Episode 3 | The One Behind the Lens
Hosted by Kate DeCoste
Guest: Renee Bowen
Total Length: ~55:00
Inside the episode:
In this episode of The One Behind the Lens, Kate sits down with photographer, coach, and podcast host Renee Bowen to dive deep into the world of sustainable pricing, full-service photography, and the mindset shifts that make it all possible.
📌 What You’ll Learn
Renee’s path from psychology grad to full-time luxury photographer
The mindset shifts required to charge premium prices
Why pricing struggles are often tied to self-worth
How to transition into full-service photography (and why it works)
Tips for maintaining boutique pricing across different offerings
The difference between mentoring and coaching—and how both can help
🕒 Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome back! Meet Renee Bowen—photographer, coach, and creative entrepreneur
2:00 – How Renee got into photography (and what her childhood had to do with it)
4:00 – The story behind her first camera + photographing her son with autism 7:00 – From headshots to seniors: discovering her niche in SoCal
9:30 – Why Southern California wasn’t doing senior photos (and how she changed that)
11:00 – Seniors Ignite, We Are the Scene, and her start in mentoring
13:00 – The surprising emotional work underneath most business coaching
16:00 – Pricing struggles: why creatives tie money to worth
18:00 – Pricing mindset shifts for full-service success
20:30 – Renee’s business structure: minimums, session fees, and pricing with intention
23:00 – The moment she decided: “If this doesn’t work, I’ll go work at Starbucks” 27:00 – Burnout, balance, and betting on herself
31:00 – Mindset > strategy: why your brain has to be on board for your business to grow
33:30 – Why halfway effort equals halfway results (and how coaching helps) 36:00 – Customizing pricing based on market, values, and alignment
39:00 – What to expect in a sales session—and why silence is a sales superpower 41:00 – Listener Q: How do you price digital-only branding sessions vs full-service portraits?
45:00 – Why transparency and education make a pricing model work
47:00 – Inside Renee’s coaching offers: Elevate group, 1:1 mentorship, and courses
50:00 – Building a safe space for women to grow, cry, and be real
53:00 – The podcast that started it all: Tried and True with a Dash of Woo
54:30 – Where to find Renee online + one final mic drop on creative freedom
💾 Resources & Links:
🎧 Renee’s Podcast: → Tried and True with a Dash of Woo
📸 Coaching & Membership Info: → ReneeBowen.com/coaching
🎓 Join Elevate (Renee’s coaching group for experienced photographers) → Applications open twice a year – July and January
Follow Renee :
👉 Freebie from Renee: (Mainly for senior photographers, this canva doc is packed with valuable, up to date info that any photographer can use to go MAKE some clients!) How to get clients
✨ Quote Highlight:
“Money is just an amplifier. It’s not about the price—it’s about your worth.” – Renee Bowen
🔁 Try This: Your 3-Part Pricing Reset Challenge
Audit your time. Where is your energy actually going?
Audit your numbers. What do you need vs. want to earn?
Audit your beliefs. What story are you telling yourself about money—and is it even yours?
Raise your prices
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