Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.

Nicole Begley of www.nicolebegleyphotography.com is based in the USA and specialises in pet and equine photography after moving away from family portrait photography. Prior to becoming a professional photographer in 2010, she spent 13 years working as a zoological animal trainer.

In this interview, the focus is on utilising silent auctions to generate pet photography leads, bookings and sales. This strategy has been one of the most consistent producers of clients for Nicole and there's more to it than you might think. Nicole shares exactly which auctions to seek out and partner with, what to offer, how to make the most of your partnerships and ultimately, how to get great sales from these shoots with your perfect target clients – NOT freebie hunters.

You'll also learn exactly how to structure your pet photography pricelist to naturally lead your photography customers to spend more money with you. What Nicole shares on this topic alone is absolute gold and is one of the best ways I've heard to set up a price list to encourage spending on wall art and albums.

There's a whole lot more and don't think about passing on this episode if you don't photograph dogs or horses – there is a ton of information that Nicole shares that will affect the way you do business, no matter the genre you focus on.

Nicole is also the creator of Hair of the Dog, a blog for pet photographers where her focus is helping pet photographers build a more successful business. She's also the author of the book: Pet and Horse Photography for Everybody: Secrets from a Pro.

Here’s some more of what we cover in the interview:

  • Nicole's previous career and why she decided to leave it for pet photography
  • How to start a pet photography business from scratch
  • Why make the move from family photography to pet photography?
  • The process of changing from one photography niche to another
  • Marketing strategies for a pet photography business
  • What are silent auctions and how it works
  • Why are silent auctions so effective for photography businesses?
  • How to generate plenty of photography leads through silent auctions donations
  • How to effectively make bookings from your silent auction leads
  • Utilising tax deductions when running your photography promotion
  • How to choose the right auctions to partner with
  • The one auction you need to avoid as a photography lead source
  • Where to find the right auctions to attract your target market
  • Common mistakes photographers make when marketing via charity auctions
  • Nicole's recommendation for product credits
  • The importance of client education and price structuring to making a profit
  • Leading the conversation and encouraging your clients to spend more with add ons
  • The questions you need to be asking at the initial point of client contact
  • When and how to bring up your photography pricing in a new client conversation
  • Nicole's albums and collections and how the sales process works
  • How to simplify the buying process for your clients when it comes to albums or wall art
  • How Nicole structures her prices
  • Should you be doing your own wall art framing in house?
  • Which photography genre works best with silent auction and which ones won't
  • How to make silent auctions work best for you
  • Payment plans and in person sales process
  • What is hair of the dog and how it helps pet lovers and pet photographers
  • Nicole's Pet Photography course and what you'll learn from the course

Nicole Begley Photography Podcast

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.

One of the most important things you can ask your client, especially in initial inquiry is “Have you given any thought to how you'd like to display your images after the session?” – Nicole Begley

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus special member-only interviews.

You'll also receive access to the members only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group.

You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Joining a Mastermind Group (encouraged by Andrew) has been incredibly valuable and fun, I look forward to connecting with my group members every week. Jina Zheng, Premium Member and Melbourne Children photographer.

And that's not all… you get a set of steak knives… I'm kidding!

Seriously though, that's not all. In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

Nicole Begley Photography Podcast

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Nicole shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in todays episode.

The name of the game is offering service with a smile and giving clients the best experience so they have a great experience and they still feel good about your business. – Nicole Begley

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Nicole or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

Nicole Begley Photography Podcast

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners means more interviews and ultimately a better show.

If you have left a review in the past, thank you!

If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast  and email me your key words or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to.

PhotoBizX Premium Membership Specials!

It's rare to see a special price for the Premium membership but there's two options available to you until Monday June 18th 2018.

Why the special?

Because it's holiday time (I'm off to France in July) and there's no better reason to celebrate!

There are two options available – a 12 month membership at USD$120 – 50% off the monthly membership. This is the cheapest you'll ever see the 12 month membership.

OR

The Facebook Ads Course + The 12 Month Premium Membership – normally $397… NOW $197 – click here to get access.
This special offer reverts to the $120 12 month membership after the first 12 months.

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The 12 Month Premium Membership – normally $200… NOW $120… 
https://photobizx.com/junespecial


Included with your membership is:

  • Access to the secret Members Only Facebook Group
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  • Access to the members only resource page with extra discounts, promo codes and downloads
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  • Access to the Premium Only interviews

SPECIAL BONUS FOR EXISTING MEMBERS

If you've made a membership payment this month already and want this deal, I'll refund this months payment for you.

For me to process the refund, you'll need to email me your Paypal email address which may be different to your regular email address.

Make sure you join first, then cancel your existing payments. This way your Premium RSS Feed URL stays the same.

Why should you join the PBX Membership?

One reason… I will help you build a thriving photography business. Come in and see what you're missing out on and let's get your business really going.

Here's what three photographer members posted in the Premium Members Facebook Group while I was preparing this episode to go live. These comments and the post were unsolicited.

Appreciation Post!

Alan Moyle – It's been a while since I've expressed my mancrush for Andrew Hellmich and all the things he's provided to me (and all of us!) for the growth of business and income.
Just thinking back the last few years, all the most valuable things I've done in my photography business come back to this podcast and the FB Group, so I'm kinda mancrushing/crushing on all the regulars here that post and help too.
You guys are all awesome.
Mark Clarisse  – This group of photographers, this FB Group, in particular this man Andrew Hellmich you speak of and numerous other people here have literally helped me grow my business, transform it, improve it, better it and constantly evolve it!
I just recorded my best month in sales ever after almost 6 years full time and I’m also up 50% on the same period as last year.
Put into action what Andrew works his butt off to provide for us.
Vicky Joseph – Yes I completely agree – my PhotoBizX subscription is the best investment for my business!

Nicole Begley Photography Podcast

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Nicole Begley Photography Website

Nicole Begley on Facebook

Nicole Begley on Instagram

Hair of the Dog Blog

Hair of the Dog Blog on Instagram

Hair of the Dog Facebook Group

Pet and Horse Photography for Everybody: Secrets from a Pro by Nicole Begley

Nicole Begley Silent Auction Tracking Sheet Freebie

Nicole Begley Photography Podcast

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Nicole for coming on and sharing so much about her thoughts on the business of pet photography, marketing, sales, utilising auctions to attract clients and how to run a successful business.

You just kinda have to fill out what your clients are interested in and then what also you love because you can't sell something that you don't love. – Nicole Begley

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew