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