thing Ina has done for her conversion rate.

Mentioned in This Episode

S2E14: AI and Pet Photography: What's Actually True, What I'm Using, and What You Should Know

A live workshop with Ina Jalil — Wednesday 15 April, 8am Sydney time.

If you've been pricing based on what other photographers in your market charge rather than what your business actually needs to earn, this workshop is for you. We'll work through the maths together from your cost of doing business, your income goals, how many sessions you want to do and build a pricing structure that actually adds up.

Replay included if you can't make it live.

Register here → https://www.inajphotography.com.au/pricing-workshop

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective — it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer

AI Won't Replace Pet Photographers. But Here's What Will Change.

If you've been scrolling photography groups lately, you've probably seen the panic. "AI is coming for us." "Is pet photography even safe?" It's loud, and honestly, it's understandable.

So in this solo episode, Ina addresses it head on. Not to dismiss the concern, but to give you an honest, grounded take from someone who is deep in AI and still actively shooting weekly.

The short answer? Your photography work is safer than you think. But your business operations? That's where things get interesting.

In this episode, Ina covers:

• Why pet photography is one of the safest niches when it comes to AI replacement, and what the data actually says about the growing pet photography market
• What AI genuinely cannot replicate: the connection, the experience, and the behaviour reading that makes your sessions irreplaceable
• The tools Ina actually uses in her own business, including Imagine AI for editing and custom Claude-built research agents for marketing and competitor analysis
• What "vibe coding" is and the AI apps Ina has built for her business and coaching clients, including an ideal client avatar wizard, a marketing campaign builder, a pricing calculator, and a session vision planner
• A simple prompting framework to get better results from any AI tool
• Why the photographers who will fall behind aren't the ones who fear AI, but the ones who ignore it entirely

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Why photographers are worried (and why Ina isn't)
• 02:30 - What AI actually can and can't do in a pet photography session
• 07:00 - The market data: why demand for pet photography is growing
• 09:00 - How Ina uses AI for editing with Imagine AI
• 11:00 - Claude, custom GPTs, and building AI research agents
• 16:00 - The apps Ina has built for her business and clients
• 21:00 - A simple prompting framework anyone can use
• 24:00 - Where to start if you're just getting into AI

Key takeaway:

AI cannot replicate what you do inside a session. The way you read a dog's body language, build trust with a client, and create an experience from inquiry to ordering appointment. That is yours. But the photographers who will do the best over the next few years are the ones asking "what can AI actually do for me?" and then figuring it out, one tool at a time.

Resources mentioned:

• Consistent Booking Audit quiz
• Fstoppers article on the pet photography market
• Imagen AI - use my referral code to get free edits for 1500 images
• Consistent Bookings Workshop waitlist
• Consistent Bookings Mastermind: reach out to Ina directly via Instagram or email

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective — it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographers

When Yunet Solarzano reached out to Ina on Instagram, she had been trying to build her pet photography business for about a year, had no paying clients, and was at a crossroads. She'd already invested in all the creative gear, tried collaborating with local businesses, and spent money on templates and equipment. None of it moved the needle.

In this episode, Yunet shares what actually changed when she invested in coaching, from opening a studio in Kirkland, Washington to landing a $9,000 sale from a client who came in through one of the marketing campaigns she built inside the Consistent Bookings Workshop.

This is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what growth in a pet photography business actually looks like, including the struggles, the mindset shifts, and the moments of genuine disbelief when things start to work.

What we cover in this episode:

1. Why Yunet had invested thousands in creative tools and equipment without seeing business results, and what finally shifted
2. The mindset breakthrough that mattered more than any marketing strategy
3. How a calendar contest campaign led to a $9,000 sale (and why Yunet almost missed it by defaulting to a digital package)
4. What the Consistent Bookings Workshop gave her that one-on-one coaching didn't, and vice versa
5. Why she joined the Mastermind even after completing both coaching and the workshop
6. What she would tell any photographer thinking "I can't afford coaching right now"
7. Where Yunet is headed in the next 12 months and what she now believes about her business that she didn't before

About Yunet Solarzano

Yunet is the owner of Olive and Fable Pet Photography, based in Kirkland, Washington. She specialises in fine art studio portraits for pets and the people who love them. Her work is genuinely stunning, and seeing where she is now compared to where she started is one of those stories worth hearing in full.

