This Can't Be That Hard

Outsourcing doesn’t need to be limited to hiring an accountant or an editor! In this episode, Amy Sanusi and I chat about all the aspects of hiring and working with a studio manager - from where to find one to how to train and pay one. Whether you’re ready to start outsourcing yet or not, this conversation will help you understand the who, what, how, & when of that process so you can be ready...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Cara Burk and I talk about getting clients to consider and make the leap to a higher end product… in her case, family films. Is there a way to shift demand from a lower-priced product to a higher-priced one? Resources: New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources. Join our community! We'd l...

How we think about, talk about, and act when it comes to money can be the difference between a thriving business and a failure, but there’s a lot of emotional baggage that can cloud our vision, making the choices and challenges we face regarding money seem much more complicated than they need to be. In this episode, I’m offering a way to filter those thoughts that will bring clarity to how you thi...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, my TFN co-founder and (very) long-time friend Kate Thompson and I talk about how to rein in a business that’s gotten TOO multifaceted, and do so in a way that doesn’t destroy all the hard work you’ve done to get there. Kate is a wedding, family, and brand photographer based in Richmond, VA. Resources: New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to ge...

Of all the SEO experts I could’ve asked to come on the podcast, Sarah Landa got first pick. Why? Because not only is she an active SEO consultant with a client roster populated by friends of mine who RAVE about her services, she also happens to be a fantastic family portrait photographer herself, so she truly understands the ins and outs of getting recognized in a crowded field. Her superpower is...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Ashley Gliss and I talk about managing the lull that inevitably happens when you leave your full-time job. Even if you’ve planned for that lull financially, how do you plan for it emotionally? Is there a way to take advantage of that extra time without letting the transition panic take over? Ashley is a family photographer based in Greenville, SC. You can find he...

On March 1st, the Simple Sales Blueprint is getting its first major update since I launched it over a year ago. From the beginning, I’ve had filmmakers, wedding photographers, and documentary photographers asking if there was a way to apply the principles of Simple Sales to their business models, which is trickier than it sounds. Simple Sales was originally created as a portrait sales solution, an...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Tara Fjetland and I talk about launching your business in a new area. Is it better to start at a low price point and work your way up? How do you get new business in the door? And how do you adjust your business model? Resources: New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources. Join our community!...

I started my photography business in 2010, and went full time with it in 2011. In 2017, I co-founded The Family Narrative, which was - in a way - a second business, then in 2019, I launched This Can’t Be That Hard, which is now the business on which I spend the most time. As a three-business-running parent, you can bet I stress about the impact my work life has on my home life and my ability to sh...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Emily Hines and I talk about the why and how of diversifying your income as a photographer. What’s the best strategy when it comes to diversifying, and when should the different areas of your brand be kept separate or showcased together? Emily is a lifestyle family photographer based in Austin, TX. You can find her online here and here . Show notes: thiscantbetha...

We are photographers in a time when the people in our target market are both inundated with beautiful photographs and incredibly passive about the way they consume those photographs… it’s a tough spot as someone who needs to market their services! Today I’m going to talk about how one small (but consistent) action can help change the way people interact with your brand and your photographs, slowly...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Tiernae Salley and I talk about moving past your comfort zone and making the leap from part time to full time. How do you know when it’s the right time? Tiernae is a lifestyle family photographer based in Indianapolis. You can find her online here and here . Show notes: thiscantbethathard.com/podcast/081 Resources: New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com...

 Sabrina Gebhardt joins me on today’s podcast to talk about the difference between running your business and letting it run you. With a solid background in business before ever getting into photography, you’d think Sabrina would’ve hit the ground running on her own business… but just like most of the rest of us, it took a lot of floundering before she said to herself “Wait a minute, this shouldn’t...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Megan Lacy and I talk about the struggle of getting re-established… after a new move, a new baby, or - if you’re Megan - a bit of both. How can we navigate forward when so much is in flux? Show notes: thiscantbethathard.com/podcast/079 Resources: New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources. Joi...

Video is an extremely effective but also extremely underutilized tool when it comes to educating our photography clients, whether it’s before they’ve hired us, when they’re getting ready for their session, or when it’s time to purchase products. Today we’re talking about that first part, and how we can use video to help get noticed by potential clients noticed, make our brands stand out from the c...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Nikki Shefchik and I talk about not just the HOW of marketing, but the WHY… What is the real goal of marketing a photography business, and how can fine tuning your thoughts on the subject help you more effectively focus your efforts? Nikki is a lifestyle photographer based in Appleton, Wisconsin. You can find her online here and here . Show notes: thiscantbethath...

 Community is such an essential resource for any successful entrepreneur… no matter what we think, we actually CAN’T do it all alone!  Today I’m sharing a conversation I had this weekend with the core of my photography community… my ride-or-die ladies, Kate Thompson & Posy Quarterman . We’re chatting intentions and goals for 2021, the talks each of us is giving at our upcoming conference, The...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Melissa Dorman and I talk about tweaking the finer points of the SImple Sales System… specifically the pros and cons of adding more collections and the concept of sending a proofing gallery. Show notes: thiscantbethathard.com/podcast/075 Resources: New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources. J...

On January 7th, 2020, I officially launched the Simple Sales Blueprint for the very first time. I was brand new to online teaching, and having invested hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to get to that point, there was a lot riding on what came next. In celebration of the one year anniversary of that big day in my career, I’m sharing a few of the lessons I’ve learned about new ventures and...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Anouk Briere-Godbout and I talk about the mindset and strategies necessary to get some marketing traction when you’re brand new (never mind trying to do so in the midst of a pandemic). Show notes: thiscantbethathard.com/podcast/073 Resources: New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources. Join ou...

One of the perennial issues on almost any photographer’s to-do list is branding… whether you’re updating your website, fine-tuning your messaging, up-leveling your social media, or overhauling your visual branding (logo, etc.), all roads lead to your BRAND. On today’s podcast, photographer and branding expert Erica Benson talks us through her process and gives you actionable tips to help your bran...

Happy 2021, everyone! Before we get back to our regularly scheduled Mini Mentoring episodes, I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on what 2020 has meant and what I believe 2021 can bring in our businesses and our lives. Show notes: https://www.thiscantbethathard.com/podcast/071 Resources: New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free r...

On this, the last installation of the holiday special episodes for 2020, I’m sharing my guest appearance on We Are Photographers , the Creative Live podcast hosted by Kenna Klosterman. I’m a long-time fan of Creative Live and of Kenna, and her podcast is one of my favorites - the guests she chooses and the stories she explores are always so inspiring. Kenna and I go way back (see the video below f...

This past summer, I released a series of episodes about business alignment. Ensuring that all the parts of your business are aligned is an ongoing and ever-so-important task, so I thought I’d package up the first two episodes for you to listen to back to back, and re-post the freebie I created to go along with them. Show notes: thiscantbethathard.com/podcast/069 Resources: New to the podcast? Go t...

Today I’m sharing the replay of an interview I did with Vicki Knights and Eddie Judd over on their fantastic podcast Shoot, Edit, Chat, Repeat where we talked about how to respond to inquiries, why it's so important to educate your clients before they book (and the best way to do that), how to get a client to make a spending decision, and how collections are an important part of the sales pro...