How to Get More Portrait Clients with Dance School Photography | Susan Michal’s Proven Strategy

See Susan Michal live at Imaging USA 2026! Discover how veteran photographer Susan Michal, ‪@SusanMichal‬, uses dance school photography to build a steady stream of high-value portrait clients without spending money on ads. In this episode of The Professional Photographer Podcast, Susan shares her step-by-step method for turning volume dance school shoots into profitable portrait sessions, including how she books $2,800 fairy sessions and even $18,000 family portraits simply by showing up in the community. 🎯 Key Takeaways for Photographers: How to secure dance school photography contracts to generate predictable income. Strategies for converting volume clients into high-paying portrait clients. Building genuine community relationships that lead to ongoing bookings. How Susan’s “fairy sessions” turn dance school leads into premium sales. Why photographers need a “sure thing” pipeline for consistent revenue. If you’re a portrait, wedding, or freelance photographer looking to grow your business sustainably, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can start using immediately. Listen where ever you get your favorite podcasts: https://ppa.com/podcast #photographybusiness #PortraitPhotography #PhotographyMarketing #VolumePhotography #DanceSchoolPhotography #SusanMichal #ProfessionalPhotographer #PhotographyClients Connect with Pat Miller of ‪@BusinessingShow‬ ⬇ LinkedIn 🔗​   / jpatmiller   Website 🔗 https://www.smallbusinesscommunity.com/ Connect with Susan Michal ⬇ Instagram 🔗   / susanmichalportraitstudio   Facebook 🔗   / susanmichalportraitstudio   Website 🔗 https://www.susanmichalstudioandgalle... Book 🔗 https://www.amazon.com/Dancers-Motion... 00:00 – Introduction 02:35 – What Is a “Sure Thing” in Photography? 05:00 – From Weddings to Volume Photography 07:11 – Volume as a Predictable Revenue Stream 08:45 – How to Break into Dance School Photography 10:47 – Building Relationships Through Community Presence 11:41 – What Dance Schools Really Want from a Photographer 13:15 – Red Flags When Working with Dance Studios 15:36 – Turning Volume Clients into Portrait Clients 17:50 – Why Susan Delivers Photos in Person 18:58 – Conversion Rates from Dance Schools to Sessions 20:07 – All About the Fairy Sessions 21:26 – Gone Fishing: Fairy Sessions for Boys 22:41 – Including Older Kids in the Experience 22:56 – Free Senior Sessions for Dancers 24:25 – Expanding into Family Portraits & Big Sales 26:49 – Relationships that Grow with You 27:17 – Why More Photographers Don’t Do This 28:40 – How to Start Your Volume-to-Portrait Pipeline 30:30 – Band Kids Deserve Photos Too 30:50 – Conclusion Episode Highlights🎤💡: 11:08 – Photography Is a People Business 26:22 – Relationships Drive Sales 30:50 – Think Like a Business Owner Like, comment and subscribe for more content like this. Follow us on our other social channels 📲 Facebook 🔗   / ourppa   Instagram 🔗   / ourppa   Twitter/X 🔗 https://x.com/OurPPA/ LinkedIn 🔗   / ourppa   About PPA: Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the world's largest non-profit photography association organized for professional photographers, by professional photographers…and with over 35,000 creative members in more than 50 countries. Join at PPA.com here 👉 https://www.ppa.com About Imaging USA: Start your year energized at the premier photography conference & expo. Spark your creativity and learn new skills to grow your business alongside a community of fellow photographers. No matter where you are in your career, you’ll gain actionable insights that have a real impact on your business. https://imagingusa.com Get the latest content from Professional Photographer magazine here 📖➡ https://www.ppa.com/ppmag