The Spiro Podcast: Managing your Real Estate Photography & Videography Business

Just because something worked for your business five or ten years ago doesn’t mean it still makes sense today. Todd and Craig unpack the idea of the “legacy tax”—the hidden cost of decisions you keep carrying simply because that’s how you’ve always done things. From outdated pricing and unprofitable clients to old services, missed opportunities, hiring practices, and employees who may no longer fit where the company is going, they share real examples of legacy taxes they’ve paid in their own businesses. The challenge: if you were making the decision today with everything you know now, would you make the same choice? Chapters 00:00 — What Is the Legacy Tax?02:00 — Spiro Sync & Product Updates07:24 — Craig’s New Photographer: Training Update13:43 — The Hidden Cost of “We’ve Always Done It This Way”18:43 — How Inaction Creates Its Own Tax26:28 — Old Pricing, Loyal Clients & the Fear of Raising Rates33:17 — Are Old Services Still Worth Offering?36:08 — When Playing It Safe Costs You Growth40:22 — When People Become Part of the Legacy Tax46:36 — Find the Legacy Taxes in Your Own Business Resources Mentioned Spiro Sync 2027: spiro.mediaQuestions or episode ideas: [email protected]

Hiring another photographer can create the capacity your business desperately needs—but finding the right person is only the beginning. Todd and Craig share lessons from their own hiring experiences, including why client interaction can matter more than technical skill, when a contractor model may need to change, and how hiring too late can hold back an entire market. They also discuss training through real-world examples, explaining the “why” behind your standards, and giving new photographers enough time and repetition to become confident on their own. Chapters 00:00 — Hire for Personality, Train the Technical Skills04:34 — Bringing a New Photographer Onto the Team09:01 — Knowing When You Finally Need Help11:19 — Lessons From Craig’s First Two Hires20:27 — Finding the Right Person for the Market25:09 — When the Contractor Model Isn’t Working28:00 — How More Capacity Reignites Growth30:25 — The Cost of Waiting Too Long to Hire35:00 — Training Your Values in the Field38:26 — Your New Hire Is Always Watching You42:44 — Training Someone to Become Better Than You44:51 — Give Them the Time and Reps to Improve Resources: Spiro Sync 2027: Visit https://spiro-sync.com The REPP Conference: Visit https://repplaunch.com/repp2026 Questions or future episode ideas: [email protected]

Busy season can make your real estate media business feel flush—until the slower months expose what you failed to plan for. Todd and Craig break down how to calculate your true monthly spending, budget across an entire year, prepare for taxes and irregular expenses, and avoid making emotional purchases after a strong month. They also discuss saving for future vehicles, investing, giving, and why hiring a bookkeeper does not remove your responsibility to understand the numbers. Relevant Links: Spiro: https://www.spiro.media/ https://spiro-sync.com/ Contact Spiro: [email protected] Chapters 00:00 — Stop Making Financial Decisions on Emotion02:10 — Taking Time Away From the Business06:09 — Spiro Sync and the Danger of Isolation08:51 — Spiro API, MCP, and Revision Updates15:04 — The Busy Season Money Trap19:38 — Know What You Actually Spend Each Month27:21 — Why You Need a 12-Month Budget30:13 — Preparing for Taxes and Major Expenses32:41 — The Real Cost of Buying a Car40:07 — Saving, Investing, and Giving46:37 — Review Your Finances Consistently49:49 — You Are Still the CFO