Find Yunet here:

Instagram: @oliveandfable

Website: oliveandfable.com

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Consistent Bookings Workshop
2. Consistent Bookings Mastermind
3. 1-on-1 Business Coaching with Ina

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you subscribe and leave a five-star review. It helps more pet photographers discover the show and join the conversation.

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective — it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographers

If your marketing plan starts and ends with Instagram, this episode is for you.

I sat down with Claire Lauer, an SEO and content marketing strategist who works specifically with photographers, to talk about what a real content strategy looks like for pet photographers in 2026. We covered why Google and AI search tools are becoming one of the most powerful ways to attract the right clients, what blogging actually involves (and yes, it's still worth doing), and how to build something sustainable without burning out.

We also got into pricing mindset, simplifying your offers, and why you are probably not charging enough.

About Claire Lauer

Claire Lauer is a marketing strategist and SEO expert who helps photographers simplify their marketing and use search and visibility to attract the right clients, without burnout. She is the founder of CL Content Marketing and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

What we cover in this episode

1. Why posting on Instagram is not a marketing strategy on its own
2. How SEO works for pet photographers and what realistic results look like
3. What keyword research involves and why local nuances matter
4. Why blogging is still worth doing in 2026 and what to write about
5. GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and how good content helps you show up in AI search results
6. How to build a content roadmap around your dream client
7. The do's and don'ts of using AI tools for content creation
8. Pricing mindset and why you are not your client

Website: clcontentmarketing.com

Instagram: @clcontentmarketing

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clairelauer

Email: claire@clcontentmarketing.com

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you subscribe and leave a five-star review. It helps more pet photographers discover the show and join the conversation.

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective — it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographers

Cat Race has been photographing dogs professionally since 2013, and she is one of the most recognisable names in the industry. Her work has won awards, appeared in national and international publications, and her Scarf Project is one of the most distinctive bodies of work in dog photography today. She is also refreshingly honest about the things most photographers don't talk about out loud.

In this conversation, Cat and Ina go deep on what it means to build a career that is genuinely your own, from protecting a creative idea before releasing it into the world, to posting a reel openly sharing a £5,000 sale, to the ongoing question of where inspiration ends and copying begins.

There is a lot in this one that will make you think differently about your own work.

In this episode we cover:

• Cat's unconventional path into professional photography, including her year working inside Venture Photography and what that early experience taught her about the real value of photographic work
• How her style evolved gradually over more than two decades. Note: after recording, Cat clarified that when she mentioned her distinctive style beginning in 2021 or 2022, she was specifically referring to the launch of the Scarf Project as a defined body of work. Her visual evolution actually began from the very start of her career and built naturally to that point. She has shared a series of images labelled by year so you can see that progression yourself: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/v0sddbequown4lcqu2nmp/AIDX3hY_wf5D_jZYkWcsCNA?rlkey=ugit2somtmvwp7e4wd4fek99i&e=1&dl=0
• The story behind the Scarf Project: how it began as a tiny ribbon on her dog Lily at Christmas, why she kept it private for a full year before releasing it, and why she would do the same again
• The inspiration versus copying conversation: where Cat draws the line, how her thinking has shifted through her ongoing conversations with Gabi Kline, and why she believes the more important question is whether you are making something genuinely yours
• Pricing confidence and what it actually comes from. Cat's first year in business she averaged £500 per sale. Her average at the end of last year was £3,000. She will tell you it had nothing to do with her style, her awards, or how long she had been shooting.
• The reel she posted publicly sharing a £5,000 client sale, why she did it, and how it led to her collaboration with Gabi
• Her lead generation model using events, model calls, and price draws, with an assistant who qualifies leads before sessions happen
• The bootcamp she runs with Gabi, what it covers, and what following the path of least resistance has changed for her
• What she would prioritise if she were starting over today (her answer may surprise you)

A note from Cat after recording: Cat wanted to clarify her comments about when her distinctive style developed. The Scarf Project launched in 2021 and marked a clear turning point, but her visual signature evolved gradually from the beginning of her career.

