324: Luci Dumas: 12 Practical Tips From 40 Years in the Photography Biz

324: Luci Dumas: 12 Practical Tips From 40 Years in the Photography Biz

This week on The Profitable Photographer with Luci Dumas, it’s just me, spilling some of my favorite secrets for running a thriving photography business.

Think of it as coffee with a friend who’s been at this for decades—and is ready to save you a few headaches.

Here’s a taste of what I share:

       •      Why three bank accounts might just be your new best friends

       •      The rookie mistake most wedding photographers make (and how to avoid it)

       •      How to get clients without living on social media

       •      My favorite “wow” factor for in-person sales that almost guarantees bigger orders

       •      It’s part business, part photography, and all real-world tips to help you grow, profit, and actually enjoy the ride.

Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas: 

New episodes drop every week — make sure to subscribe so you never miss an inspiring guest or a powerful solo episode designed to help you grow your photography business.

279: Jen Hargrove: How To Use Photo Competitions to Grow Your Business

279: Jen Hargrove: How To Use Photo Competitions to Grow Your Business

Here we go again…another great guest and conversation on The Profitable Photographer with Luci Dumas! I’m so excited to introduce you to Jen Hargrove, an award-winning fine art photographer specializing in character portraits, pets, children, and abstract waterscapes. With 12 years under her belt, Jen’s earned titles like Master Photographer and Certified Professional Photographer.

Jen share some eye opening practices that have helped her business success grow through print competitions, and she’s mastered the art of turning mini-sessions into high-profit opportunities. And guess what? These mini- sessions are primarily of men transformed into unique characters like soldiers, firemen, or sea captains. Wives and mothers love these!

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • Keepsake Sessions: How Jen markets these unique sessions to her clients , turning them into characters like soldiers or sea captains. 
  • Making Personal Art Pay: Jen’s strategy for selling her art through boutiques, Etsy, and galleries. 
  • Delegating Sales: Why letting go of sales was the best move for her business. 
  • Giving Back to Photographers: Jen’s passion for helping fellow photographers and why teaching others is important to her. 


Final thought is that
our industry is not saturated. Don’t be afraid to teach others but stay in your lane. She wants to see everybody giving back to other photographers.

AND she has arranged a contest with Miller’s Color Lab.
WIN $150 wall art certificate by leaving a comment about this episode on the YouTube video of this episode and I will pick a winner!

 https://jenhargrovephotography.com/ jenhargrovephotography@yahoo.com 

Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas: 

276: Pete Coco: Advice for Launching Your Photography Business

276: Pete Coco: Advice for Launching Your Photography Business

In this episode, I have an awesome chat with the super-talented Pete Coco, a successful headshot and portrait photographer. We dive into the nitty-gritty of starting your photography business, and yeah, it can be overwhelming. But Pete’s advice? Don’t worry—just start!

Pete specializes in headshots and portraits and is based in Garden City, New York, providing high-quality photography services to individuals from various industries, including business professionals, realtors, lawyers, doctors, actors, and models. 

He also is a mentor and has a YouTube channel with 30,000 subscribers, where he talks about photography, gear reviews, and all sorts of things.

Pete shares so much valuable wisdom, including:

• The importance of finding a mentor who truly understands your vision.

• Staying passionate about the type of photography you want to do every day and creating work you love and want to be paid for.

• Embracing failure as a learning tool, instead of fearing it.

Pete also introduced us to his “CoCo Trio”—the perfect blend of work, business, and mindset. Mastering all three is essential for success. Plus, he drops some book recommendations like The Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Burchard, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, and the Tao Te Ching for extra inspiration.

His final gem? It’s never too late to start, and your photography doesn’t have to be the best in the world—it just needs to get started. You can catch Pete live at the Imaging Expo in Texas through Professional Photographers of America.

Bonus: Download any of Pete’s free videos, and he’ll share five of his all-time favorite portrait tips!

Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas: 

230: Luci Dumas – Money Talk for Photographers

230: Luci Dumas – Money Talk for Photographers

In this episode of The Profitable Photographer, I am sharing some thoughts and strategies around money. Not the inner game or blocks or prosperity issues but some of the nuts and bolts about being in business. 

You can listen on all the podcast platforms as well as my other 229 episodes or kick back and watch on the “You Tubes”. www.lucidumascoaching.com is a great place to check out what I am up to and offer.

Some of my tips include

1. Cash and income you might need to get started

2. How to set up 3 accounts in your business to help you stay profitable and not get caught cash poor at tax time

3. My perspective on paying for or sharing household responsibilities out of the family budget

Thanks in advance for following me here and podcast platforms.

Hugs! Luci

Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas’ Programs and Contact Info:

229: Jai Long – The Art of Selling Art and Photography

229: Jai Long – The Art of Selling Art and Photography

It’s safe to say that today’s guest is just as passionate about sales as I am. And, he is no stranger to the photography industry. Jai Long is an award-winning wedding photographer, creative business coach, host of the “Make Your Break” Podcast, serial entrepreneur, and the leader of a heart-filled, worldwide community of photographers. He even has his own course, Six Figure Business Map, where he helps photographers set and achieve “unrealistic” goals and overcome self-limiting beliefs. That was not a typo…he did say unrealistic and be sure to listen for his explanation.

Even though sales can have a negative connotation, Jay is clear that selling is an art and a gift to clients.. He shares with us that his perspective came from how he was raised. He knew, even as a child, that the only way to grow out of his existing circumstances was by selling. And, the older he got, the bigger his sales became. 

Listen in as Jay and I discuss: 

-The fear of rejection and success in regards to selling

-The need for courage to step out of your comfort zone

-3 must-haves for good sales

-How selling is a service.

To help you grow more confident in your own sales, you can even download a free copy of Jai’s Scripts for Sales Objections on his website, jailong.co.

Interested in learning more from Jai? Here’s where you can connect with him: 

Podcast: Make Your Break

Website: jailong.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jailong.co

Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas’ Programs and Contact Info: