There are many important things to know to make your business a success! Luci Dumas speaks with pet photographer and PPA Photographic Craftsman, Arica went from owning a luxury retail studio to selling her business and doing “Pet Photography Road Trips”, as a traveling pet photographer. She shares what to know within your business to make it successful and profitable. Also tune in for some fun photography tips!
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” -Helen Keller
In this episode, host Luci Dumas speaks with Arica Dorff and they discuss….
• Arica shares her inspiring story as a traveling pet photographer • What is most important to know in your business • Examples of ways to be successful within your business
Key Points:
• Laying a foundation in your business with your core values is important for success. • Make sure you aren’t committing to something in your business that is going to burn you out. • In order to come up with pricing in your business, you need to look at your numbers and make sure they make sense. • Start your pricing on the higher end, not too high but higher and then increase it gradually, for example by 2% a year to avoid a large noticeable increase. • By eliminating your prices online, you can bring in more clients and steer them away before they know what you even have to offer. • By doing step by step sales you can increase what your clients are getting which will help steer them in the bigger package direction due to more quantity, quality etc. • By adding on things to your packages as examples to interest your clients, you can steer them towards higher packages. • You have many options within your business to mold it and present it how you want to. This includes remotely, on the road, your different products etc. • Fun photography tip! When photographing a family, always have an assistant for relief and to help get things back on track. When photographing a pet, for example a dog, always have them bring a family friend or close person to that pet to keep everything on track! • Not doing remote sales can benefit in many ways. One being that the people are in their environment and seeing what your products can do for them. • One last great tip from Arica, base your business model on the lifestyle you want to live. Don’t base it on what you THINK it should be, but actually what you WANT it to be.
About Thomas Vargeletis: Thomas Vargeletis is the founder and CEO of TV photography. It’s a highly profitable, Massachusetts-based real estate, photography, and videography company. Ever since building the six-figure photography business, Tom has developed a passion for teaching others the things that he’s learned from years of experience training and trial and error. He has his own called The Full Time Real Estate Photographer Podcast, and his book is the same name.
In this episode, Luci and Thomas discuss:
Things you need to know to get started as a real estate photographer.
Lighting, camera settings, and fundamentals of real estate photography.
Creating a business from your real estate photography.
Key Takeaways:
Real Estate photography is a high-volume field with a low barrier of entry, making it accessible to those getting into the industry.
Either you live in a house or you know somebody who does and you can practice the fundamentals and practice now.
People who persevere through failures will succeed.
“Learning real estate photography is a great way to fund your passion projects because you can take income from your photography while you’re learning and practicing. It’s just a great genre of photography to get into.” — Thomas Vargeletis
You are in for a treat today for sure. Jeff Dachowski is Award winning Master Craftsman photographer and is a member of PPA’s Board of Directors, a PPA International Approved Juror, Certification Judge, and a Vatican Approved Photographer. Jeff is the President of the Society of XXV. We have a great discussion on how serving the industry has benefited his life and business.
In this episode, Luci and Jeff discuss:
Taking the opportunity for learning wherever you can.
Passing it forward whenever and however you can.
Keeping in motion and picking your path.
Key Takeaways:
When we serve, we get to have great conversations with those who are further along than us.
If you want to be successful, talk to someone who is successful, and learn from them.
It is easy to change direction when you are moving then when you are standing still. Pick a road and keep on moving with your clear vision in mind.
“The ability to walk up to someone and make sincere, genuine connections is such a big deal.” — Jeff Dachowski
Master Craftsman, Jeff Lubin has been the leading portrait photographer in the Washington DC area for over 35 years.
In this episode, Luci and Jeff discuss:
Creating a $1M studio and success in photography.
Building your brand and building your image.
Embracing what makes you different and what you love to create a successful career.
Key Takeaways:
It’s hard to get a premium price for your work if you’re not an identity, you don’t have a brand, and you don’t have something that is specific to you.
A lot of the answers you are looking for are already within. You are unique among everyone that has lived on the planet.
There’s a lot to be said about emulation when you are learning the craft, but once you’ve learned the basics, the genius comes out when you take the imaginative ideas and put them into practice.
“You build the brand, and then you create enough synergy where people know your name. That’s a huge thing – where people not only know your brand, but they know your name. That’s the big thing.” — Jeff Lubin
What a treat! My good friend and I have a rich discussion about lighting, the importance of quality for the profitable photographer and much more. He has photographed or taught photographic technical skills over 700 times in more than 20 countries and world capitals as well as in all fifty US states. In his more than 38 years in photography, he has photographed some of the most recognized faces including three US presidents, world leaders at the United Nations, fashion models, celebrities, NASA astronauts, and he has so much wisdom to share.
In this episode, Luci and Tony discuss:
Tony’s career journey from never owning a camera to now photographing prominent leaders and celebrities.
Tips and takeaways on light in photography.
The importance of having a light meter, even with all of the new technologies that we have today.
Key Takeaways:
Keep your notes clean and keep the trust of your clients. You may earn a couple bucks by selling the photos, but you won’t keep the trust of those you photograph.
Understanding how the size of your light source factors into each and every shoot you do is key.
People are always watching, make sure you look and act professional in all aspects during the entire photography session.
“The size of a light source is directly relative to its distance from the sun.” — Tony Corbell
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.
