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The Pet Photographers' Journal

The Pet Photographers' Journal

By: Ina J Photography
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Welcome to The Pet Photographers' Journal, a practical and unfiltered podcast for talented pet photographers ready to build a business with more purpose, passion, and profitability. I’m Ina J, a pet photographer who turned my side hustle into my full-time career. In this podcast, I share exactly what I’ve learned and actually applied in my own business. We talk about pricing, mindset, marketing, client experience, and sales, without feeling pushy. Some lessons I picked up from others but I always tweak things to work for me and I’ll tell you how you can too. I overshare sometimes but in the best way possible because I believe in learning from real-life experiences not just theory. Whether you’re just starting or scaling to five-figure sales this show is your behind-the-scenes guide to pet photography business success.Copyright 2026 Ina J Photography Art Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • How to Grow Your Pet Photography Business With Confidence with Stacey Sherman

    How to Grow Your Pet Photography Business With Confidence with Stacey Sherman
    Jul 6 2026

    Not long ago, Stacey Sherman's pet photography business still felt like a hobby. It wasn't the real, paying business she wanted, and it frustrated her. A self-described procrastinator who struggled hugely with confidence. Today she's opening her second studio.

    In this episode, Ina sits down with Stacey Sherman of BarkHop Studio, a founding member of the Consistent Bookings Mastermind, for an honest client story. Stacey shares what actually shifted for her: how she found the confidence to back herself and negotiate, how she started taking consistent action instead of putting things off, and how she built marketing she can turn on and off, including the community events that now bring her whole town out. If you know the marketing you should be doing to grow your pet photography business but keep putting it off, this one's for you.

    Key takeaways
    • You don't need more information, you need to see it made real. As a visual learner, what unlocked Stacey was seeing Ina's actual assets, not another abstract course.
    • Your community events are marketing. Strut Your Mutt drew 400 people, 200 dogs and 30-plus vendors, and built partnerships that market her for free.
    • A campaign doesn't have to be a big scary thing. Build it once, keep the assets, tweak and repeat.
    • Confidence is the real product. From imposter syndrome to a second studio, a VA and 19 booked sessions. Her two words: motivation and confidence.
    • Turn the marketing tap on and off. A repeatable system lets you switch it on for bookings and pause it when life needs you.

    One thing to try this week

    Look at the events you're already doing and write down which ones are actually marketing. Get next quarter's one repeatable event onto your calendar now, before you're scrambling to pull it together.

    About Stacey

    Stacey Sherman is the photographer behind BarkHop Studio, a studio pet photography business she has built over two and a half years. A former family photographer, she found her way to pet work through fostering and rescue, with a second studio on the way. She is a founding member of Ina's Consistent Bookings Mastermind.

    Connect with Stacey

    Website: http://barkhopstudio.com/

    Instagram: http://instagram.com/barkhopstudio

    Work with me in the Mastermind

    Stacey's story is exactly what the Mastermind is built for. The Consistent Bookings Mastermind is open for enrolment: a group coaching container focused on implementation support to help you build your repeatable marketing system, with full support across pricing, sales and mindset. inajphotography.com.au/mastermind

    Not ready yet? Start with the Free Consistent Bookings Audit: inajphotography.com/consistent-booking-audit

    💬 Join the Pet Photographers' Collective (free)

    Join the free community on Skool

    ✨ Want to Be Coached Live? (Off the Record)

    Drop a voice note or DM on Instagram (@inaj.thepetphotoceo), first name or anonymous.

    📲 Connect with Ina

    Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo · Email: ina@inajphotography.com · Mentoring & Coaching
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • Why doing more isn't getting you booked

    Why doing more isn't getting you booked
    Jun 22 2026

    If you've ever felt like you're posting and posting and still staring at an empty calendar, this one's for you.

    In this episode I'm sharing a small change to the podcast (more solo episodes, and moving to fortnightly), and why that decision is actually the exact lesson I want to talk about: doing more isn't what gets you booked. Doing the right things, on purpose, is.

    I break down the difference between passive marketing (your social media, your blog, your SEO) and active marketing (campaigns that actually create a reason to book), and I walk you through a real campaign I'm running in my own studio right now, Dogs of the Season.

    I'm also launching a new segment called Off the Record. If there's something you're stuck on, send me an anonymous voice note and I'll coach you through it on air.

    In this episode:

    • Why posting more often isn't the same as being booked
    • Passive vs active marketing, and why you need both
    • The Dogs of the Season campaign, start to finish
    • How a 12-month marketing calendar lets you plan once and repeat
    • Why marketing now is what fills your spring and autumn seasons
    • One active campaign to plan this week

    Work with me in the mastermind

    The mastermind is currently open for enrolment. It's a group coaching container focusing on implementation support to help you build your repeatable marketing system along with comprehensive support of your business from pricing, sales, and mindset.

    Click here for more info: The Consistent Bookings Mastermind

    📲 Connect with Ina

    Instagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo

    Drop me a voice note or DM on instagram for the "Off the Record Segment".

    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
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • How One Photographer Is Getting Shelter Dogs Adopted with Better Photos (with Adam Goldberg)

    How One Photographer Is Getting Shelter Dogs Adopted with Better Photos (with Adam Goldberg)
    Jun 15 2026
    Have you ever scrolled past a shelter dog and thought "that photo doesn't do them justice"? Adam Goldberg had the same thought, and he did something about it.Adam is the founder of AGold Photos and the creator of Second Shot, a mission-driven adoption photography programme placing professional photographers inside shelters to give animals a real chance at being seen. What started as weekend volunteering has grown into a network spanning five shelters across the US, with a goal of reaching 50 in the next three years.In this episode, Adam shares the full story of how Second Shot came to life, how the model actually works, and what he's looking for in photographers who want to get involved.What We CoverHow Adam's photography career started inside a shelter and why he never really leftThe transition from shoot-and-burn events to IPS studio and what he learned the hard wayWhy he walked away from private clients to focus solely on shelter photographyWhat a Second Shot session looks like from start to finish, including how he photographs up to 50 animals a weekThe three-person system he uses to keep sessions efficient and stress-free for the animalsHow brand sponsorships fund the whole programme so shelters get the work for freeWhat he looks for in associate photographers and what the pilot programme involvesThe tools and workflow that make the volume manageable (including AI editing)Where Second Shot is headed and how you can apply to be part of itAbout Adam GoldbergAdam Goldberg is a professional pet photographer and the founder of AGold Photos, based in Tampa, Florida. He is also the creator of Second Shot, a programme that partners with animal shelters and brands to fund and produce professional photo sessions for adoptable animals. Adam has been photographing shelter animals for 10 years and has raised over $250,000 for animal charities through his work.Links and Resources MentionedApply to be a Second Shot associate photographer: secondshotpet.comAdam on Instagram: @agoldphotoAdam's email: adam@secondshotpet.comEvoto AI editing software: Use Discount Code ADAM15 for 15% off on annual subscription plans and 20% off on 200 credits pay-as-you-go. Sign up using this link https://link.evoto.ai/goldberg💬 Join the Pet Photographers' CollectiveIf 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 growConnect 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 InaInstagram: @inaj.thepetphotoceo Email: ina@inajphotography.comFree Consistent Bookings Audit - find your gap in getting consistent bookings: https://www.inajphotography.com/consistent-booking-auditMentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographer
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
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