When you hang out with people that are where you want to be, you grow to be like them. That is just one of the topics I cover in this recording.
Today’s episode is a solo show with yours truly, Luci Dumas, where I share my thoughts and stories about the importance of “Live and In Person” education.
As a lifelong learner, I have always taken the opportunity to attend workshops, seminars, conventions, meetings locally and at a state and national level that are teaching everything from lighting, cameras, retreats, business, mindset, business, and such.
I know I own my over 40 years of full-time success partly to my participation in education IRL… “In The Real”. Of course, virtual classes, podcasts, books, and other remote way to learn and grow is great (especially podcasts and videos) But there is nothing quite like spending time with educators and students in rooms, and on location, and over lunch.
There are soooooo many reasons I believe that showing up physically is essential
to our success. In this solo episode, I will share about
The value of hanging out with photographers
Why I learn more in person from the speakers
Many opportunities for in-person education, especially from The Professional Photography of America
I also discuss why getting involved and serving our industry by being on boards, teaching, judging, and such grows us and our success exponentially.
Hey…thanks by the way for subscribing to the show on my YouTube channel and the podcast platform you love the most.
Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas’ Programs and Contact Info:
Guest Teshorn Jackson and I have been Facebook friends and finally got to meet in person at WPPI in March. I immediately decided that we needed to do a podcast episode together, and here we are!
If you’re not familiar with Teshorn, he is a man of many hats (and he always has a fascinating hat on). Not only is he an award-winning wedding photographer, but he is also an educator that has traveled as far as Kenya and Cuba to teach. Teshorn also created an online community for Black Wedding Photographers across the globe to help establish, nurture, and educate members of the community.
Fun fact: Teshorn studied architecture, and only picked up a camera because he was able to negotiate the seller down in price (just to try out his negotiating skills). And just look where he is now.
We had a wonderful conversation! We talked about everything from using architecture in photos, to the pros and cons of being an introvert that needs to sell, and even chatted about how utilizing systems as an entrepreneur can help you ensure that you can run any type of business.
For instance, Teshorn shares that for wedding photographers, using these three things in your systems will help make your couples want to work with you more, so you have to sell to them less.
The key to selling starts with listening and asking both relevant and non-relevant questions.
Use psychology: fear of loss, the desire of gain.
Have a System! Create a written process and edit it on a regular basis to make sure it still works for you.
Teshorn’s final thoughts for us: Things that become ordinary to you, could be extraordinary to someone else later on. The value of education is priceless. Take care of your clients, they matter. Even if you don’t have all the answers it’s okay to just jump.
Not only did Teshorn share all of this valuable information (and so much more!) with us, but he’s also offering $250 off registration to The Resolve Workshop, which will be held next January in Mexico City. Just mention my name for the discount. What a gift! Register here: www.resolveworkshop.com
Interested in learning more from Teshorn? Connect with him here:
This week on The Profitable Photographer Podcast I’m so excited to welcome John DeMato, a visual storytelling expert that photographs speakers, authors, trainers and consultants to create world-class, image assets that position them as an authority In their space of expertise.
By using collaboration, strategy and execution, he sets clients up for success beyond the photo sessions by educating them on how to leverage their portraits, book images, virtual and live event photos across their online presence.
And what a fascinating conversation John and I had all about empowering, and creating a magical experience for those he serves!
With 22 years of experience behind the camera as a former television producer, John knows exactly how important it is to create a valuable experience for his clients. This experience is built on using strategy to create consistent results for each client, capturing a visual variety of images during a session, and, surprisingly, thinking more like a marketer than a photographer.
But, John didn’t start his business intending to make headshots his specialty, he just happened to be doing them on the side. In fact, it took him a while to build his business. He built his business by focusing on 2 things: being intentional through communication and building relationships. In addition to focusing on communication, John is also very active in his social media world.
John’s strategy for creating consistent results starts with having a strategy call with each client. During that call, he focuses on 4 things:
Getting to who they are
Finding out where the resources are
Getting to know their personality
Building rapport so the client feels comfortable with him.
