Hi friends, it’s Luci.

After more than 200 conversations with photographers and educators, I’ve collected a treasure chest of “aha” moments—some that made me laugh, some that surprised me, and some that completely changed how I look at this crazy, wonderful business.

In this episode, I’m sharing ten of the best lessons. Here’s a little sneak peek:

• Relationships really are the secret sauce. The photographers thriving year after year all remind me that genuine connection—not algorithms—is what keeps our businesses strong.
• Andrew Hiorth gave me a plot twist. I always thought hiring other photographers would pull me away from my own creativity… until he showed me how it can actually give you more time to play, explore, and create for you.
• Olesha Haskett opened my eyes even wider. From textured hair and makeup to posing curves to avoiding “washout” in retouching, she shares what every photographer needs to know to beautifully photograph Black women.
• And yes… pet photography really can be a high-end goldmine. I suspected it long ago, and my guests have confirmed it again and again.

That’s just a taste—wait until you hear the rest.

Want a freebie? Go to Lucidumascoaching.com and download my ebook on Marketing

Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:

• Website
• Email: luci@lucidumas.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

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.

This week, my conversation is about two topics…how to get fabulous portrait and weddings, and how to be more inclusive of people with different backgrounds, orientations, and such.

The amazing Chip Dizárd is my guess and is a photographer, educator, tech-enthusiast, and someone who builds business with purpose, passion, and people at the center.

Chip shares how a Christmas gift — an Atari 2600 — set him on a path of creativity and connection that eventually led to a thriving photography brand. Today, he’s known not only for great images but for championing diversity and inclusion in the wedding and event industry.

We talk about:

• Moving beyond “friends and family” clients and building real momentum
• Attracting ideal clients by focusing on the best and letting go of the rest
• The 3 key questions to help define your niche and guide your success
• Why representation matters — and how to make sure clients feel truly seen and welcomed

Chip reminds us that success is like a train — slow at first… then unforgettable once it picks up steam. Stay consistent. Treat people right. And watch the magic happen.

Connect with Chip: https://chipdizard.com

Learn + grow with Luci: https://lucidumascoaching.com

Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:

• Website
• Email: luci@lucidumas.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

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.

My guest this week, Rob Brown, is super smart and nice and knows how to get things done(and be very profitable) by being efficient and organized. He is such a great example of what can happen when passion meets process.

What started as a hobby has grown into a thriving six-figure business photographing schools, sports teams, and communities across Mississippi. Since 2020, Rob has built a studio that makes serves his community and his family as well.

Rob and I had a great conversation about volume photography—what it really takes to make it work, how to stay organized, and why this type of photography can be both fun and incredibly rewarding.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• How to create smooth systems that make large-scale jobs run easily and profitably

• What efficiency really means and how to spot and fix the weak points in your process

• Why volume photography can be one of the most stable and scalable business models out there

• The mindset and long-term vision it takes to grow something truly successful

This conversation is full of practical wisdom and inspiration for photographers ready to work smarter, not harder—and maybe even fall in love with volume photography.

Connect with Rob:

• Website

• Facebook

• Instagram

Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:

• Website
• Email: luci@lucidumas.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

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.

This week, I had the pleasure of talking with Shawna Pearce, a fine art photographer who creates charming heirloom portraits that weave together storytelling, history, and emotion. She also love love loves teaching other creatives how to master the art of editing and storytelling so they, too, can create their own legacy images.

Shawna started her career about 15 years ago photographing newborns and soon discovered her passion for creating children’s fine art portraits that truly celebrate each family’s story. She describes an heirloom as something that represents who you are — a story within a story — and her portraits are designed to become part of a family’s legacy.

We talk about:

• The meaning of heirloom portraits — how Shawna blends storytelling with art so the photograph itself becomes an heirloom
• Her award-winning portrait of a mother and four daughters— the planning, inspiration, and how 90% of that image was captured in-camera
• Her creative process — including clothing tips and props to bring her artistic vision to life

You can feel the heart in everything she creates, and her approach is such a wonderful reminder that portraits can hold layers of meaning that last for generations.

Grab Shawna’s gift of a fun collection of composite elements at shawnapearcestudios.com/luci

shawna@shawnapearcestudios.com

Check out my gifts on marketing at www.lucidumascoaching.com

Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:

• Website
• Email: luci@lucidumas.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

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.

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:

• Website
• Email: luci@lucidumas.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

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.

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:

1. Your dream and vision — knowing what you want, why you want it, and where you’re headed
2. The foundation — skills, systems, pricing, and professionalism that set you up for success
3. Marketing and sales — how to connect with your ideal clients and create a thriving business
4. 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.

Learn more about business coaching and resources at lucidumascoaching.com.

Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:

• Website
• Email: luci@lucidumas.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

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.

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:

• Website
• Email: luci@lucidumas.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

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.

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:

• https://reneebowen.myflodesk.com/getclients
• https://reneebowen.com/aisales

Stay connected with Renee:

• Email: renee@reneebowen.com
• Instagram: @reneebowen

Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:

• Website
• Email: luci@lucidumas.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

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.