What if picture day wasn't a stressful, time-consuming obligation, but one of the most profitable and impactful parts of your studio?

In this episode of Transform My Dance Studio, Olivia Mode-Cater sits down with studio owner, entrepreneur, and founder of Dance Photo Pro, Hilary Parnell, to completely reframe how studio owners think about dance photography. With over 25 years of experience, $3M+ in studio revenue, and hundreds of studio owners coached, Hilary shares how she turned a frustrating, low-value experience into a scalable revenue stream and how you can do the same.

From losing money during picture week to generating $5,000–$50,000 in revenue, this episode breaks down how bringing photography in-house can transform not only your finances, but your branding, customer experience, and retention. If you've ever felt like you're doing all the work while someone else walks away with the profit, this conversation will change how you see picture day forever.

What You'll Learn:

• Why most studios lose money on picture day (and how to fix it)

• How to generate $5,000 per 100 students in photography revenue

• The biggest mistake studio owners make with picture day mindset

• Why photography is a branding and marketing tool

• How to create a better customer experience through photos

• Ways to turn picture day into a culture-building event

• How to use photos for social media, enrollment, and retention

• The system behind running photography in-house (without being a photographer)

• How to layer photography into events, camps, and premium offers

• Why owning your images gives you full control of your brand

Hilary Parnell is the owner of Academy for the Performing Arts and Preschool for the Arts in Apex, NC, where she has led and grown her studio for over 20 years. She has taught over 10,000 students, scaled her business to over $3M in revenue, and coached hundreds of studio owners. She is also the founder of Dance Photo Pro and Dancers In Balance, helping studio owners create profitable, balanced businesses through smart systems and leadership.

For more information visit dancephotopro.com

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