Explore every episode of the podcast This Can't Be That Hard
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| 342- Outside-the-Box AI Ideas for Photographers with Jessica Martin | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:30:09 | |
We’ve talked a lot about AI on the show this year, but this week’s conversation might be my favorite take yet... because instead of talking about how to save time or write faster, we’re talking about how AI can actually make your work more creative and more personal. I’m joined by Austin-based photographer Jessica Martin, who’s using AI in ways that honestly surprised me. She’s building tools that help her connect more deeply with her clients; from personalized prompts that make her seniors feel seen to playful ideas that keep family sessions fun and interactive. Jessica shares how she uses ChatGPT to brainstorm and customize ideas, how she turns those digital concepts into real-world client experiences, and why she sees AI as a creative partner rather than a replacement. If you’ve been curious about AI but aren’t sure how to make it feel authentic or human, this episode will show you what’s possible when technology supports your imagination instead of competing with it. LINKS:
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| 341 - Celebrating Your Wins | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:15:45 | |
Gratitude is everywhere this time of year… but let’s be real: when you’re overwhelmed or frustrated or stuck in your business, gratitude can feel like just one more thing on your to do list. This week I’m sharing the simple shift I made to turn gratitude into something that actually fuels motivation - no journaling required. It’s one small addition to my weekly workflow that’s helped me see progress, stay grounded, and end the year feeling proud instead of frazzled. If you’ve been in a season where it’s hard to see the wins, this one’s a quick reset that’ll help you spot the progress hiding in plain sight. LINKS:
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| 332 - The Gathering Effect with Michelle Franzetti | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:43:59 | |
There are two kinds of marketing strategies most photographers think about: the kind that happens online, and the kind that - well - doesn’t happen at all. But there’s a third option, and it might just be the fastest, most effective way to build trust, get referrals, and create buzz around your business (without spending a dime on ads or fighting the algorithm). I’m talking about in-person events - IRL. Real people. Same room. Hold up now! Before you introverts scroll on by, hear me out... These don’t have to be fancy conferences or big productions. Today’s guest, Michelle Franzetti, is a boudoir photographer and self-described introvert who’s built a thriving word-of-mouth marketing engine through small, creative, low-pressure gatherings that consistently fill her calendar. With her background in Parks & Rec (yes, just like the show), she knows how powerful “the gathering effect” can be, and she’s here to share her playbook for making it work in your business. What you’ll learn: 🎉 Why casual gatherings can be your best marketing strategy 👯♀️ How events create trust and connection (even if you’re an introvert) 💡 Creative, low-cost event ideas that attract the right clients 🤝 Ways to partner with other businesses for win-win events 📅 Why putting a date on the calendar is the hardest (and most important) step Michelle is sharing everything you need to add this new tool to your marketing toolbox… one that gets you off the algorithm treadmill and into real connections that actually last. LINKS:
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| 242 - Same Day Sales | 12 Dec 2023 | 00:34:09 | |
Raise your hand if you've ever had a client ask to see their photos during a session... who hasn't!? Conventional wisdom tells us to encourage them to wait for the final, edited images before sharing, right? Well, today's guest is turning that advice on its head.
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| 241 - Unlock your Marketing Magic | 05 Dec 2023 | 00:23:44 | |
Standing out in the highly competitive world of photography can feel difficult or even impossible at times. Great photos feels like it SHOULD be enough, but it almost never is... so how can we market our businesses in a way that encourages people to book us on something OTHER than price?
