The Business Focused Photographer Podcast

Lucy Dumas, an award-winning photographer, discusses the evolution of the photography business and the importance of printed artwork in photography sales. She also shares insights on seasonality in the photography business and her approach to offering digitals and client-centered sales. The conversation covers the personalized approach to photography sales, emphasizing in-person sales, building em...

Leah O'Connell shares her journey from a mall studio photographer to a successful family photographer and business coach. She emphasizes the importance of simplicity and sustainability in business, highlighting the need to avoid overcomplicating the client experience. The conversation covers the importance of client experience and marketing, simplifying client offers and business processes, the ro...

Cassie Torres, a former wedding photographer turned copywriter, shares her journey from photography to copywriting, her battle with breast cancer, and her insights on AI-generated copy. She emphasizes the importance of authentic storytelling and client-centered copywriting. The conversation covers the importance of storytelling in photography, the impact of AI-generated content, the significance o...

The conversation covers the transition to photography from other careers, the impact of family background on career choices, the concept of documentary family photography, and the transition to in-person sales for photography services. The conversation covers the transition to in-person sales, client communication and education, the evolution of business and pricing, and mentorship and education i...

The conversation delves into the world of family photography, focusing on managing chaos and utilizing early childhood education skills in photography. It explores the transition from education to photography, the proactive approach to family photography, preparation and communication with clients, setting the stage for chaos, and the session day and dealing with chaos. The conversation delves int...

The conversation covers Luca Bartman's journey from neurobiology to destination photography, the challenges of destination photography, client acquisition and marketing, and pricing and travel logistics. It provides insights into the strategic planning and preparation required for destination photography and the importance of building a destination portfolio for booking clients. The conversation c...

Maria Ortiz, a luxury senior photographer and business coach, shares insights into the world of luxury photography and the reasons behind building a luxury senior photography business. The conversation delves into the essence of luxury, the impact of premium pricing, and the importance of control and boundaries in the photography business. The conversation delves into the world of niche photograph...

The conversation with Casey Thornton delves into the concept of alignment in business and photography, exploring the importance of authenticity, setting boundaries, and finding joy in the work. Casey shares insights on niching down, the significance of early motherhood photography, and the value of connecting with clients on a deeper level. She also discusses the challenges and rewards of aligning...

Leah Carter shares her journey of starting a studio rental business, from finding the right space to managing operations and building a positive community culture. She discusses the legal and insurance considerations, security measures, revenue generation, and the impact on her overall photography business. Leah's approach to creating a welcoming and supportive community space has contributed to t...

Jamie Bugby King, a PNW family photographer, shares her successful strategy of targeting other destinations for photography and marketing to those areas. She discusses her SEO prowess, the challenges of balancing work and family, and the process of creating different homepages for various locations. She also emphasizes the importance of high-touch experiences and the use of automations to enhance...

The conversation explores the integration of political beliefs into branding, the evolution of personal political ideology, and the impact of political awareness on marketing. It delves into the importance of content with a backbone, standing behind one's values, and the significance of human-to-human conversation in fostering empathy and understanding. The conversation delves into the complexitie...

The conversation explores the strategic approach to building a business from scratch in 2026, focusing on intentional planning, portfolio building, online presence, pricing strategy, and marketing. It provides insights into the challenges and strategies for new artists and small business owners, emphasizing the importance of client experience, networking, and brand alignment with personal values....

The conversation explores the establishment of a referral partnership between Lydia and Nicole, addressing the challenges in the photography industry, formalizing the partnership, pricing, mentorship, logistics, trust, the difference between referral partnership and associate photographer, conversion rate, and client interaction. The key takeaways emphasize the success and importance of referral p...

The conversation delves into the challenges of running a luxury photography business in a rural area, addressing the conundrum of defining luxury in a non-luxury environment. It explores marketing strategies, high-touch customer experiences, business models, pricing challenges, and the gradual pivot to a luxury business. The discussion also touches on the realities of client loss and the gradual t...

