portraits

154: Michael Mowbray – How to Enhance Your Photography with Off-Camera Flash

Today, our hostess and Mastercraftsman Photographer Luci Dumas sits down with Michael Mowbray, master photographer, author, teacher, IPC juror and entrepreneur. He is deeply involved in all aspects of the photography industry.

His DeForest, Wisconsin-based studio focuses on seniors, headshots, family, and commercial photography, while his MoLight brand of lighting equipment has quickly become a leading reseller of Godox flashes and MoLight’s own unique lighting products.

Michael is the author of the popular photography books Shoot to Thrill and The Speedlight Studio (Amherst Media).

Michael Mowbray-How to Enhance Your Photography with Off-Camera Flash

Listen in as Michael discusses how he was able to thrive as a photographer and business owner amid the most uncertain of times, beginning with the establishment of his company on 9/11.

The photography biz ace also talks about the entrepreneurial spirit that has driven him from an early age, the importance of being capitalized, and how one can even tell whether or not owning a business is for them.

Finally, Michael speaks on the advantages of off-camera flash in improving the quality of natural light photography.

Key Topics:

  • Navigating turbulent economic times as a photography business owner (7:56)
  • Delegating tasks and knowing when to hire (13:33)
  • Michael’s thoughts on entrepreneurship (19:31)
  • Knowing whether or not entrepreneurship is for you (26:22)
  • Establishing your content pillars (29:41)
  • Why it’s important to be capitalized as an entrepreneur (35:09)
  • Justifying higher prices (40:17)
  • The advantages of off-camera flash (42:55)
  • How to ensure your photos don’t look “fake” when using off-camera flash (48:43)
  • How to use a light meter with off-camera flash (52:25)
  • How to get in touch with Michael (1:01:37)

Resources:

Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas’ Programs:

153: Maria Oliva- Hot Instagram Tips for Wedding and Portrait Photographers

“If you were going to a networking event in person, what would you do, how would you respond to people approaching you, what would you share with them? These are the exact same things that you would do on your Instagram profile.”

Today, our hostess and Mastercraftsman Photographer Luci Dumas sits down with María Oliva, Founder and CEO of SMS Media, a social media coaching business for wedding vendors based in the DC area. She is on a mission to change the way wedding vendors approach Instagram by helping them create sustainable and fun strategies!

153: Maria Oliva- Hot Instagram Tips for Wedding and Portrait Photographers

Listen in as the digital marketing master shares how Instagram can become your go-to tool for attracting dream clients and why it’s important to niche down in order to maximize your ability to reach and start building relationships with those clients.

Referring to Instagram as “a free networking platform online,” Maria encourages any photographer looking to build a brand to be proactive in starting and continuing conversations, and to personally extend invitations to those who interact positively with their posts to join their community.

She continues on to offer a treasure trove of practical tips and strategies to grow your Instagram following and, ultimately, your client base. These include using hashtags effectively, creating posts based on your content pillars, finding opportunities to collaborate with local vendors, and visual branding best practices.

Key Topics:

  • Why Instagram is a great tool for attracting your dream clients (5:25)
  • Overcoming excuses that stop you from investing in your business (10:49)
  • How to build a community on Instagram (15:41)
  • Using hashtags effectively (23:45)
  • Establishing your content pillars (29:41)
  • Collaboration with vendors on Instagram (33:37)
  • Making money on Instagram (36:11)
  • Understanding the buyer’s journey (38:44)
  • Visual branding on how to provide value on Instagram (41:49)
  • Get María’s freebie and stay connected (49:35)
  • Luci’s wrap up (50:23)

Resources:

Get María Oliva’s free Instagram selling guide:

https://smsmediapr.lpages.co/instagram-selling-guide-freebie/

Get in touch with María Oliva at:

Website: https://smsmediapr.lpages.co/our-services/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sms_mediapr/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sms-media-group-inc/

Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas’ Programs:

lucidumascoaching.com

https://www.instagram.com/theprofitablephotographer_pod/

https://www.facebook.com/LuciDumasCoaching

152: Luci Dumas Shares Her Coaching Secrets to Selling Tons of Wall Portraits

“You’re going to need a telephone and you’re going to need to know how to use it. I could make a better living with my cellphone and nothing else, than having a great camera, and a computer where I only communicate via email and text and such.”

