Scaling a Youth Sports Photography Business

Join PhotoDay Ambassador Donnie Dahlen of Donnie Dahlen Photography as he shares how he grew his business from approximately $20,000 a year to $300,000—allowing him to leave his nursing career and pursue photography full time. Donnie now photographs around 80 organizations each year while remaining actively involved with his wife, six children, and several of his kids’ sports teams. In this webinar, he’ll break down the systems, automation, and streamlined workflows that helped him scale without sacrificing the time and freedom he was working toward. You’ll hear candid lessons from his transition, how he built an efficient high-volume sports photography process, and what he would tell photographers hoping to make the same leap. Whether you’re ready to go full time or simply want to build a more profitable, sustainable studio, Donnie’s experience will give you practical ideas for your next stage of growth.

What would it take to grow your photography business to 21 times its current size? Join PhotoDay Ambassador Rocky Thompson of SplitRock Photography for a practical look at how photographers can build a scalable volume photography business—whether you’re starting with a few shoots a year or already feeling the limits of running everything yourself. Rocky will share the strategies that helped SplitRock grow from a one-person operation into a multi-employee studio in just six years. You’ll learn how to replace time-consuming manual processes, create workflows that can support increasing volume, recognize when it’s time to hire, and evolve from working in your business to building a business that can grow beyond you. You’ll also hear the lessons Rocky learned along the way, including what he would do differently and the challenges photographers should prepare for as their studio expands. If you want to book more organizations, operate more efficiently, and build a photography business capable of supporting a full-time team, this webinar will help you identify your next steps.