Episodes

Welcome to a super informative episode of The Profitable Photographer with Luci Dumas! This week, I’m joined by longtime friends, industry icons, and master photographers Bert and Cindy Behnke — and oh, what a fun and insightful conversation we had! Bert and Cindy ran a 68-year-old, three-generation portrait business in the Chicago suburbs until they passed the torch in 2024. Specializing in fine portraiture and corporate work (with a big love for photographing families and women!), they’ve im...

Hey, it's Luci Dumas, and today’s solo episode is a little different because I am sort of “journaling” about my experiences around the topic and looking for my own answers as I explore a topic that’s been on my mind lately: motivation. Specifically, how we can find it, sustain it, and even question whether we always need it. Is it okay to just be sometimes? To live a simpler life without constantly striving for the next big thing? It's a big question, and one that I’ve been pondering deeply. As...

I loved this conversation with Ethan Herrold because he is such a great example of what can happen when you finally stop trying to photograph everything and decide to become known for one thing. Ethan founded Colorado Maternity Photography in 2019 after years of photographing landscapes, commercial work, and editorial images. Today, he specializes in fine art maternity photography in Denver—and has built a premium business around it. In our conversation, we talk about: Why niching down can ac...

This solo podcast episode is about partnering with other businesses and non-profits to draw amazing photography clients to us, by creating alliances. I share a photography "thank you gift" program that benefits the other business that has a similar perfect client base, and brings them right to your door. Woo hoo! The number one question I hear over and over, from new photographers and those in the business for many years, is how to attract ideal clients... people that will love what we do, be w...

In this episode of The Profitable Photographer, I reconnect with master photographer and educator Courtney Ranck-Copher to explore why so many photographers resist selling wall art and how to move through that fear. Courtney shares her journey from acting and the military into photography and education, and how stepping into teaching has pushed her outside her comfort zone. Together, we unpack the biggest roadblocks to wall art sales—intimidation, not knowing what products to offer, confusion a...

One of my favorite things about hosting this podcast is meeting photographers who remind me why I fell in love with portrait photography in the first place. My conversation with William Laurence Bell did exactly that. William has such a heart for serving people through his art, and I know you'll be inspired by the way he creates portraits that help people see themselves with greater confidence, purpose, and dignity. About My Guest William Laurence Bell is a portrait artist, educator, and speak...

Welcome back to another fun and informative episode of The Profitable Photographer Podcast! We are so excited to have fellow Photography Business Coach Heather Chesky here to spread her biz wisdom! Heather has some incredibly practical, tangible, and INSPIRING advice for you and your photography business, so now’s the time to listen up! For Heather, it all started over 20 years ago in her high school photography class. While she has always kept photography close to her heart as a hobby, she wa...

I love meeting people who are super successful in a field I have not tried myself. In this case, the specialty is high end Real Estate Photography and my guest, Jonathan Lee, is a professional photographer, educator, and retired Navy instructor based in Northeast Florida. He's a Certified Professional Photographer, PPA Master Craftsman, PPA Councilor, and a three-time Imaging USA speaker. Through JW Lee Media, Jonathan has built a thriving real estate and commercial photography business while h...

I had so much fun talking with Javon Longieliere. From the moment we started, it felt like I was chatting with an old friend. We laughed, shared stories from our careers, and explored something I'm passionate about—creating photography experiences that are just as meaningful as the finished portraits. Javon reminded me that our greatest gift as photographers isn't just taking beautiful pictures; it's helping people feel seen, comfortable, and connected. Those are the moments that become family l...

This conversation with Zoe Martin touched my heart in such a deep way. Zoe is the founder of Moments by Zoe Martin, where she creates luxury legacy storytelling experiences that preserve not just faces, but voices, stories, and emotional inheritance for generations to come. After losing her sister to breast cancer, Zoe was inspired to turn her grief into something meaningful—helping families capture the people and stories they never want to lose. This episode is a beautiful reminder that legacy...

Some people come into your lives and change everything. Today's episode is a conversation with one of the most inspiring and magnetic people I have been lucky enough to know. She was my coach, mentor, friend, guest, and client. She passed away last week, and I hope that revisiting this conversation will inspire you as much as she inspired everyone who knew her. About this interview... I think it’s safe to say that at some point we’ve all felt a little bit stuck…in our comfort zones, in our pho...

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 hav...

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. Rache...

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 ...

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 oppo...

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...

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 Photograp...

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...

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 Interna...

In this solo episode, I’m talking about something so many photographers and creatives struggle with: learning to separate our work from our worth. It’s easy to believe that if clients love our images, we are lovable… and if they don’t book, buy, or question our pricing, somehow we’re not enough. The truth is: your value is inherent. It is not determined by sales, praise, bookings, or outside validation. In this episode, I share personal stories—from selling bouquets made from my neighbors’ f...

I was really excited for this conversation with Jamar Jones—and it did not disappoint. He’s the real deal when it comes to branding, mindset, and building a business that actually grows. He was a featured speaker at PPA’s Imaging Expo this year and got rave reviews. Author of the book Change Your Circle, Change Your Life AND host of The Foureva Podcast. In this rich conversation, Jamar shares how he went from music to photography and videography, and then into business advisory. This journey i...

I was so jazzed to have a conversation with Ashley Lowder, a boutique newborn and maternity photographer and educator in Huntsville, Alabama. It was fantastic! She shares how she built a highly profitable business by focusing on exceptional client experience, not just taking pictures. Ashley walks us through her concierge-style approach—from the first phone call to visiting clients in their homes, helping with wardrobe, and even installing artwork on their walls. It’s all about creating somethi...

Chris Wooley, M.Photog., Cr., CPP, F-PPW—also known as The Photo Professor—is one of those people who makes you think differently in the best way. He’s a photographer, educator, and President-Elect of the American Society of Photographers, and he’s built his career around helping photographers make smarter, more intentional decisions. And honestly… that’s what this whole conversation is about. We talked about how every part of our work—lighting, lens choice, pricing, sales—is really just a ser...

In this solo episode, I explore the heart of photography—light. Inspired by the idea that “lighting is the love language of photography,” I delved into my passion and knowledge of light and lighting…and shared how light has the power to transform ordinary moments into something emotional, artistic, and truly unforgettable. This isn’t just about technique—it’s about learning to see light, shape it, and use it with intention. Luci also breaks down how light and shadow work together to create dept...