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| 240: The Six Levels of Freelancing Life with Brian Hood | 28 Nov 2023 | 00:58:00 | |
Today we are zooming way out to look at the big picture journey of running a creative business. My guest is Brian Hood, host of the Six Figure Creative podcast, and he is breaking down the six levels of freelancing -what it takes to move from one level to the next, and what pitfalls to avoid along the way. Whether you're just starting out in photography or a seasoned pro, today's episode is going to give you some clarity about where you currently are in your business and what goals or steps you might want to set for yourself in the upcoming year. LINKS:
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| 239: How to Bring on Associate Photographers with Jill C Smith | 21 Nov 2023 | 00:29:03 | |
Today we're talking about what you do when you have more business than you can handle. Champagne problem? Maybe... but even if you're not there just yet, I want you to listen in... because this is a very real issue that EVERY photographer can benefit from! Jill C. Smith is on the show talking about how she built an associate program in her family photography business. She has 3 associates in her very busy photography business, and has cracked the code on exactly how to find and train your team, then use it to grow your business. Today she’s taking us behind the scenes on her process (and how - if you're still in the growing phase - you can flip this strategy around to build your confidence and your portfolio)! LINKS: Resources:
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| 238: Keeping Your Photos Fresh | 14 Nov 2023 | 00:23:59 | |
Working in a creative field comes with so many perks, but staying creative in the midst of the go-go-go busy season can be tough. Between the frenetic pace of the holiday season and the pressures of the end of the year, this is often a time when our creative well can start to run dry... at least MINE does. Never fear! I've got a system (of course I do!) for pulling yourself out of your photo rut. Tune in to hear how I keep my photos fresh all year long. Resources:
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| 237: My Son's Senior Portraits | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:19:22 | |
If you aren't familiar with LifeTouch, they are the ENORMOUS business responsible for most of the school portraits in the U.S. If you're based in America, chances are good that you've sat in front of a LifeTouch photographer at some point in your life... but the experience of buying photos from Lifetouch as a professional photographer and a mom has really put some things into perspective. As some of you know, this is my son Oliver's senior year, and he recently went to get his yearbook photo done by a LifeTouch photographer, and today, I want to walk you through that experience. You might not be surprised at what I discovered, but what I hope you take away from today is a sense of extreme confidence in the services we provide to our clients and the prices we charge for those services. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and your own experiences with school portraits in the Facebook group. Click the link below to join the convo. Resources:
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| 236: Neurodivergence and Inclusivity in Photography with Rose McAvoy | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:35:06 | |
On the list of ways we are constantly trying to improve our businesses, one thing that might get overlooked is building inclusivity and accessibility in our customer experience. 15% of the population identifies as neurodiverse and that number is growing every day. Today, Rose McAvoy is joining me on the podcast to share simple ways photographers can be more accommodating and accessible for our neurodiverse clients. (Side note: most of these benefit our neurotypical clients as well!) A big thank you to Rose for bringing this topic to the podcast and for this important conversation - I know you all will have so many great takeaways from it.
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| 235: 4 Ways to Use Loom In Your Photography Business | 24 Oct 2023 | 00:16:34 | |
If you haven't figured this out by now, I really like technology that can streamline my workflow..... but I really L-O-V-E me some technology that can also make me stand out in the crowd and add a little wow to my client experience. Which is why I'm dedicating an entire episode to one of my favorite pieces of software: Loom. (#NotAnAd, just a huge fan!) Today I'm outlining 4 specific strategies for incorporating Loom into your photography business that will not only help you save time, but also improve your SEO, boost your booking rates and make the communication part of your business a whole lot quicker and easier. I hope you find some takeaways you can start applying asap - I can't wait to hear which of these strategies you want to incorporate first! LINKS: Resources:
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| 234: Leveraging Podcasts to Grow Your Photography Business with Christina Lenkowski | 17 Oct 2023 | 00:40:18 | |
Whenever I poll photographers about what they need the most help with, the answer I get (by a factor of 10) is marketing. It seems everyone is always on the lookout for ways to stand out and get themselves in front of a bigger audience. But what if I told you marketing isn't the only way to do that? My guest today is Christina Lenkowski, a PR expert who specifically focuses on helping entrepreneurs and small business owners get featured on podcasts their ideal audience is listening to. And before you say you don't have anything interesting to talk about, I want you to listen to this episode! Christina is sharing unique ideas for how every small business owner can offer value to the right audience.... even you! LINKS: Resources:
