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

Scaling a media company can feel overwhelming—but many of the biggest problems come from decisions that seem reasonable in the moment. In this episode, Craig and Todd break down seven things Todd no longer does when growing a real estate media business. They cover why customer service matters more than camera experience when hiring, how to coach struggling employees without solving every problem for them, and why underperformers need clear, direct feedback. They also discuss training photographers, responding to pricing pressure, saving video shoots when listings sell quickly, and addressing difficult issues with top clients before they become bigger problems. Each lesson comes from a mistake Todd has made himself, giving business owners practical ways to scale with less fear, better communication, and stronger systems. Relevant Links: Spiro:https://www.spiro.media/ Contact Spiro:hello@spiro.media Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Cold Open – Hire for Customer Service, Not Just Camera Skills 0:55 Welcome to the Spiro Podcast 1:31 Perspective, Gratitude, and Defining What Success Means 6:30 Introducing “7 Things I Never Do When Scaling a Media Company” 7:29 Spiro Updates: API Beta, MCP, Scheduling, and @Mentions 14:02 #1 – Never Hire for Camera Experience Over Customer Service 22:36 #2 – Never Do the Homework for a Struggling Employee 29:53 #3 – Never Guess Whether an Underperformer Knows They’re Failing 37:26 #4 – Never Train the Art of Photography 45:18 #5 – Never Make Knee-Jerk Price Cuts for the Wrong Clients 53:46 #6 – Never Let a Fast Sale Cancellation Kill a Video Shoot 56:53 #7 – Never Avoid the Elephant in the Room with a Top Client 1:03:07 Final Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up

You finally hire help—and then immediately wonder why they don’t work exactly like you. In this episode, Craig and Todd talk through one of the hardest parts of growing a real estate media business: trusting other people with something you’ve spent years building. They discuss unrealistic expectations, employee mistakes, incomplete training, the “owner trap,” and why growth often feels like a collection of small problems hitting all at once. Todd also shares how strong SOPs, clearly defined core values, and a genuine investment in your employees can help you build a team that takes ownership, makes good decisions, and eventually improves the business even when you aren’t there. Relevant Links: Spiro:https://www.spiro.media/ Contact Spiro:hello@spiro.media Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Cold Open – Expecting New Hires to Perform Like the Owner0:51 Welcome to the Spiro Podcast1:41 Introducing the Growing Pains of Building a Team3:07 Spiro Updates: Open API and Internal Communication5:07 The Paradox of Growth and Letting Go6:26 Remembering How Bad We Were When We Started12:13 Hiring, Training, and Unrealistic Expectations17:04 Mistakes Are a Sign That Your Business Is Growing23:01 Escaping the Owner Trap and Learning to Trust25:59 Creating a Team That Improves the Business Without You29:04 Defining the “Secret Sauce” You Expect Employees to Follow35:13 Turning Problems into SOPs and Training36:55 Appreciating How Far Your Business Has Come38:53 Why You Can Never Be Finished Building SOPs41:07 Using Core Values When the Handbook Has No Answer46:02 Helping Employees Build Their Own Long-Term Success48:48 Whose Goals Matter More: The Employee’s or the Company’s?53:56 Action Steps: Train Better and Pour Back Into Your Team56:40 Final Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up

No clickbait here. No promises that business will be easier the better you get. In fact, it will most likely get harder the better your get in business. Todd and Craig talk about what to expect as your business grows and gets better at what it does. How do you approach the harder challenges? What's the payoff for sticking with it? Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Episode Open 03:08 Spiro Updates 06:12 It's Harder the Better You Get 44:14 Episode Wrap-up

Todd, Craig & Nick talk with those that came to the first ever Spiro Sync Conference in Dayton, OH. What were people's impressions? What were the biggest takeaways? Watch or listen to hear what you missed. We hope we can see you next year! Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Episode Open 02:35 Spiro Updates 03:34 Spiro Sync Venue Highlights 13:00 Attendee Impressions & Takeaways 35:27 Summary Thoughts 43:01 Episode Wrap-up

Strong systems don’t just organize your business — they change how it performs. In this episode of the Spiro Podcast, Todd and Nick, CEO & Co-Founder of Titus, sit down with Logan Stewart, Owner of Drone Digital. Logan shares how implementing Titus transformed his day-to-day operations, improved efficiency, and helped him scale with more confidence and clarity. The conversation explores real-world use cases, operational growing pains, and how the right systems can remove friction, reduce overwhelm, and unlock sustainable growth for real estate media businesses. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Episode Open & Introductions4:35 Todd Introduces Nick, CEO and Founder of Titus11:55 Todd Introduces Logan, Owner of Drone Digital14:20 Operational Changes & Immediate Impact22:10 Scaling with Confidence and Clarity30:05 Reducing Friction Through Better Systems38:40 Advice for Media Owners Considering Titus46:10 Final Takeaways & Episode Wrap-Up Contact Titus: gotitus.com

Broker deals are often seen as a fast track to growth in real estate media—but are they always the right move? In this episode, Todd and Craig sit down with Scott Golmic to explore a different perspective on broker relationships and long-term business strategy. Scott shares his experience navigating broker partnerships, protecting client ownership, and building a sustainable media business without sacrificing independence. The conversation also touches on scaling thoughtfully, setting boundaries, pricing with confidence, and using systems and technology to support growth while avoiding burnout. This episode is a must-listen for media professionals who want to grow smarter—not just bigger. Want to connect with Scott? Check out his social accounts at: Instagram (personal): @scottgolmicInstagram (business): @therealestateographers Chapter Timestamps 0:00 Episode Open & Overview2:30 Spiro Updates6:10 Introducing Scott Golmic9:00 How Broker Deals Typically Work14:40 A Different Spin on Broker Relationships22:30 Client Ownership & Long-Term Leverage30:20 Scaling Without Losing Control38:45 Pricing, Value, and Saying No46:30 Systems, Tech, and AI in a Growing Business55:40 Where to Find Scott & Episode Wrap-Up