Focal Points with Dorie Howell

If you haven't already had a client become unhappy with you for some reason, it's likely you will in the future. We can't keep everyone happy all of the time. What we can do though is have a strategy for how to get them back to happy! Today Dorie is sharing five key things she recommends when planning how you will handle dissatisfied clients. If you want even more great tips and you haven't alread...

Today's guest, JJ Royer, connected with Dorie through the guest application on Dorie's site. Her application immediately caught Dorie's eye because of the unique way JJ uses her photography. Like many photographers, JJ pulled together an assortment of her life experiences and found a way to turn her photographs into art installations. Tune in to hear Dorie and JJ Royer talk about what she calls "a...

Today Dorie is speaking with Lisa Peterson. Lisa is a pet photographer out of Minneapolis. She shares with Dorie the transition from photographing people to photographing pets.  They have a candid conversation about easy ways to make various aspects of your business more inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds.  As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Lisa shares her first hand e...

In this episode, Dorie sat down with Natasha Lamalle. The two connected through their local photography group when Dorie put out a call looking for photographers who wanted to share their story. And what a story Natasha had to share about going from journalism to photojournalist to wedding photographer! She realized along the way that she wanted to help couples figure out what they wanted to do wi...

If you've been listening to The Focal Points Podcast for a while, you know Dorie loves to have guests on the show from all backgrounds. Today's guest, Aly Elliott, has found a way to process some major losses in her life through her photography. In sharing her grief, Aly has been able to help others tell their stories. As Aly shares with Dorie today, "That's the thing with grieving… It's not all h...

In this episode, Dorie sat down with Sarah Jane Shorthose who has been in the photography business for over 20 years and runs multiple locations. It took some time, but Sarah Jane found her passion in shooting high school senior sessions. Many photographers run into the problem of where to have people change when doing outdoor shoots and Sarah Jane solved that problem with the brilliant move of pu...

Maybe you're brand new to the Focal Points podcast or maybe you've been listening for a while and thought to yourself, "Who is Dorie Howell??" Would you be shocked to know that Dorie was on the career path to becoming a classical opera singer? Or that she grew up in a family full of entrepreneurs? In today's episode, Dorie sits down with guest Heather Lahtinen, who you can check out in  episode #4...

Have you been thinking about using ChatGPT or a similar AI program in your business? In today's episode, Dorie shares some of the pros and cons to incorporating AI into your marketing. While it can help to streamline your workflow and enhance your business, make sure you are completely aware of the possible downsides before letting AI do it all for you! To get more information on how you can use A...

On today's episode, Dorie is talking to Tamieka Smith. Tamieka has the unique experience of running a photography business on both the East AND West coasts! Tune in as they chat about what Tamieka has experienced, both challenging and rewarding, and how she manages to take care of her own personal and professional development while balancing the demands of a busy shooting schedule. To learn more a...

In this episode Heather Lahtinen joins Dorie to discuss a recent session where the client didn't like the headshots that Dorie took of them.  Dorie and Heather talk about Dorie's reaction to the message that she received from the client, her response, and why she handled the situation the way that she did without feeling any sort of negative feelings about her work or her client.  Handling these s...

Dorie shares in today's episode some easy studio policies you can put in place to ensure a smooth and successful operation. You might already have thought of some of the policies like booking, refund, or late policies, but what about what to wear? Or model release and image usage? Why is it important to have firm and clear policies for your studio and business? Tune in for the answers and learn fr...

Most of us started our business because we enjoyed our art AND we wanted to be able to provide that for other people. There are a lot of very successful educators who promote this idea that the harder you work the more successful you will be. That can lead to two things. You either just keep hustling to make things happen OR you become paralyzed not knowing even where to start. In this episode, Do...

At some point in our lives the majority of us have experienced needing to practice something. You might have even dreaded the practice but knew that was what it would take to perform at your highest level. If you don't feel comfortable with your sales technique, Dorie has some pointers that might just help move you from good to better. You can start out with Dorie's solo practice recommendations:...

Anyone who works in a cyclical business knows how easy it is to get trapped in the "feast or famine" mindset. Have you thought about diversifying your offerings? Is your marketing comprehensive? Do you manage your cash flow to capitalize on the peak periods to prepare for the slow seasons? What about customer loyalty and adapting to follow current trends? Don't worry if you don't have the answers...

If you have been working for someone else and decided now is the time to venture out on your own, today's episode can shed some light on some of the struggles you might come up against in running a photography business. Dorie shares several insights that fall into three main categories of challenges: time, money, and mental investment. You might be surprised by some of the things that could come u...

Have you been asking yourself, "How can I grow my business without breaking the bank?" In this episode, Dorie shares her insights on creating and maintaining an effective referral program. She shares the benefits of a referral program, what one should include, how to best initially communicate your referral program to your existing clients, and how to tactically remind your clients that you have a...

Christine Hamrick is a Senior photographer who has learned a thing or two about running a photography business over the last decade.  In this episode we talk about how her business started and how it evolved as her family grew.  And why being open to those transitions in her business have helped her thrive in her market.  If you have a growing family and are feeling the urge to change genres as yo...

Have you ever been sitting and talking to a friend when they tell you a story about a situation that they were finding especially challenging?  As they told you the problem, the solution seemed obvious to you but it never occurred to your friend to look at it from your perspective to find a solution?  That is what Dorie is talking about today on the podcast.  How an interaction with a person who w...

Lori Lankford is a nature photographer and educator who specializes in beautiful images of flowers.  She has curated her home and gardens to be her own personal photography studio. Lori is our second guest who believes that personal projects are the key to keeping creativity alive as we provide services to our clients.  Her approach is a bit different from many others in that she believes that per...

Dorie recently sat down with Lisa Digeso, founder of Milk and Honey photography and The Milky Way Photographer's Resource. In her photography work, Lisa looked at her struggle with finding models, thought outside the box, and put herself in the picture instead! Her idea has evolved into finding fine art paintings and images and then recreating them using a combination of AI elements, costumes, set...

Today on the podcast Dorie is sharing her expertise on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). What is a KPI and why do you need to track them in your business? Why do you need to do a  marketing audit and knowing the importance of your "thing that sells the thing".   Measuring these things helps photographers spin their wheels doing things that don't help their businesses grow.  Leaning into what is w...

Today on the podcast Dorie is joined on the mic by Miranda Hayak, a professional photographer based in Long Beach California who has experienced every selling situation and experience in her decade long career.  In this conversation Dorie and Miranda talk about a variety of things that impact their photography studios.  Within the conversation they focus on the idea that sales doesn't have to be c...

Have you ever been in a situation with a family member or client where you can't see to get your point across and they are having a hard time getting you to understand their point of view?  Yup, been there and done that.  I never really understood why I had such issues with people UNTIL I realized that not every one thinks like me OR communicates like me.  Just like there are several different per...

Do you become paralyzed with fear with the idea that you might, at some point in time, have to enter a networking meeting where you don't know anyone and strike up a conversation with a stranger about your business?  If this sounds like you, you are not alone.  In this episode Dorie breaks down how to  handle a room like a boss.  No need to hide in the corner, checking your phone.  With a little p...

So you went to the convention, now what?  How are you supposed to manage all the great ideas and ah ha! Moments you had?  What now?  Well, you are in luck because today on the podcast Dorie dives into a strategy that she uses after she attends a conference that allows her to sort through her ideas in a way that makes them not quite so overwhelming.  Take a listen and see if this strategy can work...