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| 233: Rewriting the Rules of Your Photography Business | 10 Oct 2023 | 00:18:15 | |
How many times have you heard, "The customer is always right?" But that's not always true (and can get downright toxic in the photography business). Today I want to challenge some of the business advice we've all heard that I think may actually be harming your business. We all know how easy it is to get swayed by advice - especially when we're new or feeling unsure of ourselves - but I'm a big believer in listening to that inner voice when it's telling you something's off. My goal with this episode is to empower you to trust yourself and your process as a business owner. Resources:
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| 331 - The Future of Marketing with Dayna Schaaf | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:31:25 | |
Search algorithms are changing fast, but for once, the shift is in our favor. With Google rolling out AI summaries and clients turning to Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest for answers to their questions, the playing field is leveling in a way that creates huge opportunities for photographers. If you’ve ever wished the SEO game felt more fair - or that you didn’t have to post on social media quite so much - your wishes are coming true... but you have to understand the new rules in order to play the game. Dayna’s back to talk us through what’s changing, why this moment is a once-in-a-career opportunity for photographers, and how small tweaks to your workflow now can pay off in a big way. What you’ll learn: 🔎 Why AI summaries are changing Google results 📱 How people now search social for answers instead of Google 🛡️ What E-E-A-T means and how it impacts your SEO 📝 Why updated, helpful blogs beat old portfolio posts ♻️ How one researched blog can fuel your email, reels, and carousels for weeks Now is the moment to get ahead of the curve: create content that’s genuinely useful, let it work harder for you, and free yourself up to spend more time behind the camera. LINKS:
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| 232: Photographers using AI for SEO with Sarah Landa | 03 Oct 2023 | 00:33:00 | |
Unless you've been actively avoiding the internet, you've probably heard of ChatGPT and other AI tools that are (at time, controversially) becoming more mainstream. Since AI is probably here to stay, I wanted to bring on SEO expert Sarah Landa to talk about how photographers can utilize AI tools like ChatGPT to improve their SEO and content creation strategies. Sarah shares her experience warming up to AI after initially being skeptical and outlines some responsible ways photographers can leverage AI to generate blog post ideas, summaries, keyword research and more. Whether you're new to AI or want to refine your process, you'll come away with actionable strategies for using these tools to boost your photography business.
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| 231: Shameless Selling | 26 Sep 2023 | 00:12:12 | |
I often hear from photographers that they feel awkward asking for a sale. It's a common struggle but one we have to work through in order to be successful business owners. Today's episode is short and sweet - but it's super important. When you're done listening, I hope you'll be reminded and feel reassured that you ARE delivering real value through your work... and you should feel comfortable making offers to clients openly and honestly without apologizing! Resources:
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| 230: Communication Strategies for Difficult Clients with Melody MacDonald | 19 Sep 2023 | 00:43:27 | |
You know that feeling when you get crickets after delivering a gallery? Or even worse, when you get the "we need to talk" email from a client? GULP. Moments like those (while hopefully infrequent) can feel like a 10-alarm fire scenario... and knowing how to handle them can make or break your future relationship with that client. So I brought in an emergency expert to help us. With over 20 years as a 911 dispatcher, photographer Melody MacDonald is sharing some invaluable insights into effective communication strategies when dealing with difficult or emotional client situations. Melody talks about the power of active listening: how you can remain calm and non-judgmental when managing a client crisis, and how that can go a long way to preventing escalation.
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| 229 - Charitable Marketing with Nicole Begley | 12 Sep 2023 | 00:35:14 | |
One incredibly effective way to promote your photography business is through charitable marketing. Not only can you get connected with potential bluebird clients, but you get to give back to causes you care about at the same time. However, if you don’t have a solid, well-thought-out plan for your charitable marketing, it can be an enormous effort with little to no payoff. My guest today is Nicole Begley from Hair of the Dog Academy, who has been successfully leveraging charitable marketing to grow her pet photography business for the last 10+ years. She’s sharing the top 3 strategies she uses regularly, along with tips on how to effectively implement these strategies, such as choosing the right charities to work with, setting clear expectations, and having a solid sales and fulfillment process in place. If charitable marketing is on your to-do list, get out your notebook... this is an episode you’ll want to listen to twice.
