The ReWork with Allison Tyler Jones

Most photographers are obsessed with getting new clients. We pour time, money, and energy into marketing campaigns, social media, and chasing the next lead—while the best clients we’ll ever have are quietly sitting right in our database. In this solo episode, ATJ flips the script on the “always looking for the next client” mindset and shows you what happens when you stop chasing new and start nurt...

What do pest control and portrait photography have in common? More than you might imagine. They are both service businesses, and both industries have business owners complaining that their markets are “saturated” with tons of competitors. Some practitioners are thriving and others….are not. Sound familiar? In this episode of The ReWork, Allison sits down with Cameron Bawden , a serial entrepreneur...

What if one product could define your entire brand? Greg and Lesa Daniel know something about that. They built their long-term success around a single, unmistakable piece of artwork, their embellished mixed media wall portrait. It’s the product that their clients talk about, recognize instantly, and come back for again and again. In this episode of the ReWork, Lesa and Greg break down how finding...

In a world where everyone has a camera and AI is generating jaw-dropping visuals on demand, is there still room for professional portrait photographers, especially in the senior niche?  Nate Peterson says yes , but only if you're willing to evolve. In this inspiring, energizing, and at times vulnerable conversation, Allison and Nate discuss what it takes to not just survive but thrive as a hig...

If you’re walking into your sales appointments hoping they’ll buy and walking out with a “We’ll think about it,” it’s time to stop crossing your fingers and start designing the sale . In this episode, Allison sits down with ProStudio Software owner and former portrait photographer, Ron Nichols to break down how to stop winging it and start leading your clients through a clear, confident buying exp...

Is your studio calendar looking a little sparse? Does this year feel slower than previous years? You’re not alone. In this episode, Allison sits down with fellow photographer, Jeff Dachowski for a real-world, real-time conversation to answer one of the most urgent questions in our industry: How do you make the phone ring?  They unpack the difference between a temporary slowdown and a true slump, a...

Running a portrait studio is hard.  Doing it while raising kids, juggling marriage, building a business from scratch, and managing your own growth?  That’s working like a mother .  In this vulnerable, wisdom-packed conversation, Allison sits down with Iowa-based portrait artist and boy-mom powerhouse Anjana Olson , who has built a thriving fine art studio while staying fiercely true to her values,...

What if you never had to “sell” your work again, because your clients were already doing it for you? In today’s episode of The ReWork , I’m joined by one of my all-time favorite humans, photographer, educator, and master storyteller Tim Walden, to explore what might be the most overlooked, underused marketing tool in your business: your client . Tim shares how your client’s own words , own story ,...

Imagine going from never doing your own sales to doubling your revenue the first year you try?  In this candid conversation, ATJ sits down with veteran portrait photographer and industry educator Elizabeth Homan of Artistic Images to talk about what it was really like to finally start selling her own work after 28 years in business. Elizabeth shares the very real fears that held her back from sell...

Ever feel like you're constantly chasing new clients while the ones you've already photographed slip through your fingers, never to return?  This is the most exhausting and unsustainable way to run a business. BUT it doesn’t have to be this way.  Client retention isn't just a nice-to-have —it's the literal foundation of any successful business.  Mary Fisk-Taylor of Hayes & Fisk...

What happens when your passion for your work fades—but you still need to pay the bills? In this episode of The ReWork , I’m joined by educator and photographer Cris Duncan of CJ Duncan Photography for a candid conversation about what it takes to stay in love with your photography business for the long haul. Cris has been in business for over 20 years and has recently taken over as director of the...

What would you do if you had to start your photography business completely from scratch in a brand new city—where no one knew your name? That’s exactly what longtime photographer and educator Jen Hillenga did. After decades in the portrait industry and years spent building an iconic portrait studio, Jen moved to Brooklyn, worked in the corporate world for a few years, then, during a pandemic, deci...

If offering albums feels overwhelming, too many sizes, too many cover options, too many edits, this episode is for you. In this conversation, ATJ sits down with Priscilla Klingler, owner of Vision Art albums to uncover a simpler, more profitable way to sell albums. Hint: it starts by reducing choices. You’ll learn how to design and present albums in a way that eliminates client decision fatigue, r...