Resources and links mentioned:

• Cody and the green scarf at Giant's Causeway (a key Scarf Project moment): Watch here
• Milkshake the flying pug: Watch here
• The pricing reel that connected Cat and Gabi: Watch here
• Gabi Kline's episode on The Pet Photographers' Journal: Episode 6 Season 1

Connect with Cat Race:

Website: CatsDog.co.uk

Instagram: instagram.com/catsdogphotography

YouTube: youtube.com/@catsdogphotography

TikTok: tiktok.com/@catsdogphotography

Facebook: facebook.com/catsdogphotography

A live workshop with Ina Jalil — Wednesday 15 April, 8am Sydney time.

If you've been pricing based on what other photographers in your market charge rather than what your business actually needs to earn, this workshop is for you. We'll work through the maths together from your cost of doing business, your income goals, how many sessions you want to do and build a pricing structure that actually adds up.

Replay included if you can't make it live.

Register here → https://www.inajphotography.com.au/pricing-workshop

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective — it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer

What if you could run four campaigns a year, spend around $40 to acquire each client, and predict exactly how many sessions you'd fill?

That is exactly what Jason Krieger-Baum has built at Fido Photo in Toronto. He has been photographing pets for over 17 years, and in this episode he pulls back the curtain on the giveaway-based lead generation model that now drives his entire business. No organic social. No cold outreach. Just a system that works.

This conversation gets genuinely specific. We talk numbers, ad structure, booking rates, same-day ordering, and why Jason believes he would start with this model all over again if he were beginning today.

What we cover:

• How Jason went from a high-touch luxury brand to a streamlined, high-volume studio model and why he thinks it is the better business
• The giveaway structure that generates 400 to 450 leads per campaign and converts roughly 35 to 40% of winners into booked clients
• His exact ad spend: $8 to $10 per lead, $4,000 to $5,000 per campaign, run four times a year
• Why he spends $500 a day on ads and does not stress about optimising every dollar
• His same-day ordering appointment process and how he culls 350 images down to 30 in just 15 minutes
• The automated booking workflow he uses in Go High Level so clients book themselves without a single phone call from him
• How he physically mails a printed magazine to every client a month before their session to prepare them for the experience
• Why he does not post on social media at all right now and what he does instead

Key timestamps:

• 02:40 Jason's 17+ years in pet photography and how Toronto shaped his approach
• 05:00 Two brands, one pivot: the difference between Jason KB and Fido Photo
• 09:00 Pricing breakdown including digitals, portraits, wall art, and coffee table books
• 14:00 The booking workflow from lead to session without phone calls
• 17:00 How Jason shoots six sessions a week across three days
• 20:00 Culling 350 photos in 15 minutes and running a same-day ordering session
• 32:00 How the giveaway model actually works, who wins and how many book
• 37:00 The ad spend breakdown and the ROI equation he uses
• 39:00 How he structures his Facebook campaigns: ad sets, audiences, and one ad per set
• 1:20:00 Why he puts zero effort into social media and what he is building instead

Connect with Jason:

Instagram: @fido.foto

Website: fido-foto.com

Resources mentioned:

• Go High Level / Difference Maker Revolution (CRM and automation platform Jason uses for his booking workflow)
• ProSelect (slideshow and ordering session software)

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective, it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Free Consistent Bookings Audit - find your gap in getting consistent bookings: https://www.inajphotography.com/consistent-booking-audit

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer

Right now I've got 16 sessions booked for May, ordering appointments to run, editing to get through, and prints to deliver.