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| 228 - Stories that Sell with Jude Charles | 05 Sep 2023 | 00:35:09 | |
Today’s show is like that first crisp fall day - cozy, nostalgic and full of inspiration. Jude Charles is an author and filmmaker who has produced stories for companies like Google and Steve Harvey... but Jude started out like a lot of us do: with a camera, a passion, and a desire to succeed. As visual artists and storytellers, Jude reminds us about the importance of what he calls “roadmapping” for clients - understanding their needs, creating a vision, and learning how to quickly and authentically build trust and connection. Pour yourself a cup of coffee (or tea!) and settle in for an uplifting conversation.
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| 227: Staying the Course with Briana Tresko | 29 Aug 2023 | 00:31:06 | |
Most photographers I know have had a tough year so far… I’m not sure whether it’s the post-covid bounce or the economy or something else, but inquiries and bookings have been down… pretty much across the board. The good news is that things look like they’re finally turning a corner, but if you are one of the people who have been feeling the strain in 2023, today’s conversation with Briana Tresko is going to hit home. Briana bravely said yes to coming on the show to talk about some ideas for what to do when you are hearing a lot of “let me get back to you’s” from your inquiries, without shooting your whole business plan in the foot.
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| 226: Mastering the High-Season Madness with Jaye McLaughlin | 22 Aug 2023 | 00:37:56 | |
If you are at a place in your photography business where the busy season means you're fully booked, you know how crushing it is when you have to turn people away. This week my guest is the brilliant Jaye McLaughlin, a family photographer in the New York metro area sharing her GENIUS strategy for managing the high client demand during the busy season - without having to turn anyone away! Jaye's been using this strategy for nine seasons straight, so she takes us through the core principles behind it, the ways it's evolved over the years, and the critical do's and don'ts to keep in mind so you can apply this in your business immediately! Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just starting, Jaye's insights are bound to leave you inspired and full of ideas. Grab your notepad and let's get started! Links: Resources:
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| 225: Auditing Your Website to Increase Bookings | 15 Aug 2023 | 00:19:02 | |
Your website is arguably the most valuable marketing tool you have as a photographer. From the moment a potential client lands on your site until they click the button to connect with you, your website is doing all the work of attracting and connecting you to that client. That’s a pretty big job, so in this episode, I want to walk you through a quick audit of your home page to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. I’ll dive into 6 key feelings your website homepage needs to evoke that will help lead prospective clients from curious to connection. Get out those notebooks and get ready to polish up your homepage! Resources:
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| 224: Finding Success as a Part-Time Photographer with Lydia Fine | 08 Aug 2023 | 00:27:15 | |
Last year my friend Erin Brown brought the term “purposely part-time” to the podcast, and the response was absolutely overwhelming. It turns out that many photographers are intentionally part-time in their businesses - for reasons ranging from other careers they don't want to give up to being home with their families after school - so that phrase has caught fire! Today I’m speaking with Lydia Fine - another purposely part-time photographer - about how she balances everything from mom life, to corporate life, to wife life, to photography life. Sometimes, what we need to hear is that we aren’t alone, so if you're purposely part-time and feeling judgment or pressure around the goals you have for your career, I hope you find comfort and a few great tips in this episode!
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| 223: Is a Mastermind Right for You? with Elena S. Blair | 01 Aug 2023 | 00:33:48 | |
If you’ve ever considered a photography mastermind group, you know that once you dip your toe in that water it can get overwhelming pretty quickly. How do you know which group is the right fit? What questions should you ask? What goals should you set? What results can you expect? The list goes on... Today I am talking with Elena S. Blair who has been a leader in the group coaching space for quite some time now. Tune in to hear the reasons she believes mastermind groups can be so transformative for photographers, and her best recommendations for finding the right group for you.
