Profitable Photographer Podcast

Luci Dumas
  • 4.9 (60)
  • Careers
  • Updated Weekly

Do you LOVE photography but feel totally overwhelmed trying to turn it into a real, money-making business? You're not alone — most photographers aren’t natural-born business pros. The creative part? Easy. But the business part...that’s where it gets tough. That is exactly why I created The Profitable Photographer. Every week, I bring you fun and heart centered conversations with top photographers and industry experts who share their best ACTIONABLE marketing and photography sales strategies, “inner game” shift tools that clear our roadblocks to success, and all the business wisdom they've learned along the way. Plus, I hop on the mic solo to share the ups, downs, and lessons from my own 40 years behind the camera (and behind the business). Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your already-successful photography business, (and have lot more fun) you’ll find honest talk, practical tips, and loads of inspiration to help you thrive — not just survive — as a professional photographer. So let’s dive in, get inspired, and build the photography career of your dreams!

  1. 3d ago

    367: Aunt Luci’s 10 Hot Tips for Photographing Kids at Every Age

    Sooooo….I have often called The Baby Whisperer OR Every Kids’ Aunt Luci. I happen to be and an award-winning Master Craftsman photographer, but my favorite award (or reward) is capturing the delight a child brings in a photograph and sharing with my clients After 10 years photographing weddings, I pivoted to my first love, children. For the next 20 plus years I photographed newborns, toddlers, children and families. People would comment about how patient I am and yes, it is true. But I also have learned and invented many many ways to make photographing them easy and fun. Ways to bring out natural expressions and poses. Ways to plan a session for the most success. And I am sharing not just 10 tips and tricks, but the different stages of childhood and the 8 basic needs and how to address them to get the most out of our time with the wee ones. In this episode, I share: My 10 hot tips for photographing children with more ease and confidenceHow to adapt your approach for newborns, toddlers, preschoolers, and teensCreative ways to connect with little ones (without relying on bribery)The importance of reading the room — and meeting children where they areWhy your own energy, preparation, and mindset are just as important as your camera settings Whether you’re brand new to photographing children or have been doing it for years, this episode is packed with practical advice, mindset shifts, and tried-and-true techniques to help you create portraits families will treasure forever. Thanks for listening, and if you found this helpful, I’d love for you to subscribe and share it with your photography friends. Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:  Website Email: luci@lucidumas.comInstagram FacebookYouTube 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.

    20 min

  2. Jun 17

    366: How Photographing Women Built Rachel Sorbet's Dream Business

    What a fun conversation I had with my friend Rachel Sorbet! Rachel specializes in branding and executive portraits for businesswomen, and she shared so many gems about creating a successful photography business that feels authentic and rewarding. I have watched her go from “imposter syndrome” to a super-successful Boss Babe (aka a very successful photographer) in just 8 years. We chatted about the power of positive thinking and believing that if you have a dream, you really can build it. Rachel shares how she attracts clients, revealing that most of her bookings come from Google Ads, combined with consistently showing up through networking and social media. We also dive into one of my favorite topics—building relationships. Rachel explains her strategy for creating "channel partners," businesses that actively support and refer one another. She shares how simple connections, clear expectations, and genuine relationships over coffee can grow into a steady stream of ideal clients. In this episode, you'll hear about: The power of mindset and believing in your dreams.How Rachel gets 90% of her branding clients through Google Ads.The difference between referral partners and channel partners.How to recognize the super-networkers who can help grow your business.Why authentic relationships are still one of the best marketing strategies. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Thanks so much for listening and for sharing The Profitable Photographer with your photography friends! Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:  Website Email: luci@lucidumas.comInstagram FacebookYouTube 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.

    22 min

  3. Jun 10

    365: Build a Photography Business That Fits Your Life with Jill C. Smith

    My conversation with family photographer and business coach Jill C. Smith is a deep dive into pricing, marketing, client experience, and building a photography business that fits your life. If you know me at all, you know how I am always on my soapbox about selling printed wall art and albums. So you might be surprised by our conversation about why Jill is a huge fan of selling digital files only. She opened my eyes to the reality that this can be highly profitable when done correctly. And she helped me understand why it is perfect for some people as long as it is financially rewarding and fits their lifestyle. About My Guest Jill went from teaching English to refugees to creating a successful photography business in New York's Catskills 12 years ago. Her style is a blend of lifestyle and documentary - focusing on all things warm, honest, and connected. Jill is also a coach and mentor to other photographers, with her main areas of focus being on pricing, marketing, and client experience And she hosts The Business Focused Photographer podcast. Be sure to listen for the episode where I am her guest. In This Episode, we explore The difference between lifestyle and documentary photographyWhy pricing is often a mindset challengeCreative ways to market your photography businessHow to identify and attract your ideal clients Free Gift Get Jill's profitability worksheet at: TheBusinessFocusedPhotographer.com/profitable Thanks for subscribing and sharing my podcast and YouTube channel with your photo friends! Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:  Website Email: luci@lucidumas.comInstagram FacebookYouTube 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.