And I'm still marketing.

I know that probably sounds like a lot. This episode is about what that actually looks like, and why having a system already in place means marketing doesn't have to stop just because life gets full.

I also share the moment that changed how I think about this entirely. A trip to Iceland, two months of no marketing at all, and coming home to a completely empty January and February. No bookings. No enquiries. Checking my emails constantly and genuinely thinking about applying for other jobs.

That experience is a big part of why I built the repeatable marketing system I use today, and why I created the workshop.

The Pet The Pet Photography Marketing Systems Workshop starts 14 May 2026 7:30 AM AEST (13 May 2026 5:30PM ET). More info about the workshop or to enrol visit:

https://www.inajphotography.com.au/the-pet-photography-marketing-systems-workshop

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective, it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Free Consistent Bookings Audit - find your gap in getting consistent bookings: https://www.inajphotography.com/consistent-booking-audit

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer

I'm recording this right at the start of my busiest month. Sixteen sessions in May. And almost every single one of them was booked from campaigns I ran back in January and February.

That gap between when the marketing happens and when the bookings land is the thing most photographers miss. And it's exactly what this episode is about.

If you're in a busy season right now and you're not thinking about what happens next, or if you're staring at a quiet calendar wondering how it got this way, this one is for you.

In this episode:

• Why the feast and famine cycle is not about how hard you're working (and what it's actually about)
• The 4 to 6 week marketing lag and why your empty calendar is never about now
• What a National Love Your Pet Day giveaway brought in, including one client who spent $6,000 and another who spent $3,980
• Sharon Canovas's story: how a stunt performer in Hamilton, Ontario went from scrambling for bookings to a fully booked spring by planning her whole year in December
• The one action to take this week, depending on your season and hemisphere

• The Pet Photography Marketing Systems Workshop starting 14 May 2026 7:30 AM AEST (13 May 2026 5:30PM ET): https://www.inajphotography.com.au/the-pet-photography-marketing-systems-workshop
• Sharon Canovas's episode: From Overwhelmed With Marketing to Fully Booked for Spring Listen on Captivate | Listen on Spotify

Write down your next peak booking window. Count back four to six weeks from that date. That's when your marketing needs to start. Not when the season arrives. Not when your calendar starts looking quiet. Now.

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective, it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Free Consistent Bookings Audit - find your gap in getting consistent bookings: https://www.inajphotography.com/consistent-booking-audit

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer

Why You Can't Make Yourself Show Up Online (It's Not a Confidence Problem) with Miss Marissa

You know what you should be doing. Post more. Show up consistently. Put yourself out there. And yet something keeps stopping you.

In this episode, I sit down with Marissa, a personal brand therapist, coach, and former national TV hypnotist who works at the intersection of neuroscience, subconscious rewiring, and personal brand identity. Marissa has 20+ years in personal branding and marketing, degrees in PR, journalism, and applied neuroscience, and over 3,000 client sessions under her belt.

What I expected was a conversation about branding strategy. What actually happened was something I didn't see coming. Midway through our conversation, Marissa turned the tables and started coaching me live, on air. She uncovered a belief I've been carrying since childhood and walked me through a guided subconscious practice that I'm still thinking about.

If you've ever pushed yourself to show up online only to freeze, go blank, or find yourself doing literally anything else instead, this episode will give you a completely different lens for that.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why visibility resistance is a nervous system and belief problem, not a confidence problem
• How your core beliefs form between the ages of 0 and 7, and why they're still running your business today
• The "thick book" concept: how neural pathways shape your behaviour as a photographer
• What it actually means to have a personal brand as a solo photographer (and why you already have one whether you like it or not)
• Why the most talented photographers are often the least visible
• A live guided inner practice you can use whenever you feel stuck showing up
• Small, practical steps to start building visibility even if video feels terrifying
• Marissa's final message for anyone who keeps getting in their own way

Timestamps:

00:00 — Introduction

01:30 — Marissa's journey: from shooting her first wedding at 17 to national TV hypnotist

11:52 — The difference between confidence in your skills and confidence in yourself

13:25 — Stripping back belief layers: how our core stories form

20:00 — The "thick book" concept and how neural pathways shape your behaviour

23:21 — Ina shares her own visibility block with coaching

28:36 — Marissa challenges the belief that you need to be "better" than your clients

32:00 — The live inner practice begins

48:07 — Coming out of the exercise: how Ina felt

53:49 — People buy who you are, not just your photos

01:04:23 — What is a personal brand, really?