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| 330 - Networking like a Pro with Angelica Pompy | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:34:12 | |
In a world where we can market our businesses from behind a screen, it’s easy to believe that in-person networking is optional. But the truth is, nothing replaces the connections you make face-to-face. Meeting someone in real life makes you stand out in a way no post or DM ever could. People remember your energy, your personality, and the genuine conversation you shared. And those moments can turn into opportunities you’d never find online. In this episode, photographer, business coach, and all-around connection-builder Angelica Pompy is sharing three practical ways to network like a pro, even if you’re an introvert. These are strategies you can start using right away to stand out, meet the right people, and turn conversations into opportunities. Here’s what we cover:
Angelica also shares the story of how one event she almost walked away from turned into nearly six figures in revenue… proof that showing up can pay off in a big way! LINKS:
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| 222: You Aren't Charging Enough with Bonnie Sindelar | 25 Jul 2023 | 00:45:25 | |
Talking about the importance of pricing and sustainability is my jam, but I typically approach it from the "this is why it's important for YOU" perspective. The fact of the matter is that when enough photographers aren’t charging sustainable prices, it has major implications for the industry as a whole. Today's guest is Bonnie Sindelar. She’s a newborn and family photographer in Nebraska and the founder of Happily Ever Photo, a photographer directory where prospective clients can go to find their dream photographer. Bonnie brings a fascinating perspective on the photography industry as a whole and shares why it's so important that we value what we do, educate ourselves (and our clients), and most importantly, charge profitable rates.
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| 221: A Client's Perspective | 18 Jul 2023 | 00:25:42 | |
Ever wish you could peek inside your clients' heads and hear what they're thinking? Yeah, me too. Which is why I (finally!) decided to interview one of my own long-time photography clients about her experience as a client, and specifically her thoughts about my membership program. We (necessarily) spend so much time thinking about photography from our own perspective that it can be hard to put ourselves in our client's shoes. But if we want to be great at providing services our clients want, we should pay attention to what they need. Which is why I am so excited for this episode! I don't know why it took me over 200 episodes to bring one of my photography clients on the show, but it was definitely worth the wait!
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| 220: Lessons from 1,000 Students | 11 Jul 2023 | 00:26:04 | |
Mind: blown... there are now a thousand Simple Sales Blueprint students out there in the world! When I first launched the Blueprint back in January 2020, I had no idea whether anyone would be interested in my system, but in just three short years, Simple Sales has taken root and spread like wildfire in the photography world. As my education business has grown, I've gotten more and more questions about how I made that leap. Today felt like a good time to pull back to the curtain on that journey, and talk about the similarities and differences between running an education business vs. a photography business. I got into education because I felt like I had a lot of good insights about running a business, but no doubt: this new chapter has taught me even more. I think today's episode is valuable even if you're not interested in getting into education, but if you are, you won't want to miss it.
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| 219: Striving for Stability | 04 Jul 2023 | 00:17:52 | |
I started my photography business when my two kids were young, and in many ways, the business felt like having a third child. Just like having young kids, having a young business can feel pretty chaotic, and in both scenarios, when you're in it, it can be hard to believe you'll ever escape the chaos. But the chaos can and does end. Today I want to talk about a major but un-talked-about milestone in the "life" of a young business: achieving stability. I'm covering what it takes to get there, and why you should use it to set your goals and priorities in those all-important early years. Resources:
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| 218: Business Tip Road Trip | 27 Jun 2023 | 01:15:55 | |
Typically on this podcast, I deep dive on one topic per episode, sometimes with a guest and sometimes solo. But as we head into road trip season, I wanted to shake it up and give you something exciting and different to enjoy the next time you've got some extra time in the car (or on a walk or wherever else you listen to your podcasts)! For today's show, I reached out to a handful of my favorite photography podcasters and asked them to share their #1 business tips - and the response was amazing! Seven incredible podcasters jumped in with their best knowledge bombs to make this episode one-of-a-kind. You'll hear about everything from finances to SEO, mindset to time management, and more... Even better, each of these tips come with a freebie you can download, so be sure to check the notes and grab each one!