Guest:  Aislinn McKenna, former luxury wedding photographer turned multiple six figure coach (Colorado based) We Discuss: Why “more money in the hands of good people” matters The difference between money mindset and financial literacy (and why you need both) Weekly money dates and “normalizing” the number in your bank account Redefining what “zero” means so you move differently Why photographers g...

Guest: Hayley Fisk, Beauty and Product Photographer and Videographer, LA Founder of The Anxious Photog Represented by Rebel Brand Management We Discuss: Hayley’s path from art school to commercial photography How retouching shaped her shooting career and helped her become an all in one creative Why she pivoted away from fashion clients and built a home studio right before the pandemic How remote s...

Episode Title: The Human Algorithm: Networking as a Photographer with Tiffany Crenshaw Guest: Tiffany Crenshaw, Animal House Photography, North Alabama We Discuss: Why Tiffany calls networking “the human algorithm” and why it still beats chasing social media trends How her background as a second grade teacher shaped her relationship building skills (and her business success) Moving to Alabama on M...

Episode Title:   How I Built This with Rachel Larsen Weaver Guest:  Rachel Larsen Weaver, Family Photographer (Long-Form Sessions), Washington, DC area We Discuss: Rachel’s early career in restaurants and teaching and how those skills translated into photography Starting photography through blogging and realizing “documenting” is different than being hired to lead and create images Building a busi...

Episode Title:   How I Built This with Alan Shapiro Guest:  Alan Shapiro, Food, Portrait & Macro Photographer, New York We Discuss: Alan’s origin story from lifelong storyteller to advertising executive to full-time photographer How burnout in a high-pressure creative career led him back to joy through daily photography The role of storytelling, transparency, and consistency in building visibi...

Episode Title:   How I Built This with Becca Lueck Guest:  Becca Lueck, Becca Jean Photography We Discuss: How Becca got started in photography and what her early business looked like The decisions that shaped her growth and the ones she would do differently How her brand and offers evolved over time The behind the scenes systems and boundaries that support her work today What sustainability actua...

Episode Title:   How I Built This with Maddie Peschong Guest:  Maddie Peschong, Maddie Peschong Photography & Co-Founder of White Space Studio, Sioux Falls, SD We Discuss: How Maddie transitioned from corporate marketing to full-time photography The early mistakes that shaped her business model and the turning points that made it thrive Building community and collaboration through  White Space...

Episode Title:   Sales Psychology with Helena Wong Guest:  Helena Wong, Helena Wong Photography, San Francisco Bay Area We Discuss: Why sales psychology matters even if you think you’re “not a sales person” How Helena took her tech sales background and used it to 4x her photography business The real way to build a client avatar that actually helps you book aligned clients How to understand buyer b...

Guest: None (Solo Episode with Jill C. Smith) We Discuss: Why every photographer has a sales funnel — even if it wasn’t intentionally built How to recognize when your funnel has kinks (complete blockages) or leaks (quiet revenue loss) Common “kinks” that stop inquiries entirely, like broken links, missing calls to action, or poor mobile formatting The “leaks” that quietly drain your income, like m...

Episode Title:   Selling Is Service Guest:  Rhea Whitney, Rhea Whitney Photography & The Photo Bomb Academy We Discuss: Why photographers often fear “selling” — and how to reframe it as service, not pressure The real difference between sales and marketing (and why confusing them stalls growth) How to handle rejection, overcome fear, and stop projecting your own money story onto clients Why ali...

Episode Title:   Licensed Counselor, Working Photographer: Real ADHD Tools Guest:  Andrea Pittman, Andrea Michelle Photography & Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Arizona + Washington We Discuss: How Andrea built a dual career as a wedding/lifestyle photographer and an ADHD-specialized therapist across two states Why photography’s variety and flexibility can be a great fit for ADHD brains The...