01:15:09 — Practical steps when you're not ready for video

01:22:13 — Marissa's final message: there is nothing wrong with you

Website: heymissmarissa.com

Instagram: @heymissmarissa

The Pet Photography Marketing System Workshop Waitlist (enrolment opens April 30th) - get a personalised video audit on your website, pricing or offer if you enrol to the workshop and you're on this waitlist.

Add your name here: https://www.inajphotography.com.au/consistent-bookings-workshop-waitlist-page

Free Consistent Bookings Audit - find your gap in getting consistent bookings: https://www.inajphotography.com/consistent-booking-audit

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective, it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer

How I Know What a Client Will Spend Before They See Their Photos

If you've ever had a client ghost you after the session, or show up to their ordering appointment completely shocked by the pricing, this episode is going to hit close to home.

Because here's the thing: the problem usually isn't the ordering appointment itself. It's everything that came before it.

In this solo episode, Ina walks through her full client process from first enquiry through to ordering appointment, and explains exactly how she's consistently getting clients spending $2,000 to $4,000 even during a cost of living crunch, with more than half of those clients coming in as giveaway clients.

The process is not complicated, but the sequencing matters. And most photographers are missing a step somewhere along the way.

What's covered in this episode:

00:00 Why clients get shocked at pricing (and what's actually causing it)

02:30 How Ina's website is set up to educate clients before the consultation even starts

06:00 What happens at the consultation, and why Ina spends most of it talking about the dog, not the pricing

10:00 The one question she asks that tells her almost everything about what a client will spend

13:00 How she introduces pricing without handing over a price list

15:30 The questionnaire and pre-session planning call, and why both matter more than most photographers realise

19:00 How she books the ordering appointment on the way back to the car after the session

21:00 Two real examples from recent ordering appointments, including a $3,200 prepaid session and a client who doubled his own planned spend

25:00 The key takeaway: the ordering appointment is not where the sale happens, it's where it lands

Consultation That Sells Workshop Waitlist: https://www.inajphotography.com.au/consultation-that-sells-waitlist

Free Consistent Bookings Audit: https://www.inajphotography.com/consistent-booking-audit

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective — it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer

If you've ever thought about offering end-of-life sessions, or you already do and you want to do them better, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I sit down with Angela Schneider from Big White Dog Photography for an honest, emotional and deeply practical discussion about what it really takes to photograph families during one of the hardest chapters of their lives.

Angela is an adventure dog photographer based in Spokane Valley, Washington. She's also a Pet Loss Grief Companion, a Grief Educator through David Kessler, and a Master Grief Coach through Cathy Cheshire. After losing her own heart dog Shep in 2014 and now navigating anticipatory grief with her current dog Bella, Angela has spent years learning how to show up for grieving clients with real emotional intelligence. She's recently released her book Through the Lens of Goodbye: A Pet Photographer's Guide to End-of-Life Sessions, which covers everything from grief education to pricing, marketing and the operational side of offering these sessions ethically.

We both get emotional in this one. It's raw, it's real, and I think that's exactly why it matters.

Key takeaways:

1. If you're going to do end-of-life sessions, learn about grief first. Becoming grief-informed is not optional for this work.
2. Charging for end-of-life sessions is an act of respect. It reinforces the value of what you do, ensures your business is sustainable and prevents burnout.
3. Stop using guilt-based messaging on your website. Celebrate the life and connection instead of reminding people their dog is going to die. They already know.
4. Your client's grief is not about you. Share your story briefly if asked, then circle back to their experience.
5. Always get consent before sharing end-of-life images on social media. Warn your client before posting and respect their wishes if they say no.