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| 217: Make it Easy for Them | 20 Jun 2023 | 00:11:14 | |
Want to increase your booking rate? Consider making it easier for your clients to say YES. I know that seems like a simple answer to a big problem, but the truth is that far too often, we overcomplicate the sales process, and when customers experience too many speed bumps in that process, we lose clients. Today I want to dive into what those speed bumps look like, because they can be sneaky! We'll talk about the small but significant issues that might be creating friction for your potential clients, and how can you smooth the road as much as possible so you can increase the percentage of new inquiries who say "Yes!" Resources:
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| 216: PR Made Easy with Gloria Chou | 13 Jun 2023 | 00:24:42 | |
Raise your hand if you'd like more publicity. I don’t know a single photographer who wouldn’t like a feature in a magazine or local news outlet to give them credibility and visibility. The million-dollar question is, how do you get yourself there?
Get your thinking cap on for this episode - it could just spark your next great idea. Resources:
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| 215: The Psychology of Time | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:17:43 | |
They say that time is money, but too many photographers take that far too literally, justifying their prices by pointing to how much time it requires (not to mention how much time it's taken them to learn their craft). I'm not saying time has no relationship with price, but the truth is that pricing art is much more complicated than - say - charging an hourly rate to clean someone's house or help them move. Today we're talking about the nuances of pricing psychology as it relates to time:
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| 214: Book More Clients with Brooke Jefferson | 30 May 2023 | 00:35:23 | |
Marketing your photography business can feel a lot like dating - you put yourself out there, write some cute content, and hope that the people you want to attract swipe right. On top of that, between algorithms, 3-second attention spans, and AI technology, it can feel darn near impossible to connect authentically with potential clients online. Brooke Jefferson is an expert at cutting through the noise and helping photographers connect with more of their ideal clients. Today she joins me to share some excellent advice on connecting with high-quality clients to grow your photography business. Resources:
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| 213: The Experiment Mindset | 23 May 2023 | 00:12:35 | |
I'm sure you’ve heard the saying "perfection is the enemy of progress," and today I'm sharing a story about how that can play out in real life. Sometimes we get so stuck in our ways - or so attached to doing things a certain way - that we end up with blinders on, stifling our creativity and limiting ourselves in business. Today's story illustrates how freeing ourselves up to be less than perfect can actually make us better - at art, and in business. If you need a little nudge to try out that idea you’ve been sitting on, this episode might be exactly what you need. Resources:
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| 329 - 4 Time-Saving Automations for Photographers with Melissa Rich | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:35:53 | |
Have you ever looked up from your inbox and wondered how the whole day slipped away? When you're a one-woman show, it’s easy to get buried in admin work, replying to leads, and coordinating schedules instead of doing the more meaningful work that lights you up. In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Rich, a former wedding photographer turned systems and workflow consultant, to talk about automation strategies that save hours each week without making your business feel robotic. Melissa shares her top three “quick win” automations that photographers can set up in an afternoon to make client communication smoother, scheduling easier, and booking faster - all while keeping things warm and personal. We cover:
Whether your business systems need a total overhaul or just a few strategic upgrades, Melissa’s advice will help you get more done with less stress. LINKS:
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| 212: Photographer's Nightmare Scenarios (and how they help us grow) | 16 May 2023 | 00:54:22 | |
I spend a lot of time on this show highlighting other photographers' greatest successes, brilliant ideas, and ah-ha moments, but we all know that with the ups come the downs. But the downs don’t usually get a lot of audio time, right? Mostly because we’d all like to forget our worst moments... but when we're IN our worst moments, sometimes it's nice to know we're not alone! This week, I've got a misery-loves-company-fueled show where I'm sharing one of my own horror stories, along with the biggest flops, failures, or freak-outs that some of my photographer friends were willing to share... and these do NOT disappoint! This is a fun one - you’ll probably laugh out loud at least once, and there are lots of good lessons to be learned here - so enjoy! @ashley_kaplan_photography Resources:
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| 211: Maximize Your Mini-Sessions with Alison Amick Brett | 09 May 2023 | 00:30:12 | |
When I stumbled across Alison Amick Brett's Little Llamas Portrait concept earlier this year, I immediately wanted to share it on the podcast. Alison is a Florida-based family photographer who wanted to reinvent mini-sessions in a way that combined them with playdates …. and Little Llamas Portraits was born! Little Llamas has been so successful that Alison is now fielding requests from other photographers around the country who want to essentially franchise her concept to put this system into place in their areas... a win/win if I’ve ever heard of one! Alison’s spilling all the details in today’s episode, but whether or not you're interested in playdate minis specifically, this is a great episode... her outside-the-box creative thinking is super-inspirational!
