by admin | Oct 28, 2025 | Podcast
This week, we’re heading to Texas! My guest is Cris Duncan, the new head of the legendary Texas School of Professional Photography—one of the biggest and most loved PPA affiliate schools in the country.
Cris and his wife, Deanna, run CJ Duncan Photography in Lubbock, creating beautiful portrait and commercial work. He’s also a PPA Juror, CPP Instructor, founder of Find Your Focus Photographic Education™, and recipient of the PPA Education Award.
We chat about his journey into photography, his passion for teaching, and why in-person education still makes all the difference. Cris shares what makes Texas School so special and how connection and community fuel creativity.
Here’s what we cover:
• Cris’s start in photography and the mentors who shaped his path
• What Texas School offers – 32 week-long classes, 8 pre-cons, and a one-of-a-kind community
• Why live education matters – the difference between information, understanding, and true wisdom
• How competition and critique help photographers grow and build credibility
If you’ve ever thought about attending Texas School or you’re ready to reignite your passion for learning, this episode will inspire you to keep growing.
Registration for Texas School 2026 opens January 3rd, and spots fill fast!
Learn more at texasschool.org and visit cjduncan.com.
PS…Check out my TWO gifts on my website about marketing your photography…www.lucidumascoaching.com
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.
by admin | Oct 21, 2025 | Podcast
This solo episode is especially meaningful for me because it’s about one of my favorite and most important topics—how to start and grow a photography business that lasts.
After more than 40 years as a full-time portrait and wedding photographer, and business coaching, I’ve experienced just about everything this career can bring—the excitement, the challenges, the creative joy, and the ups and downs that come with being your own boss. I also know what it feels like to start from scratch. In the beginning, I did everything—weddings, portraits, commercial work, even trade jobs for gym memberships, which helped me discover my ideal specialty and my “why.”
In this episode, I share a few personal stories and a little of what I’ve learned over four decades, breaking it down into four key areas that every photographer needs to build a successful and fulfilling business:
- Your dream and vision — knowing what you want, why you want it, and where you’re headed
- The foundation — skills, systems, pricing, and professionalism that set you up for success
- Marketing and sales — how to connect with your ideal clients and create a thriving business
- The inner game — mindset, courage, and grit to keep you growing through every season
Whether you’re new, rebuilding, or ready to grow, this episode offers real stories, encouragement, and practical advice to help you create a business—and a life—you love.
Most of all, I hope it reminds you that your work as a photographer matters. When we help people see their own beauty, love, and connection, we’re doing something far deeper than taking pictures—we’re giving them a lasting gift.
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.
by admin | Oct 14, 2025 | Podcast
Oh my gosh, I learned so much in this episode, and I absolutely loved this conversation all about pets and the pet photography business. My guest, Lisa Francescon, is such an amazing teacher and a wonderful photographer with a huge heart for animals.
Based in the Illinois/Iowa Quad Cities, Lisa has been photographing families and children since 2004, and in 2016 she found her true passion — pet portraiture. Her clients now mostly have fur and whiskers, and she creates timeless, classical portraits of pets, service dogs, and therapy animals. Lisa also gives back to her community by partnering with shelters and rescues to raise funds and help more pets find their forever homes.
Here are some of the key topics we covered:
- Alleviating client fears and educating pet parents
- Setting up a calm, comfortable experience for pets in the studio
- Establishing a clear session workflow
- Creating in-person sales with albums and wall art
- Simple, effective marketing strategies for pet photography
Lisa’s parting advice is to be yourself, have faith in your journey, and let your love of pets shine through your work.
Connect with Lisa Francescon
Website: www.momentsbylisa.com
Email: lisa@momentsbylisa.com
Free Gift: Email Lisa for a free PDF of her pet photography workflow.
Thanks again for listening to The Profitable Photographer with Luci Dumas!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share it with a friend, and visit lucidumascoaching.com for more inspiration and coaching resources for photographers ready to grow a thriving, profitable business.
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.
by admin | Oct 7, 2025 | Podcast
I am so excited to share this conversation with the fabulous Renee Bowen on The Profitable Photographer! You may know her for her beautiful senior portraits, but these days she’s also coaching photographers and creatives on how to not only grow their businesses but also rewire their mindset for real, lasting success.
What I love about Renee is that she blends her background in psychology and neuroscience with tools like NLP, life coaching, and even a sprinkle of woo. She has such an organized, inspiring way of explaining things that makes you feel like, “Yes! I can totally do this.”
Here’s why you’ll definitely want to listen:
- She breaks down her powerful CLARITY Method, a step-by-step process to help you create momentum and live your purpose
- We talk about NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)—what it really is and how it can help you connect with clients, book more sessions, and sell without feeling pushy
- She shares why senior portraits are more than just photos—they can be life-changing experiences for teens
- And most of all, you’ll hear how shifting your beliefs and saying “yes” can help you create both a business and a life you truly love
I had such a great conversation with Renee, and I know you’ll get so many insights and practical tools from her. She’s the perfect mix of grounded wisdom and fun energy, and I’m so grateful she said yes to being on the show!
Renee has some wonderful free gifts for you:
Stay connected with Renee:
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.
by admin | Oct 1, 2025 | Podcast
I am so excited to introduce you to Kate DeCoste and her thoughts about the importance of storytelling as photographers.
In business since 2009, she calls herself a “confidence curator and small-town sparkplug” based in Wahoo, Nebraska. What I love is that she helps people show up authentically on camera, and her sessions feel more like a celebration than a checklist.
Her background is really fascinating—before photography, she was a ‘theater girl” and was a stage manager in New York City and Milwaukee. Now she brings that same blend of creativity, organization, and big-picture vision into her photography work and her podcast, The One Behind the Lens.
In our conversation, Kate shared how storytelling is really at the core of her photography. She creates an experience where clients feel truly seen from the very beginning. When people feel recognized and valued, their walls come down, their confidence shines through, and the photos end up telling an authentic story that clients treasure.
Here are a few highlights from our chat:
• How her theater background led her into photography
• Why storytelling begins before the camera ever comes out
• The questions she asks to truly get to know her clients
• How she creates sessions where people feel seen and celebrated
• Why it’s so important for photographers to value their work and sell prints
Kate has a free gift for you—a Mini Session Starter Guide that you can grab here:
https://www.katedecostephotography.com/form/mini-session-success-a-starter-photographers-guide
kate@katedecostephotography.com
katedecostephotography.com
I just loved Kate’s energy and enthusiasm… and I know you’ll come away from this conversation with ideas for creating more meaningful, memorable experiences in your own photography sessions.
PS…thanks for subscribing and sharing! Luci
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.
