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 impacted countless lives — not just through their lens, but through their warmth, wisdom, and connection.

Now they’re jet-setting across the globe, leading international photo workshops in dreamy destinations like Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, and Croatia. And you can join them!

In this episode, we dive into:

• The power of connection and relationship-building in portrait photography
• Why making clients feel seen, heard, and truly cared for is at the core of a thriving business
• How asking the right questions unlocks emotional impact and deeper client engagement
• A reminder that craftsmanship matters — solid skills + solid relationships = magic
• And so much more!

There is so much value in listening to photographers with decades of success. And this episode is a big, beautiful reminder that our greatest success comes when people know, like, and trust us. I know you are going to feel this way about Bert and Cindy

More about Bert & Cindy Behnke

Website: behnkephoto.com

Thanks for tuning in, beautiful humans! Your support means the world to me. Until next time, sending you a big heart full of love — and as always, keep doing what you love, loving what you do, and making this world a better place one portrait at a time.

With gratitude,

Luci Dumas

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.

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 thought about motivation, I kept coming back to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. You might remember it from a psychology class—it’s that pyramid of five human needs. It got me wondering: can understanding these levels help us reignite our drive when it feels like the spark is fading?

In this episode, I break down each level of Maslow’s pyramid:

• The basics like food and shelter.
• Our need for safety and security.
• The desire for connection and belonging.
• Building self-esteem and feeling accomplished.
• And finally, the quest for self-actualization—living our best, most fulfilling life.

I’ll share some thoughts on how these needs might be influencing your motivation—or lack of it. Plus, we’ll tackle that ever-present voice saying, “I should be doing more,” and decide if it’s always true. Spoiler: sometimes it’s okay to give yourself grace.

Some of the ideas on how to become or stay motivated I explore are suggestions to

• Identify the Blockages:
• Set Goals Aligned with Your Needs:
• Reflect and Reassess:
• Leverage Higher Levels for Inspiration

Tune in for a mix of self-reflection, practical tips, and maybe even a spark to get you motivated—or at least, to help you feel okay with where you are right now.

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 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 actually mean more opportunities—and more money
• How Ethan uses the built-in urgency of pregnancy to sell premium photography
• Why your ideal clients need to fall in love with your work before they worry about price
• How he handles being a male photographer in a mostly female industry
• The simple change to his inquiry form that increased his booking conversion by 20%

I especially loved talking about the idea that choosing a niche doesn't mean giving up everything else you love. Sometimes it's simply about deciding what you want to be known for.

If you've been trying to figure out your specialty—or wondering if specializing could help you build a more profitable photography business—I think Ethan's story will give you a lot to think about.

More info here: https://coloradomaternity.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.