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| 210: The 3 Systems Mistakes Photographers Make | 02 May 2023 | 00:17:48 | |
Last week we covered the three systems that every photographer needs in their business. (If you haven’t listened to last week's episode, I recommend you go back and start there first!) Today I’m diving into the 3 biggest mistakes that photographers make when they set up those systems, how you can avoid them, and - most importantly - how you can optimize your system setups to help your business and customer experience run more effectively. Resources:
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| 209: The 3 Systems Every Photography Business Needs | 25 Apr 2023 | 00:20:35 | |
If someone asked you to quickly and clearly sketch out how your business works on the back of a napkin, could you do it? As soloprenuers, we wear so many hats that it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. But stepping back periodically is critical to make sure all that effort is serving you. Today, I’m kicking off this two-part episode by sharing the three systems every photographer needs for a functional business, then next week, we’ll dive into the most common mistakes and issues I see in those systems. Resources:
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| 208: A Better Way to Do Model Calls with Daisy Zimmer | 18 Apr 2023 | 00:37:58 | |
If you're a family photographer struggling to fill your calendar with ideal clients, you're going to want a notebook for this one. (No, seriously. I’ll wait. Go get one.) Daisy Zimmer is my guest today, and she's sharing a genius idea she came up with to reach new clients at a higher price point when she redesigned her business and switched to Simple Sales. Wanting to avoid the common pitfalls of model calls and inspired by the ambassador programs a lot of senior photographers run, Daisy launched a Family Ambassador Program, and today she's breaking down the entire process on the show. Spoiler: it was tremendously successful, both in terms of marketing her business and in building relationships with her Ambassador families. If you're looking for a solid plan to expand your business reach, then grab that notebook and join us!
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| 207: Diversifying Your Life with Nikki Closser | 11 Apr 2023 | 00:40:38 | |
Even though I meet so many different types of people working in photography, one thing I think we all have in common is our artistic souls. That little part of us that gets excited and inspired by many different things all the time. Right? On one hand, following every little idea you have can be problematic. You can spread yourself too thin, or become a jack of all trades (and a master of none). But on the other hand, following some of your different passions and ideas can be a really excellent way to not only satisfy your creative brain but also diversify your income and protect yourself from the inevitable ebbs and flows of small business. Today I’m talking with Nikki Closser, a personal branding photographer who has branched out into many different income streams (some closely related to photography and others less so). Her path has been anything but traditional, and I think this conversation will leave you bubbling over with ideas for how you might want to expand your business life as well.