    33 min

  4. Jun 3

    364: Building Wealth as a Photographer with Mycah Bain

    This episode is such an encouraging conversation about photography, money, and building a life that actually feels good. I sat down with photographer and business coach Mycah Bain to talk about financial freedom, mindset shifts, creating wealth without guilt, and why getting support in your business can completely change your life. Mycah shares how she grew her photography business into a multi-six-figure studio with a team of 10 women, all while creating more freedom, more peace, and more opportunity for herself and others. We also dive into money blocks, gratitude, investing, retirement, generosity, and the importance of women feeling empowered to build real wealth. This conversation felt equal parts practical, inspiring, and deeply honest. In This Episode Why women deserve to build wealth and financial freedomThe mindset shifts that helped Mycah grow her businessHow hiring help creates more peace, energy, and profitMoney blocks photographers often struggle withGratitude practices that can change your relationship with moneySimple ways to start planning for long-term financial freedomWhy generosity and wealth can beautifully coexist Free Gift Mycah created a free money mindset resource for photographers:  mycahbain.com/money   She’s also offering complimentary one-on-one chats for a limited number of listeners. Email her and mention Luci. hello@mycahbain.com  Memorable Takeaway “One moment of gratitude can completely shift your relationship with money.” This episode is a beautiful reminder that money doesn’t have to feel scary, selfish, or overwhelming. It can be a tool for freedom, generosity, creativity, and building the life you truly want. Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:  Website Email: luci@lucidumas.comInstagram FacebookYouTube 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.

    21 min

  5. May 27

    363: Turn Charity Events Into High Paying Photography Clients

    Have you ever donated a photo session to a charity event… and wondered if it was actually worth it? If you want to know how to get booked solid without competing in the online world, you will want to listen and take notes. Today, I’m sharing how I used charity auctions and giveaways to attract ideal clients who invest well and helped my photography business thrive—without discounting my value or feeling salesy. All while supporting causes I truly care about.   Back during the 2009–2010 recession, this approach helped me stay visible, attract ideal clients, and generate thousands of dollars in business. I’m breaking down exactly what worked, what didn’t, and how to make charity marketing feel intentional instead of exhausting. This episode is full of practical ideas, mindset shifts, and little details that can make a huge difference if you want charity events to actually support your business instead of draining it. In This Episode         •       How I used charity events to attract ideal portrait clients         •       Why the right event matters more than doing lots of events         •       My strategy for gift certificates, refundable deposits, and pre-qualifying clients         •       Simple display ideas that make your booth or auction table look high-end         •       Why every charity client deserves the same amazing experience as a full-paying client A Few Big Takeaways         •       Charity marketing works best when your ideal clients are already attending the event         •       A beautiful presentation and strong branding matter more than giving away “more stuff”         •       Sometimes one great charity partnership is worth more than ten random events         •       The goal isn’t just exposure — it’s connection, trust, and creating future clients   Memorable Reminder Supporting a cause and building a profitable business do not have to be opposites. When done thoughtfully, charity events can create genuine relationships, beautiful experiences, and real income for your business at the same time. If this episode sparks ideas for you, I’d love to hear about it. Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:  Website Email: luci@lucidumas.comInstagram FacebookYouTube 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.