How do you build technical mastery and keep your creativity alive? Photographer and educator John Gress joins us for a jam-packed conversation about the art of learning, the science of lighting, and the power of creative play. John started in photojournalism but shifted into commercial and fashion work when the industry changed. Along the way, he developed a structured, repeatable system for build...

Do you find yourself stuck in repetitive tasks (aka death by 1000 cuts), buried under endless emails, or struggling to plan creative client sessions?  In this illuminating episode, ATJ sits down with visionary photographer and AI expert Kira Derryberry to explore precisely how ChatGPT can transform your photography business.  Discover how to clone your brain, automate daily tasks, visualize creati...

You might think that being an amazing photographer is enough to get hired by high-end clients. It’s not. In this episode, I’m chatting with my nephew, Ross DeCesare—who’s just completed the arduous and eye-opening task of hiring an interior photographer for DeCesare Design Group (my sister’s interior design firm).  The photographers that Ross considered for the job were all creative, talented phot...

Be honest—do you ever feel like you are collecting money from your clients, just to hand it over to your vendors, or the tax man? You are NOT alone. It’s actually one of the most common struggles I hear from photographers. That’s why I’ve invited Venus Michael to the show. Venus is a bookkeeper who specializes in helping photographers stop the financial bleeding and finally take control of their m...

Are there too many photographers in your town?  How are you supposed to stand out when the field is full? Today’s guest on the ReWork suggests playing a different game.  Rick Trummer from Mid-South Color Lab spends every day helping photographers to distinguish themselves from their competition by developing products that defy comparison.  MidSouth lab specializes in custom digitally and oil paint...

Have you ever had a customer service experience so good you wanted to bottle it and recreate it in your own business? That’s what it’s like talking to Matthew Hodgman , Senior Client Success Manager at White House Custom Colour . While his title might sound corporate, Matt leads with heart—and serious empathy chops. If empathy were a competitive sport, he’d be on the podium with gold. We’re not ta...

Does the thought of selling your work still make you cringe, even a little? Do you wish you could focus solely on creating beautiful pictures and let someone else handle the sales? Can you imagine what it would be like to sell your portraits before the session even happens? If any of this feels familiar, listen up. Joining me for this episode is my brother from another mother, Drake Busath of Busa...

What if I were to tell you that confidence in your business doesn’t come from booking more clients or getting that one huge sale, that it actually comes from having a solid process in place ? ​​Joining me for this episode to help me tackle this topic is my good friend and popular repeat guest Jeff Dachowski. We get real about this because it doesn't get talked about enough. Again, it is not ab...

Feeling the slow season slump? This episode is your wake-up call. When business is slow all we can think about is getting MORE— clients that is . And Connecticut-based photographer Seshu Badrinath is here to show you how to get them NOW and keep them coming year-round. With 25+ years of hustle under his belt, Seshu shares real-deal strategies beyond simply posting pretty pics on Instagram. From le...

As kind, accommodating portrait photographers, we seem wired to constantly ask ourselves, “How can I add more?” More services. More products. More options. More experience to my experience! Doesn’t adding MORE make it MORE VALUABLE to my client? What if adding more is actually costing you in ways you might not have considered? This week on The ReWork, I’m joined by Nicole Gates —former FBI agent t...

We need to talk about the B-word. 👀 Yep— boundaries. You’ve heard it.  You’ve probably rolled your eyes at it.  It’s become a buzzword among Millenials, Gen Z and memes everywhere.  But let’s be honest— just because it’s trendy doesn’t mean it’s wrong. In this episode, I’m joined by the one and only Čedna Todorovic, a portrait photographer who immigrated from Yugoslavia and has spent the past two...

“I had NO idea that you were SO EXPENSIVE!” “Can I get a refund (on the custom artwork that you just spent hours on)?” “I REALLY want just the digital files, why can’t you just do that?” If you own a business, you must get used to difficult conversations or you won’t be in business for long.  It comes with the territory. Potential clients hear what they want to hear, don’t pay attention or you mes...