Today Ete sits down with Doug Trace of Trace Photo Studio.

• About Doug
  • Professional photographer
  •  Husband and father of 4
  • South Jersey native
  • An "ideas guy"
  • An all-around highly creative person
• What helped him get to where he is today
  • Seeing the business and its challenges (angry mothers!) from childhood (2:25)
  • Taking a $20,000 pay cut to get into the industry and learn his craft (10:30)
  • Learning how to interact with clients (12:40)
  • Specific qualities and skills he learned from his parents (19:33)
  • A very supportive wife (28:55)
  • Believing that life will prepare him for the next step (39:44)
• Memorable learning experiences (mistakes) and hard things along the way
  • A downside of working for someone else: wage ceilings (10:14)
  • Working through family challenges (29:22)
  • Burnout (31:27)
  • Loving street photography "and then Covid happened" (37:00)
• Major Insights 
  • Learn to truly like your clients (12:56)
  • People often just need to be heard. Stop trying to make a point. (17:07)
  • Watch what's coming down the road: digital photography's impact on the industry (20:38)
  • Nail down the process and product so you can focus on the people. (33:26)
  • Use the unique resources and tools you have access to to differentiate yourself. You have everything you need. (43:38)
  • Be honest with yourself and others about your abilities and strengths (45:33)
  • You need to build a team of people who are "better than you" and not be intimidated by their abilities. (49:36)
  • Success = "finding what you're passionate about and being happy with it." (1:00:26)
  • "Take every single opportunity that comes in front of you, no matter how outlandish." (1:04:53)
• Miscellaneous Good Stuff
  • One time long-haired metal-band rocker. (5:05)
  • The truth comes out: "The youngest gets away with the most." (6:22)
  • Forget the brides, Momzillas are the real threat. (15:15)
  • "The scriptures are the Radiohead of the religious world." (1:06:50)
  • "Youth is a time bomb that goes off when you're 40." (1:09:06)