About Angela Schneider

Angela Schneider is the founder of Big White Dog Photography, an adventure dog photography business rooted in the wild landscapes of the Inland Northwest. She photographs women and their dogs on ridgelines, in forests and along quiet lakeshores. Angela is a Pet Loss Grief Companion with Two Hearts Pet Loss Center, a Grief Educator with David Kessler and Grief.com, and a Master Grief Coach through Cathy Cheshire. Her book Through the Lens of Goodbye: A Pet Photographer's Guide to End-of-Life Sessions is available on Amazon in print and Kindle.

Connect with Angela:

Website: bigwhitedogphotography.com

Email: angela@bigwhitedogphotography.com

Instagram: @bigwhitedogphotography

Substack: dogphotography.substack.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Through the Lens of Goodbye: A Pet Photographer's Guide to End-of-Life Sessions by Angela Schneider (Amazon US / Amazon AU)

Angela's Substack: dogphotography.substack.com (weekly posts on anticipatory grief with action items)

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective — it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Join the Consistent Bookings Program

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer

In one week, it will be a year since I released the very first episode of The Pet Photographers' Journal. I honestly didn't know if I'd still be here doing this. I didn't know if I'd stay consistent. I didn't know if it would matter to anyone.

But here we are. Over 5,000 downloads later, and I get messages from photographers telling me these episodes have genuinely helped their businesses. That means everything.

This episode is a little different. I want to mark the milestone, share some of what's happened in the last twelve months, including some wins from photographers I've worked with, and then get into something practical. Because after a year of working with pet photographers through workshops, one-on-one coaching, and the Consistent Bookings Mastermind, I've seen the same underlying problem show up again and again: inconsistent bookings.

But this problem doesn't always come from the same place. And if you're trying to fix the wrong bottleneck, you'll keep spinning your wheels.

So today I'm walking you through the four bottlenecks I see most often, and how to figure out which one is yours.

A note before we dive in: this episode was recorded during a hard personal time. My dog James was diagnosed with cancer, and stepping back from parts of the business while navigating that has been genuinely tough. I mention it briefly in the episode. Thank you to everyone who reached out with kind messages. It has meant more than I can say.

Take the free Consistent Bookings Audit (takes about 5 minutes, gives you a personalised result) → https://www.inajphotography.com/consistent-booking-audit

Consistent Bookings Mastermind (six-month small group program) → https://www.inajphotography.com.au/consistent-bookings-mastermind

Ep. 9 — Why Your Bookings Are Inconsistent (And It's Not What You Think) → https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mUVzPbNGALeVcKvGUDKlF

S2 Ep. 6 — From Overwhelmed with Marketing to Fully Booked for Spring with Sharon Canovas → https://open.spotify.com/episode/4LC6bhrtoIgx1RCKXG4IYH

S2 Ep. 13 — From Zero Clients to a $9,000 Sale: Yunet's Pet Photography Story → https://open.spotify.com/episode/5C9OWzfPhdsE8x8x3IuXeY

If you want to sign up for the workshop, join the Pet Photographers' Collective, it's a free community for pet photographers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business with less overwhelm.

Inside, Ina shares:

✨ Practical marketing tips

✨ Business lessons and mindset shifts

✨ Free resources to help you grow

Connect with other photographers who get it and start creating a business that truly supports your life, not consumes it.

Join here → https://www.skool.com/pet-photographers-collective-3125/about?ref=9c7b56d2963f48a791297a43a29109e1

Interested in being featured on a future coaching episode? Apply here: https://forms.gle/oocMwawVB3de6aM29

Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

Email: ina@inajphotography.com

Free Consistent Bookings Audit - find your gap in getting consistent bookings: https://www.inajphotography.com/consistent-booking-audit

Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer