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:

228: Luci Shares the Secrets to Getting Hot Leads from Business Partners

228: Luci Shares the Secrets to Getting Hot Leads from Business Partners

Welcome to The Profitable Photographer with Luci Dumas. Today’s solo episode is about how to network like a Rock Star. How to build relationships that lead to support of both of your businesses.

The core principle is to build relationships, leading with generosity and offering support first. Getting to know the person and the business. Find ways to refer them, promote them, learn what makes them wonderful and connect.

Many people jump too fast…”too much too soon”. Asking for someone to support your business before they know what you do and how it can support them rarely succeeds. 

In this teaching, I share tips to help you build relationships in a way that doesn’t seem pushy and creates loyal professional friends. I cover…

1- The importance of being a “stocker” on their social media

2- How to get a warm connection. Lead with positivity about their business

3- Have a reason to connect that serves them first

4- Get together and see if you have a good connection

5- Why referring them and helping their business is a priority

In other words…create a real relationship, support them, ask for support that is a win for you and them. Once you make a good connection, there are lots of ways for them to introduce you to their best clients and help you get lots and lots of warm, wonderful leads.

Get in touch at lucidumascoaching.com

Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas’ Programs and Contact Info:

227: Colby McLemore – Food Photography for Fun and Profit

227: Colby McLemore – Food Photography for Fun and Profit

Welcome back to another delicious episode of The Profitable Photographer Podcast. Today’s guest has been on the show before. He is a true visual storyteller, the owner of Colby’s Photos and Video, located near Knoxville in the Smoky Mountains, and has become a very dear friend. Please welcome back, Colby McLemore! 

With a full-time commitment to photography and videography for companies and individuals, Colby has earned a reputation for his caring, fun, and easy-going demeanor, all while maintaining the utmost professionalism. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail, creativity that’s as clean and fresh as the mountain air, and a unique ability to follow up, follow through, and give each project his all. 

Believe it or not, in all of the 200 episodes of The Profitable Photographer Podcast, I’ve only chatted with one other food photographer. That changes this week as Colby shares anything and everything related to food photography with us. Colby and I always have a great conversation, but I especially enjoyed today’s chat and learning from one of the best about this unique niche of photography. 

Listen in as we discuss: 

-how understanding your client’s needs is the cornerstone of success

-the importance of meeting deadlines in commercial photography

-the versatility and nuances of food photography

-the art of using light to create texture in food photography

-the things to consider before delivering RAW or JPEG images

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

His website: www.colbysphotosvideos.com.

By email: colby@colbysphotosvideos.com

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colbysphotovideo

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colbysphotosvideos/

Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas’ Programs and Contact Info: