Focal Points with Dorie Howell

Today Dorie Howell is joined by guest Chris Woolley, a fellow photographer with a reputation for generosity and deep knowledge of pricing within the industry. They discuss pricing strategies for photographers, addressing issues such as setting a desired salary, determining a business model, crafting a price list, and more. No fluff, just actionable advice on how to stay profitable and competitive...

In this episode Dorie sits down with Heather Lahtinen of the Flourish Academy about the importance of decision-making in business. They discuss the ways in which overthinking can hinder progress and the significance of making well-thought-out decisions quickly to keep the business moving forward. Sometimes, you might think there's a decision to make when actually there isn't one. Heather also shar...

In this episode, we spoke to Joy, a talented pet photographer from PupTent Photography based in Calgary, Canada. Joy shares her experience of starting a business, reaching and engaging with clientele, and her passion for capturing pets in all four seasons outdoors. From being a zoologist and dedicated stay-at-home mom to becoming a successful pet photographer, Joy's story is a testament to the pow...

In the last episode, Dorie talked about hiring do's and don'ts when you need help in your business. So you hired someone! As an employer, it's your responsibility to make sure every team member is a good fit for your business. What do you do when hiring an employee doesn't work out and it's crucial to let them go? Dorie shares what steps you need to take to protect both the soon-to-be former emplo...

This episode of Focal Points is all about growing your business through hiring. Dorie delves into hiring do's and don'ts, how to create a comprehensive job description, and why trusting your gut is vitally important when making hiring decisions. Learn how to cultivate meaningful work relationships by understanding employee feedback and support systems, and how to help your new hire integrate seaml...

Is 'wantographer' a derogatory term? Not necessarily. Join Dorie as she explores the beginners' phase of 'wantography', emphasizing it as an essential stepping stone in your photography journey. Dorie offers advice on how to move from this phase into professional photography smoothly, discussing the importance of mastering the basics, investing in good education, understanding camera settings prof...

This episode of Focal Points dissects the sometimes unfair attitude in the photography industry towards 'Weekend Warriors.' What if you don't want to go full time? What hurdles might you face? And how could you turn them into steps towards a successful part-time photography business? We dive into these questions, sharing empowering stories and lessons for those wanting to combine photography with...

Today Dorie is encouraging listeners to pull out areas of their business that have been neglected and shoved in the 'corner,' and bring them to the center stage. She shares that these neglected aspects—website, pricing, products, and marketing—might be the catalyst your business needs to leap forward. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a novice in photography, this episode is packed with valuable in...

Sometimes the idea of adding products to our product line is simply overwhelming.  Especially when we are starting out and we want to add everything all at once.  If you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed at adding products and don't know where to start, you are in the right place.  In this episode Dorie goes through how she coaches her one on one clients how to add one statement product for thei...

For the majority of us, if we were asked to tell about experiences we've had with the best and the worst customer services, it wouldn't take us long to think of a story! Today Dorie is talking about the four main things she believes it takes to provide GREAT customer service. One thing Dorie is quick to point out is "Great customer service is absolutely subjective." This episode is a must-listen i...

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel blah and then when you try to get work done, it seems impossible? Maybe you didn't get enough sleep last night. Maybe you overindulged. Maybe you binged the final season of that show everyone has been raving about. Whatever the case, it's almost certain that you know how much your personal health can affect your business. In today's episode, Dorie...

Today Dorie is talking about how to prepare for the busy photography season. She walks through the significance of marketing, structuring your finances, preparing for emergencies, and handing over tasks that you don't enjoy doing or aren't particularly good at. Dorie also discusses how automating the business operations, finding the right help, and establishing partnerships with other photographer...

In today's episode, Dorie is sharing how networking from the heart could be the key to growing your business. Often, traditional networking settings can make people feel uncomfortable or inauthentic. By getting involved in a cause you genuinely care about, you can meet potential clients in a more natural and effective way. Grab a pen, because Dorie gives a great list of potential roles that would...

Kimberly Tara is a CPA, author, mom of four adorable little ones, and all-around amazing person. She attracts the same kinds of clients that we want.  Those who want great service, excellent results, and are willing to pay more for that option. If you are struggling to keep your life and business running smoothly, then you should definitely listen in as Kimberly sits down with Dorie to talk about...

Today's guest is Monika Jansen, CEO of Jansen Communications and former client of Dorie's! You might be asking yourself why Dorie is speaking with a marketing guru and what does that have to do with photography. There are a lot of ways to get more eyes on your business. Dorie and Monika are focusing today's chat on the importance of blogging and the role it can play in your marketing! Want to get...

If you listened to last week's episode, Dorie shared with us about finding that "ideal client." You put so much work into finding them, you don't want small mistakes to be the reason they leave. In today's episode, Dorie shares some of the common things people overlook that could cause someone to rethink working with you. Some might seem pretty obvious to you but there are also deeper mistakes you...

If you've taken any marketing strategy classes, you may have been told you need to create your "ideal client avatar." This is a fictional person who matches the real life person you would ideally have as your client. There's a problem with this though… They're fictional! In today's episode, Dorie is sharing her experiences with finding your ideal client and what to do if you DON'T find them! Want...

Many people are familiar with the phrase "fake it 'til you make it." Today Dorie is talking about ways you can fake it while you take it (photos, that is!)! So much of what clients buy from you comes from your confidence. This confidence can be in your work as the product they've been looking for or confidence in yourself as the professional to get the job done. Tune in to hear some of the amazing...

Some people love to bargain and barter. Some people loathe it. Whatever side of the negotiating fence you are on, Dorie has some things for you to think about. In this episode, Dorie is sharing some of her experiences with people wanting to negotiate her prices and what she learned from those. Hopefully by taking the lessons Dorie learned and applying them in your situation, you will come out with...

Aly Elliott joins Dorie again with a completely different topic today. In episode 54 , Aly shared with Dorie her experiences with photography and grief. In this episode, Aly is talking about Twitch and how that has impacted her photography business! If you don't know, Twitch is a streaming platform used by many gamers. Now, you might ask yourself, "What would a photographer do on Twitch?!" Aly tal...

Today's episode could be pretty polarizing. Selling your raw files! Whatever your immediate reaction, Dorie is sharing her thoughts on selling them and encourages you to listen with open ears and an open mind. It's important to understand the way that digital photography has changed the industry and those changes means that it might be time to start selling RAW files IF it works with your business...

You might not think money mindset and a photography business would go hand-in-hand, but listening to this episode will change your mind on that! Today's guest, Meg McMillan, sits down with Dorie to talk about how undervaluing your work can truly be a money block on your business. Many photographers probably started their business similarly to Meg by diving in heart first but after time realizing t...

We hear coaches, mentors, and even other photographers tell other photographers to "charge what they are worth" all the time.  In this episode Dorie dives into why this is such horrible advice.  She discusses why we can never possibly charge what we are worth but also what factors need to go into profitable pricing for our business.  She isn't talking about Cost of Goods or Cost of Doing Business...

In today's episode Dorie is chatting with Cecilia Koenig. Cecilia started out in landscape and like many photographers discovered she loved connecting with people. Cecilia shared with Dorie what it was like being a young mom, young wife, and new business owner all while being a caregiver for her mother. As you can imagine that led to some burnout. It also led to some amazing opportunities for grow...

Have you ever found someone online and chosen to do business with them because you trusted their face and then show up to find out their pictures were 10 years old? Did it break your trust in them a little? It's like when you get catfished in dating. It's hard to recover from that. Today's Angie McPherson and Dorie are talking about how branding can help people to trust not just your work but YOU!...