His end goal for each session is always the same: to think like a marketer more than a photographer, to serve his clients, and to be a collaborator with them.
John’s final words for us? It is a gift to make a living in photography and it is something that needs to be earned. Believe in yourself
Want to connect with John for more inspiration? You can find him here:
This episode is a “Whopper” and worth taking the time to listen to every minute!
One of my first mentors and the person I call “The King of Wall Portraits,” Charles Lewis, and his son Todd Lewis and I have an incredible conversation about selling wall portraits. We cover both why helping our clients select their portraits in “appropriate sizes” in person using a projector is best for our businesses and our clients, and how to structure the sale that is fun and highly profitable.
Okay…I do “Fan Girl” a lot in this conversation because I owe so much of my business success to this week’s guest.
Charles opened his studio 50 years ago in Grand Rapids, MI where he specialized in family, children, and senior portraits as well as wedding photography. He shares how he almost lost his family because he was overworking in order to provide financially for his family. Everything changed when he started selling wall portraits and setting office hours so he could be home with his family in the evenings.
He and Todd (and I) give you lots of concrete tips on the sales process. The three of us are super passionate about giving our clients full service and making sure they have finished art as decor that will give them joy every day. I am sure you will hear that enthusiasm as we share everything we can to help motivate you to provide this as well.
Be sure to listen for thoughts about:
Why putting pricing online is not ideal
How testimonials impact our business success
Reasons for becoming a Wall Portrait Specialist
The importance of finding our target market and how to reach them
Setting up our sales room
Why you must have an organized system
Please…listen to the entire episode and then listen again. There is so much inspiration and great content that is one of the cores of my success over the last 40 years.
I had so much fun chatting with the amazing and lovely Kristin Sweeting, international wedding photographer, educator, and host of the Dangerous Creatives podcast. She’s been photographing weddings and celebrations around the world for over 11 years and photography work has taken her to over 20 different countries.
Listen in as Kristin explains how she manages a wedding photography business involving regular travel to other countries, and her advice to fellow photographers who likewise want travel to be a part of their lifestyle.
Kristin also does a deep dive into the four pillars of creative business revenue that every entrepreneur needs to work on to create a life of freedom: their meat and potatoes (i.e. retainer clients), main stars (your niche, i.e. wedding photography), enhancers (add-ons to your main services, i.e. albums and prints), and PJ profits (passive income, i.e. courses and an online gallery).
She also reminds us that the key to successfully creating multiple streams of income as a photographer is to focus on one thing at a time. Build your meat and potatoes until you reach that tipping point where your marketing efforts finally begin to break even. At this point, you’ll have enough referral momentum to start building your next stream of income!
Key Topics:
What inspires Kristin to become a photographer (4:01)
How wedding photography and retreats has taken Kristin to over 20 different countries (6:30)
The importance of knowing your numbers (15:48)
Navigating airport security as an international photographer (18:47)
Kristin’s international business retreats (21:51)
Creating multiple streams of revenue as a photographer (26:37)
The four pillars of creative business revenue (30:04)
Focus on one thing at a time (40:52)
What Kristin loves the most about being a creative entrepreneur (48:29)
Your authenticity is needed in the industry (52:52)
A big, exciting and maybe a little scary dream to have a successful, profitable and creative photography business doing exactly what you love for wonderful, grateful clients? Or do you want to bring your business to the next level of fun and profit.? If so, then this Podcast is for you.
For over 36 years, I have made a great living as portrait and wedding business, Luci Dumas Fine Photography, with no other source of income. No rich husband or lottery winnings, through the ups and downs of the industry and economy.
Now as a business coach with Insight Training for Photographers, I love love love to support photographers who want to do the same. This podcast is full of practical business info, and insights gained from my years in business, plus interviews with amazing people. My desire is to help you along on your joyful journey to success, however that looks to you.