Today, our hostess, Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas shares her best tips and strategies to set up your photography business for massive success.

Just as photography is an art, Luci believes that selling is an art. Likewise, just as photography is a skill, selling is a skill. That means anyone with the passion and tenacity to succeed in this industry has the opportunity to learn the skills they need to improve both their photography and ability to sell their work.

Luci invites us to set the goal of becoming a full-service photographer. Strive to be able to create an experience for the client in which, from their first interaction with you to the last, you deliver not only what they want, but also what they didn’t know they wanted.

In fact, full-service photographers are not just photographers. They are designers. They are clothing consultants. They are makeup guides. By embracing your role as a salesperson, you are also your clients’ trusted advisor.

You don’t need to be the world’s greatest photographer. Just being the best full-service photographer you can be gives both you and your client immense joy. They become raving fans of you, and you learn how to be a better photographer and business owner.

Listen in as Luci shares her checklist of nine things every photographer needs to do when establishing their new business and the rewards that await, as well as her five steps to onboarding a new client.

Key Topics:

  • Photography and selling as an both art and skill (4:09)
  • Creating a long-term win-win relationship with your clients (10:26)
  • Addressing misconceptions around selling (13:50)
  • Nine things you need to get started in this business (21:57)
  • Three rewards of having a strong photography business (36:50)
  • Five steps to taking on a new client (39:25)
  • A brief overview of Luci’s sales system (41:59)
  • SSS – Secret Sales Sauce (44:45)

Find out more about my programs at:

lucidumascoaching.com

https://www.instagram.com/theprofitablephotographer_pod/

https://www.facebook.com/LuciDumasCoaching

151: Mitche Graf- Life Design for Photographers and other Humans

“If you live life with intention, as if every day is a Saturday, it changes your perspective. It changes what you do, what you say, and how you live your life. Every day can be a Saturday with the right perspective and the right attitude.”

Today, our hostess, Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas sits down with Mitche Graf, a daddy of 3, bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, internationally renowned business speaker, nationally syndicated radio show host, and former All American Track & Field athlete.

The amazing Mitche has been a passionate serial entrepreneur for over 25 years, dangling his toes into the ponds of many intriguing industries along the way. From selling used bicycle parts out of his garage in the seventh grade to running four companies today, he has prided himself on knowing how to squeeze every drop of potential out of his endeavors.

151: Mitche Graf- Life Design for Photographers and other Humans

Listen in as Mitche challenges business owners everywhere to find ways to charge more for your services by offering your clients even more value than you already do. In a similar vein, he speaks on the value of investing in your business sooner rather than later. He also offers advice on targeting your marketing toward your ideal client, and why you should never offer discounts.

The latter half of our conversation is all about lifestyle design, which is at the very center of everything Mitche teaches and does. He tells us, as entrepreneurs, to focus on the 5% of the activities that bring 95% of our results.

Key Topics:

  • What brought Mitche down his current path (3:28)
  • Overcoming excuses that stop you from investing in your business (7:44)
  • Attracting your ideal client (13:28)
  • Knowing when to pivot (16:24)
  • Pre-empting customer objections (23:17)
  • All about lifestyle design (26:49)
  • Working smart in addition to working hard (35:26)
  • Life is too short for regrets (42:16)
  • Everyday can be a Saturday (50:28)
  • Luci’s wrap-up (52:23)

Resources:

Get Mitche Graf’s free book: powermarketing101.com/freebook

Get in touch with Mitche Graf at: sales@mitchegraf.com

Other books by Mitche mentioned in the episode:

Business Basics BootCamp: The Ultimate Crash Course

Customer Service is DEAD: Delivering 6-Start Service In A 1-Star World

Other episodes mentioned:

044 Luci Dumas- Surviving and Thriving

019 Bruce and Josh Hudson: Keeping Clients Coming Back for More – The Power of Relationship Marketing

Find out more about my programs at:

lucidumascoaching.com

https://www.instagram.com/theprofitablephotographer_pod/

https://www.facebook.com/LuciDumasCoaching

150: Nino Batista- Photographing Models

Today, our hostess Luci Dumas sits down with Ron “Nino” Batista, a photographer, writer, musician, and overall creative wizard whose work is regularly seen in lifestyle publications the world over. He is regarded as the premier model photographer, retoucher, and artist development educator based in the United States.

