Podcast Ep 361 - The Emergency That Shook My World (and How I Kept My Business From Crashing)
Release Date: 05/13/2025
Podcast Ep 388 - How to Not be a Used Car Salesman
Flourish Academy Podcast
What do a used car salesman and your sales energy have in common? In this heartfelt and surprisingly hilarious episode, Heather shares her daughter's first car-buying experience to reveal powerful lessons about selling from a place of service—not pressure. Tune in to learn how authenticity can transform even the most “salesy” moments into meaningful, trust-building connections. Key Takeaways: The energy behind your words—not just the script—determines how people feel about your “pitch.” Selling doesn’t have to feel gross; when done from genuine service, even “Please buy...
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Podcast Ep 387 - Free/Charity Sessions, Model Calls and The Bait and Switch
Flourish Academy Podcast
In this episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, Heather Lahtinen and Nicole Begley uncover the sneaky thought that might be sabotaging your photography sales — the fear of being “shady” or doing a bait and switch when offering paid upgrades after free or charitable sessions. They share how to shift from guilt and hesitation to confidence and service so you can sell ethically, easily, and profitably. Key Takeaways: The “bait and switch” fear is killing your conversions. Transparency and communication create trust, not pressure. Clean, confident thinking drives higher sales. Selling...
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Podcast Ep 386 - Learn This Concept, Grow Your Business
Flourish Academy Podcast
In this episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, Heather Lahtinen talks with Susie Inverso, a pet photographer and Elevate member, about the life-changing concept: “If you’re willing to be embarrassed, you can do anything.” Susie shares how a daring solo mountain adventure helped her overcome fear, build confidence, and apply powerful mindset shifts to her business and life. Key Takeaways: Confidence grows when you act despite fear, not before. The worst outcome is often just a feeling — like embarrassment — and you can handle it. Mindset work is the missing link between...
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Podcast Ep 385 - Dear Brain: Marketing Is Not a Bear Attack
Flourish Academy Podcast
In this episode of The Flourish Academy Podcast, Heather Lahtinen and guest Nicole Begley dive into one of the biggest mindset challenges photographers face — visibility. But not the “post more on social media” kind. This conversation explores what it truly means to be seen — as a business owner, creator, and human being. They unpack why so many photographers avoid showing up online, the fears that keep them hidden, and how to reframe visibility as an act of service rather than self-promotion. If you’ve ever said, “I don’t know how to be visible,” this episode will help you...
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Podcast Ep 384 - If No One Knows You Exist, They Can’t Hire You
Flourish Academy Podcast
Feeling stuck in a spiral of overthinking or overwhelm? In this episode, Heather Lahtinen breaks down why it’s not your to-do list that’s overwhelming you—it’s your thoughts. Learn how self-trust, not control, is the antidote to overthinking and why shifting your mindset can help you finally move forward with clarity and confidence. Heather also shares insights from the recent 4 Clients in 4 Weeks Challenge and introduces the upcoming Visibility Workshop inside Elevate—a space designed to help photographers step into their next level of growth with courage and simplicity. 👉 Listen...
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Podcast Ep 383 - How to Charge Premium Prices (and Feel Confident Doing It)
Flourish Academy Podcast
In this episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, host Heather Lahtinen and guest Nicole Begley dive into the power of selling an experience rather than just a product. Using the viral success of the Jellycat Diner in New York as a real-world case study, they unpack how scarcity, storytelling, and elevated presentation can transform something ordinary into something highly desirable and premium-priced. Heather and Nicole connect these lessons directly to the photography industry—showing photographers how they can use experience-driven marketing to raise prices, attract premium clients, and...
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Podcast Ep 382 - The Missing Piece: How Kelly Transformed Her Photography Business
Flourish Academy Podcast
In this inspiring episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, host Heather Lahtinen sits down with pet photographer Kelly McNamara to talk about her incredible journey from a 20+ year legal career to building a thriving photography business that aligns with her passion. Kelly shares how shifting her mindset, embracing coaching, and using the Model transformed not just her business — but her marriage, her health, and her self-concept. This is a conversation about courage, clarity, and building a life and business that truly lights you up. Show Notes: The mindset shift from “hobbyist” to...
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Podcast Ep 381 - The Anatomy of an $8,000 Sale: Mindset, Marketing & Pricing
Flourish Academy Podcast
In this episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, Heather sits down with three talented photographers—Katie Carmichael, Jess Wasik, and Marcy Frye—who each recently closed $8,000+ sales. From humble beginnings charging $25 for sessions to confidently running thriving businesses, these women share their journeys of growth, mindset shifts, and client experiences that led to high-value sales. You’ll hear how they market, price, and most importantly, think about their work—and how these lessons can apply directly to your business. Success leaves clues, and today, you’ll get the inside...
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Podcast Ep 380 - Mindset Meets Marketing: How SEO Can Grow Your Photography Business
Flourish Academy Podcast
In this episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, Heather chats with photographer and SEO educator Connor Walberg about how photographers can use search engine optimization (SEO) to get found online. They break down why SEO isn’t just a technical skill—it’s also a mindset game. If you’ve ever wondered how to attract clients who are already looking for your services, this conversation is for you. Show Notes: Why SEO is more about mindset than just strategy The difference between direct seekers (actively searching) and indirect discoverers (stumbling across your work) Why...
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Podcast Ep 379 - What Pumpkins Taught Me About Resilience in Business
Flourish Academy Podcast
What do pumpkins have to do with running a photography business? More than you might think. In this episode, Heather shares how her journey of accidentally becoming both a pumpkin farmer and an entrepreneur reveals a powerful framework for growth: the scientific method. You’ll discover how to experiment, evaluate, and keep moving forward especially when setbacks (or deer!) threaten to derail your progress. Whether you’re trying to grow pumpkins or book more clients, this episode will help you reframe failure as fuel for resilience. Show Notes Heather’s 6-step framework for growth based...
info_outlineIn this powerful episode, Heather Lahtinen shares a deeply personal and emotional experience of her family’s recent health crisis when her husband, Craig, underwent emergency triple bypass surgery. Heather takes us behind the scenes, offering a 30,000-foot view of the situation, discussing how her life protocol rooted in faith and mindset coaching helped her navigate the overwhelming emotions and difficult decisions during the ordeal.
In this episode, Heather also shares how faith, mindset coaching, and a strong personal protocol can offer clarity and resilience even in the most challenging circumstances. Listeners will walk away with practical insights and inspiration to handle their own life crises with faith, strength, and clarity.
Show Notes:
- The details of the health crisis Heather’s family faced and how it impacted their lives.
- The importance of having a life protocol rooted in faith and mindset coaching during challenging times.
- How Heather applied her coaching tools and mindset principles to stay calm, focused, and resilient.
- The role of faith in maintaining perspective and keeping a sense of purpose during the toughest moments.
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