In this episode of The Pet Photographers’ Journal, I sit down with Jessica Wasik, the award-winning photographer behind Bark & Gold Photography in Pittsburgh.

Jessica shares how she built a thriving pet photography business that averages 80–90 sessions a year with sales around $3,500 per client, all while staying true to her love of products, print, and creating boutique experiences.

We dive into:

• Why she’s never been a shoot-and-burn photographer and how she set herself up for profit from the start
• Her streamlined inquiry and email-driven process that eliminates the need for phone consults
• How she educates clients on artwork (without them defaulting to a single small print)
• Transitioning from calendar contests to book projects and what she’s learned from both
• The role of outsourcing and automation in freeing up time and sustaining her 90-session workload
• Her marketing mix: SEO, email marketing, contests, and events and which ones are worth the effort
• The importance of pricing with confidence and structuring offers around tangible artwork

Jessica also talks about her love for email marketing, the power of pre-purchased product credit, and why systems and processes have been key to her success.

This episode is full of actionable insights for pet photographers who want to run a streamlined, profitable, and client-focused business.

Links & Resources

• Website: barkandgoldphotography.com
• Instagram: @barkngoldphotography
• Facebook: facebook.com/barkandgoldphotography

Want to Be Coached Live?

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Connect with Ina

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@inaj.thepetphotoceo⁠⁠
• Email: ⁠⁠ina@inajphotography.com⁠⁠
• Mentoring & Coaching for Pet Photographers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠

💬 Join the Pet Photographers’ Collective

If you love this podcast, you’ll love the conversations happening inside the Pet Photographers’ Collective on Skool — 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