    18 min

  6. May 20

    362: More Than Cute Babies: Newborn Photography That Sells with Karen Wood

    In this episode of The Profitable Photographer, I had such a delightful conversation with Karen Wood about the art and business of newborn photography….and the business of photography for any specialty. Karen Wood is an award-winning newborn photographer, educator, and speaker based in Dallas. She has photographed everything from sports and weddings to family portraits, but her passion today is newborn and maternity photography. Karen is also an associate with the Professional Newborn Photographers International and loves helping photographers improve their technical skills, safety practices, and client experience. What I especially appreciated was Karen’s calm, thoughtful approach. She has such a deep understanding of both the technical side of photography and the emotional side of serving families. Her wisdom around creating custom sessions and learning to truly “see” light was incredibly inspiring. In This Episode         •       How to safely soothe and pose newborns during sessions         •       Why custom, personalized experiences lead to higher sales         •       Common lighting mistakes photographers make (and how to fix them)         •       Why continuing education can dramatically improve your photography business Connect with Karen https://www.karen-laine.com/for-photographers Karen’s Free Gift Karen generously offered a complimentary 15-minute image critique/coaching session for a limited number of photographers. Just reach out to her through her website Memorable Takeaway Karen reminded us that success in photography often comes from slowing down, mastering the fundamentals, and creating a personalized experience that clients truly value. Whether you photograph newborns or any kind of portrait, learning to connect with people and refine your craft is what helps you stand out. Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:  Website Email: luci@lucidumas.comInstagram FacebookYouTube 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.

    21 min

  7. May 13

    361: The REAL Key to Photography Business Success with Marcin Rafalowicz

    I had such a great conversation with Marcin Rafalowicz in this episode of The Profitable Photographer. He’s incredibly smart, thoughtful, and inspiring, and we talked about so much more than photography. We dove into mindset shifts, perfectionism, confidence, AI, automation, networking, and what it really takes to build a profitable business without trying to do everything alone. One of my favorite takeaways: “Perfectionism keeps photographers stuck. Progress and consistency are what actually build businesses.” In This Episode: • Letting go of perfectionism • Using AI and automation to save time • Why mindset matters in business growth • The power of networking and relationships • Learning through failure instead of fearing it About Marcin Rafalowicz Marcin is a photographer, branding specialist, and business coach with 17 years of experience in weddings, portraits, fashion, and corporate photography. His work has appeared in publications including Vogue and Cosmopolitan through collaborative editorial projects. Today, he helps photographers build profitable businesses through mindset coaching, branding, marketing, automation, and AI systems. Connect with Marcin • ProImageAcademy.com/start  Special Free Gift Marcin is offering listeners a free business scoreboard assessment at ProImageAcademy.com/start to help photographers identify their strengths, biggest bottlenecks, and areas for growth. Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:  Website Email: luci@lucidumas.comInstagram FacebookYouTube 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.

    25 min

  8. May 6

    360: Bar Mitzvah Photography: Community, Connection & Consistent Referrals - Kimberly Olker

    On The Profitable Photographer with Luci Dumas, I’m joined by the wonderful Kimberly Olker for a conversation about pivoting, community, creativity, and building a photography business that can evolve with you over time. Kimberly has been a professional photographer for more than 20 years, specializing in Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and portraiture. She’s also a Master Photographer, Photographic Craftsman, educator, and recent winner of the top landscape image award at Imaging USA’s International Photographic Competition. We talk about: • What photographers need to know about photographing Bar and Bat Mitzvahs • Why community and referrals are everything in this niche • How Kimberly pivoted during the pandemic to continue serving families • Transitioning into fine art and landscape photography later in your career • Financial wisdom for photographers planning long-term success • Why creativity and adaptability matter so much as entrepreneurs Kimberly also shares beautiful insights about mentorship, service, and creating a business that supports both your life and your joy. One of my favorite takeaways from this episode: “Look for something beautiful… and even better, create it.” If you’ve ever wondered about photographing Bar Mitzvahs, transitioning into a new genre, or creating a business that gives you more freedom over time, this episode is full of wisdom and heart. You can find Kimberly at Olker Photography and learn more about her teaching, mentoring, and photography work there. And as always, I’d love for you to subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and connect with me at Luci Dumas Coaching. Connect with Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas:  Website Email: luci@lucidumas.comInstagram FacebookYouTube 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.

    27 min
See All (300)

4.9
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

Do you LOVE photography but feel totally overwhelmed trying to turn it into a real, money-making business? You're not alone — most photographers aren’t natural-born business pros. The creative part? Easy. But the business part...that’s where it gets tough. That is exactly why I created The Profitable Photographer. Every week, I bring you fun and heart centered conversations with top photographers and industry experts who share their best ACTIONABLE marketing and photography sales strategies, “inner game” shift tools that clear our roadblocks to success, and all the business wisdom they've learned along the way. Plus, I hop on the mic solo to share the ups, downs, and lessons from my own 40 years behind the camera (and behind the business). Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your already-successful photography business, (and have lot more fun) you’ll find honest talk, practical tips, and loads of inspiration to help you thrive — not just survive — as a professional photographer. So let’s dive in, get inspired, and build the photography career of your dreams!

Information

  • Creator
    Luci Dumas
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Profitable Photographer Podcast

You Might Also Like