Listen in as Nino offers his impressive approach to model photography and definition of beauty. He begins by explaining why women are typically more aesthetically pleasing to photograph than men, and the evolution of boudoir photography over the past three decades. He also gives some tips on how to break into commercial portraiture and finding your niche in the space.

150: Nino Batista- Photographing Models

Regarding the difference between photography depicting the objectification of its subject and that of pure fine art, Nino does a deep dive into the importance of intent and execution on the part of the photographer. In fact, he makes the case that the artist is just as important as the art, and this is why it is important to work on your personal brand as a photographer.

The internet has given every creative a platform, and everyone who desires it is able to carve out a little space online for their unique brand of art. Nino suggests that, instead of complaining that social media has led to over-saturation, budding photographers should instead focus on expressing themselves and their art authentically. In a sea of people, those who embrace honesty and transparency rise above the noise.

In his own words: “Sincerity wins. Whatever your approach to your art is, if you’re sincere, it will show.”

Key Topics:

  • Why women are more aesthetically pleasing to photograph than men (5:57)
  • Commercial versus general portraiture (14:32)
  • How to break into commercial portraiture (20:00)
  • Defining “color grading” (25:49)
  • “Boudoir” versus “fine art” posing (29:46)
  • Gaining clarity on your strengths as a photographer (33:14)
  • Everybody has a platform now, thanks to the internet (43:10)
  • Nino’s parting words of advice (52:14)
  • Luci’s wrap-up (59:16)

Resources:

Get in touch with Nino Batista:

ninobatista@gmail.com

832-458-8954

http://www.ninobatista.com

https://www.facebook.com/ninobatista

https://www.facebook.com/ninofreyjaworkshops

https://www.facebook.com/nbpretouch

https://www.instagram.com/ninobatista

https://www.instagram.com/nbpretouchtools/

Find out more about my programs at:

lucidumascoaching.com

https://www.instagram.com/theprofitablephotographer_pod/

https://www.facebook.com/LuciDumasCoaching

149: LARRY HERSBERGER – Magical Christmas Portraits for Fun and Big Profits

Today our hostess Luci Dumas sits down with the amazing Larry Hersberger, an internationally-acclaimed and licensed artist, storyteller, writer, designer and master photographer. He is globally known for his innovation of Magical Santa Photography, Magical Snowman, Vintage Baseball and Fine Art Classical portraiture.

Listen in as Larry discusses his foray into photography in the 90s and what motivated his decision to veer away from the art’s typical focus in America at the time on “canvas, curtains, carpet, and old chairs.” From this, Larry offers his first important lesson for any aspiring or budding photographer: Develop your personal brand as an artist.

149: LARRY HERSBERGER - Magical Christmas Portraits for Fun and Big Profits

The yuletide maestro then discusses his unique and inimitable approach to Magical Santa photography, noting that he isn’t just the photographer, but the director as well. And as a director he explains, crucially, that the bulk of his communication is actually with the child rather than Santa himself.

He goes on to dissect the business of art and how photographers of all stripes, even those relatively early in their career without a studio, can succeed in this space. He makes the case that any professional can make a quarter of a million dollars with just 50 clients, positioning oneself as a trusted advisor with each and every single one.

Key Topics:

  • Developing your personal brand as a photographer (9:36)
  • Why Larry’s approach to Magical Santa Photography is so innovative (19:50)
  • Defining “painting” and the business of art (29:40)
  • Telling stories through your art with your best customer in mind (37:00)
  • His advice to newer photographers without a studio of their own (46:50)
  • His tried-and-tested three-part sales process (52:16)
  • Why he changed his mind on newborn photography (1:03:47)
  • His parting words of advice, and how to attract your ideal clients (1:09:59)
  • Luci’s wrap up (1:18:25)

Resources:

Get in touch with Larry Hersberger:

336-870-6503

lawrence@masterpieceartwork.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1552550684799732

Art of Magic & Light® on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofmagicandlight

Get $200 OFF Larry’s new Magical Snowman Course. Use Code LUCI at checkout.

https://www.artofmagicandlight.com/offers/stxtSoaQ/checkout

Find out more about my programs at:

lucidumascoaching.com

https://www.instagram.com/theprofitablephotographer_pod/

https://www.facebook.com/LuciDumasCoaching

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