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The Pet Photographers' Journal

The Pet Photographers' Journal

By: Ina J Photography
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About this listen

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

    AI and Pet Photography: What's Actually True, What I'm Using, and What You Should Know
    Mar 26 2026
    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 marketWhat AI genuinely cannot replicate: the connection, the experience, and the behaviour reading that makes your sessions irreplaceableThe tools Ina actually uses in her own business, including Imagine AI for editing and custom Claude-built research agents for marketing and competitor analysisWhat "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 plannerA simple prompting framework to get better results from any AI toolWhy the photographers who will fall behind aren't the ones who fear AI, but the ones who ignore it entirelyTimestamps: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 session07:00 - The market data: why demand for pet photography is growing09:00 - How Ina uses AI for editing with Imagine AI11:00 - Claude, custom GPTs, and building AI research agents16:00 - The apps Ina has built for her business and clients21:00 - A simple prompting framework anyone can use24:00 - Where to start if you're just getting into AIKey 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 quizFstoppers article on the pet photography marketImagen AI - use my referral code to get free edits for 1500 imagesConsistent Bookings Workshop waitlistConsistent Bookings Mastermind: reach out to Ina directly via Instagram or email💬 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.comJoin the Consistent Bookings ProgramMentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographers
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    21 mins
  • From Zero Clients to a $9,000 Sale: Yunet's Pet Photography Story

    From Zero Clients to a $9,000 Sale: Yunet's Pet Photography Story
    Mar 23 2026
    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:Why Yunet had invested thousands in creative tools and equipment without seeing business results, and what finally shiftedThe mindset breakthrough that mattered more than any marketing strategyHow a calendar contest campaign led to a $9,000 sale (and why Yunet almost missed it by defaulting to a digital package)What the Consistent Bookings Workshop gave her that one-on-one coaching didn't, and vice versaWhy she joined the Mastermind even after completing both coaching and the workshopWhat she would tell any photographer thinking "I can't afford coaching right now"Where Yunet is headed in the next 12 months and what she now believes about her business that she didn't beforeAbout Yunet SolarzanoYunet 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.comResources mentioned in this episode:Consistent Bookings WorkshopConsistent Bookings Mastermind1-on-1 Business Coaching with InaSubscribe to The Pet Photographers’ JournalIf 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.💬 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.comJoin the Consistent Bookings ProgramMentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers — Learn More: https://www.inajphotography.com/for-photographers
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    42 mins
  • How to Build a Content Strategy That Gets You Found and Gets You Booked with Claire Lauer

    How to Build a Content Strategy That Gets You Found and Gets You Booked with Claire Lauer
    Mar 16 2026

    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

    📲 Connect with Claire

    Website: clcontentmarketing.com

    Instagram: @clcontentmarketing

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clairelauer

    Email: claire@clcontentmarketing.com

    Subscribe to The Pet Photographers’ Journal

    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.

    💬 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
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
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