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| 206: My New Favorite Productivity Tip | 04 Apr 2023 | 00:13:37 | |
Tell me if this sounds familiar: you write a to-do list for the day with the best intentions to make big strides on the project you are working on, only to blink and find that it's dinner time and you've only really accomplished a few menial tasks. Sigh. As the queen of procrasta-working (trademark pending), I've developed a strategy for myself that helps me focus my energy, accomplish the most important tasks each day and stay on track with my goals. If you struggle with this too, then today's episode is just for you my friend! Resources:
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| 205: Setting Yourself Up for Immediate Success with Elin Azganun | 28 Mar 2023 | 00:29:09 | |
Building a photography business is in itself a work of art and creativity - no two businesses look exactly the same. What I love about that is that it means we can all build our businesses to fit our lives. On the flip side, not having a clearcut path can make it difficult to strategize and grow. Elin Azganun is a new-ish photographer. She's been in business for just over a year now, but her story is somewhat unusual in that she came into the business of photography from a business background and with a ton of research about how she wanted to run her photography business under her belt. Today she's joining me to talk about how she set her business to be profitable from the start, and how that helped her avoid some of the growing pains new business owners often feel. I love Elin's story because while it's inspirational, it's also incredibly grounded and relatable. If you're in need of a good dose of motivation and encouragement, this episode will be the pixie dust you are looking for. Resources:
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| 204 - The Do's and Don'ts of Outsourcing & Automating | 21 Mar 2023 | 00:21:01 | |
If time is money (as the saying goes), then automation and outsourcing should be your two best friends. On the other hand, what often sets us apart in our small businesses are our personal touches and customer service, so many photographers (understandably) struggle to find a balance between personalization and profitability. Longtime listeners know that I'm a big fan of automating my workflow and outsourcing work where possible, but I balance that with personal touches that my ideal customers appreciate. Today I'm taking you behind the scenes of my own photography business to share exactly what I outsource and automate, and why. Then, I'll help you find a formula for figuring out what you can streamline in your business without sacrificing the things that make your business special. Links Resources:
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| 203: The Art of Fine Art School Portraits with Lindsey Turner | 14 Mar 2023 | 00:26:57 | |
When most of us think of school portraits we think about those awkwardly-posed artifacts of our youth, complete with plastered-on smiles and fake-laser backgrounds. And as a photographer, those are probably not the kind of photos that inspired you to get into business, right? Fine art school photography is gaining traction as an alternative to those cheesy school portraits, and Lindsey Turner is one of the lifestyle family photographers who has added it to her repertoire with great success. Today she joins me to talk about how and why she made that decision, the logistics behind it, and how in just 2 years it has grown to account for over 40% of her yearly revenue. If you are looking to grow your photography business, this episode just might inspire you to go-back-to-school and do just that. Links:
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| 328 - 4 Creative Ways to Increase your Value (and your Sales Average) | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:24:08 | |
When it comes to running a profitable, sustainable business, it’s not just about booking more sessions… it’s about building more value into the ones you already have. In this episode, I’m sharing four creative, (semi) low-lift ways to do exactly that, layering thoughtful, high-impact offers into your existing workflow. These aren’t gimmicky upsells or pushy pitches. They’re smart, strategic solutions that solve real problems for your clients... sometimes before they even know they have them. From headshots and pet portraits to photo clean-up services, family yearbooks, and legacy storytelling, these ideas are designed to increase your sales average and your client loyalty. They're not just about boosting revenue... they're about elevating the experience you provide and positioning yourself as more than a photographer. Resources:
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| 202: Cultivating Confidence with Sabrina Gebhardt | 07 Mar 2023 | 00:37:41 | |
When I think about what really helped me gain traction and success in my photography business, it wasn't any one program, tool, or even system. At the end of the day, what really helped me go from hobbyist to business owner was the willingness to bet on myself, over and over... even when it felt scary. Confidence (not to be confused with arrogance or irresponsible decision-making) is the unsung hero of small businesses, and it's something that a lot of artists - particularly female artists - struggle with. Today I'm chatting with my good friend Sabrina Gebhardt about why confidence is so important and how to cultivate it in your own business. Links:
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| 201: Seeing The Light with Caro Cuinet-Wellings | 28 Feb 2023 | 00:39:10 | |
If you've ever heard of the 100 Days of Light Challenge, then you know today's guest, Caro Cuinet Wellings. Caro started this challenge 7 years ago, and in that time, it has become a worldwide phenomenon. Caro's a source of constant inspiration to me as both an artist and a businesswoman, and I think the artist in you is going to sincerely enjoy this conversation about photography, art, publishing, and the human connection we find across continents and languages while pursuing similar goals.
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| 200: Ask Annemie Anything | 21 Feb 2023 | 00:43:19 | |
200 episodes of the podcast is a big milestone, so I wanted to do something a bit different! Today I'm answering all kinds of listener-submitted questions on everything from dealing with unhappy photography clients to the ins and outs of the education side of my business, to the scoop on my upcoming nuptials. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions - I was truly overwhelmed by the response! - and thank you for being a listener these last 3 years. I (literally) couldn't do it without you. A few things I mention in this episode:
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