What if you’re sitting on a hidden talent that could turn into a profitable photography business—even if you’ve never thought of yourself as a “real” photographer? That’s exactly what happened to Felix Bird. A creative professional dabbling in video, Felix stumbled into photography gigs and ended up building a thriving boutique business photographing… dogs.
Now, just months after joining Boutique Breakthrough, he’s earned over $16,000 from portrait sessions—without burning out or discounting his time.
So if you want to stop treating photography like a side hustle and start getting paid what you’re worth, hit play and enjoy the episode!
Key Takeaways from Felix’s Journey
1. He wasn’t “officially” a photographer—yet
- Felix had creative chops from video and audio work, but photography was a side skill.
- Event clients started requesting photography, and he said yes—then figured it out from there.
- His pivot happened when he joined a challenge after seeing a Facebook ad.
2. Investing in himself changed everything
- At first, Felix thought the pricing Sarah teaches was “insane.”
- But after regretting not investing in a past opportunity, he decided to bet on himself.
- Boutique Breakthrough gave him the structure and community he needed.
3. The system made it simple to follow through
- He learned to price his work and confidently speak to clients using the 7 Bs of the first phone call.
- His first big sale (aka his Julie) came from a friend of a friend—a children’s portrait session.
- Even though he felt the session was chaotic, the client loved it and ordered everything.
4. He didn’t even plan to specialize in dogs
- A dog session just happened—and kept happening.
- Clients responded emotionally and bought big. He followed the system and it worked.
5. Support from his wife—and the community—helped him stay the course
- Initially skeptical, his wife became a big believer once she saw the results.
- Felix thrived inside the Boutique Breakthrough community, realizing others had the same fears and overcame them too.
What’s Next for Felix?
Felix is planning to expand into photographing ballet dancers, leaning into the artistic side of portraiture. With the Boutique system behind him, he knows how to serve clients and sell artwork that’s worth every penny.
If you’ve been waiting for permission to take yourself seriously as a photographer—even if it’s not your full-time job yet—let Felix’s story be your sign. Your creativity is valuable. You can learn the strategy. And yes, people will pay boutique prices when you show them what’s possible.
Go listen now, and then take the first step toward your own “Julie” by joining our next free challenge.
RESOURCES
- Go from Hidden to Hidden to Hired this Season: Get the Formula
- Photography Business Tools to Get Started
- Join Our Facebook Group: We Are Portrait Photographers
- Learn About Boutique Breakthrough
- Subscribe & Review the Podcast
