I’ve just released a new episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal with Louise Sedgman, and it’s one of those conversations that stays with you. We talk a lot in this community about sustainability, boundaries, and building a business that actually supports your life. This episode puts all of that into a very real context. Louise runs two very different sides of her business. High-volume seasonal work that serves thousands of families. And slow, fine-art equine portraiture that’s deeply intentional. What really stood out for me was how honest she is about the energy required for both. Some takeaways I think you’ll get a lot from: - Why high-volume work only works when systems and client education are locked in - How Louise delivers the same energy to every client, even in fast-paced sessions - The importance of boundaries after experiencing burnout - How client education upfront changes everything, especially for seasonal sessions - Why a business can hold both volume and value without losing integrity If you’re running mini sessions, Santa sessions, or balancing different offers in your business, this episode will give you perspective you don’t hear often. 🎧 You can listen to the full episode here: 👉 Listen On Spotify 👉 Listen On Apple Podcast 👉 Listen On Captivate FM I’d love to know… Which part of your business currently takes the most energy from you?

We're a week out from Christmas and we have some LOVELY snow this year in MN (past two years have been sans snow) and I'm itching to do snow pictures. But I'm not sure if I should yammer about snow pictures now or after the holidays - start in January or the week after Christmas. Would you wait? Or would you start this week?

I would really really love to create a workshop / retreat / ??? where people come to interact with epic instructors and pick their brains. Ideally launching next year. Workshop - small to big, lecture style (similar to Shutterhound) Retreat - small, intimate, limited number of participants (similar to Houndvision) Would you rather do a workshop? Or a retreat? How big of a group would you want to learn in? Would you rather be in a lecture style learning environment with options for shooting after class? Or be in a smaller group that shoots & learns in person all day? Epic location or accessible location?

I am working on offering products and currently have a fairly limited product list. I'm okay with that, but I want to feel confident with the products I offer and I want to feel confident with my pricing. I currently offer wrapped and framed canvases from *sharp intake of breath* ProPrints. They're inexpensive and reliable but I feel a bit like an imposter offering them because the quality is not much above consumer lab options (they may very well be consumer not pro). I also think that I offer them to have a lower cost option to offer my clients (pricing and mindset are still a work in progress). I also offer Guild canvas as a luxury option though just added them to my product list and do not have a sample just yet. I love the collage @Ina Jalil shared and the portrait boxes. I am wondering who you all like. Is Graphi the way to go for everything? WHCC? I want to keep it simple but feel good about my products.

I'd like to print some takeaways for upcoming events. Does anyone do a 7x5 postcard style handout? I was thinking about creating a trifold but feel a little overwhelmed trying to design it (the events are this week/weekend and I'm an overthinking when it comes to design :) I think a postcard style handout is my best bet. I'd love to see examples if anyone has gone this route.