The Systems and Workflow Magic Podcast

January can feel like a weird, quiet, and sometimes panic-inducing month for family photographers. In this episode of The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast , I’m breaking down three specific marketing seeds you should be planting in January— so you’re not scrambling later in the spring. If you’ve ever wondered: “Is January just a dead month?” “Should I be pushing people to book right now?” “ Ho...

In this episode of The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast , I’m sitting down (coffee + Christmas décor still up, of course 😉) to reflect on what I’m genuinely looking forward to in 2026 . This isn’t a tactical systems or marketing episode — it’s a slower, more personal conversation about growth, faith, business pruning, family rhythms, and giving yourself permission to pause. If you’re a family...

As we close out the year, I wanted to pull back the curtain and share exactly how I’m doing my end-of-year business review — and how I’m planning for 2026 without trying to plan an entire year in one weekend . Whether you’re watching this episode on YouTube or listening on your favorite podcast player, it's designed to give you permission to plan realistically , not romantically. I’m walking you t...

If you’re listening to this episode around the holidays (or WHENEVER you are listening in to this), I want to encourage you to do something that will instantly bring more clarity into your business for 2026 (and for ANY YEAR):  forecast your business expenses . In this episode of The Systems and Workflow Magic Podcast (also available as a YouTube video), I’m pulling back the curtain and showi...

Big reminder, friend: if I were your marketing advisor for your family photography business, I would absolutely have you working on your February Valentine’s mini sessions in December —yes, while everyone else is still wrapping gifts and closing out their holiday minis. This episode (originally recorded as a YouTube video and repurposed as a podcast) walks you through how to think like a marketer,...

Big news, friends! We are officially heading into a brand new year of marketing, and if you’re a family photographer still relying only on Instagram (or whatever the next trendy platform is), this episode is your gentle nudge: it’s time to bring email marketing into your 2026 strategy. In today’s episode— which originated as a YouTube video —you’ll learn why email marketing continues to outperform...

If you’re a family photographer who’s ready to simplify your systems, strengthen your marketing, and finally feel organized heading into a new year, this special Black Friday episode is for you! In this behind-the-scenes catalog-style walkthrough, I’m breaking down every single deal happening November 24–28, 2025, inside Dolly DeLong Education. Whether you're watching this on YouTube or listening...

Ever look at another family photographer who’s booked out months in advance and think, “What are they doing that I’m not?” Spoiler: it’s not talent, it’s not the “oversaturated market,” and it is definitely not that you’re not good enough. This episode (originally recorded as a YouTube video and repurposed into the podcast) breaks down the eight core foundations —or “cogs”—that keep your family ph...

Big news, family photographers.. the holidays are almost here, and now is the perfect time to start planting those SEO seeds for next year ! In this episode, I’m sharing four blog post ideas you can start writing right now to help your photography business get discovered on Google (and yes, even in ChatGPT searches!) long after the holiday season. Whether you’re a family photographer, newborn phot...

Have you ever visited a business online and couldn’t tell if they were still open—or if they’d shut down years ago? 😅 This episode was inspired by Dolly’s recent family fall break trip to Buffalo and Rochester, New York, where she experienced that very frustration firsthand! Whether you’re a family photographer, a creative entrepreneur, or a small business owner, you might be unintentionally putt...

Ever wish your client workflow could run a little more smoothly — without you spending hours managing inquiries? In this behind-the-scenes episode, I’m sharing the exact automation that saves me hours every week as a Nashville family photographer. You’ll get a step-by-step look at how I connect Dubsado, Zapier, and Trello to automatically organize new client leads — so nothing falls through the cr...

Ever wondered what it really takes to host a virtual summit? In this episode, I’m joined by my friends Bekah Read and Mara Kucirek to pull back the curtain on our 2025 Black Friday Summit. Together, we share a full launch debrief—what worked, what didn’t, the data behind 758 signups and 137 All-Access Pass sales, and the behind-the-scenes life moments that happened while running this summit as bus...

It’s officially Q4 of 2025—and if you’re a family photographer, you’re probably deep in busy season. But here’s the truth: now is also the perfect time to plant seeds for 2026 with long-form content that keeps working for you long after the editing rush is over. In this episode (repurposed from my YouTube channel), I’m sharing three SEO-friendly blogging ideas you can batch out this October to att...

Are family photographers ready to simplify and automate the backend of their business? In this episode, I’m breaking down the very first step in your client experience: your contact form. Instead of relying on the standard form that comes with your website template, I’ll show you how to replace it with a Dubsado lead capture form so that new inquiries automatically flow into your CRM—saving you ti...

Are you a service-based business owner already thinking ahead to Black Friday 2025? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I prepare months in advance, specifically, how I segment my email audience as early as August, so I know exactly who to promote to by November. I’ll walk you through how I’m using Flodesk (my email service provider) and Showit (my website host) to create smart se...

Big news, friends—Black Friday doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or chaotic! In this behind-the-scenes episode, I’m sharing how I’m simplifying my own Black Friday 2025 plan for my photography business and using one clear content strategy: repurposing long-form content to strategically prime my audience ahead of my offer. If you’ve ever felt like you’re throwing spaghetti at the wall with your mar...

Are you actually using the real words your clients are typing into Google when they’re searching for a photographer like you? In today’s episode, I’m showing you a simple tweak you can make to your contact form that helps you discover the exact keywords your clients are already using to find you. This small backend shift in your CRM (like Dubsado or HoneyBook) can completely transform how you appr...

Big news, friends...Flodesk and ThriveCart finally released a direct integration, and it’s a total game-changer for small business owners! In this episode, I’m walking you through how the new Flodesk + ThriveCart integration works, why you no longer need Zapier to connect the two, and how this update can save you both time and money in 2025. Whether you’re a family photographer , a creative educat...

If you’re in the first few years of running your small business, chances are you’ve felt buried under all the noise—everyone telling you which tools to use, which platforms to be on, and which strategies are “must-dos.” That overwhelm doesn’t just waste your time; it can keep you stuck and prevent you from making real progress. That’s why in this episode, I’m cutting through the noise and sharing...

In episode 197, Dolly sits down with Mara and Bekah to share the behind-the-scenes story of why the three of us have teamed up to host the Black Friday 2025 Virtual Summit and how it can help your business prepare with actionable strategies for the busiest sales season of the year. To read the blog post that goes with this podcast episode, click HERE 🎟️Get your free virtual ticket to the Black Fri...

In Episode 196 of the Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast, I chat with Rebekah Read (Bekah) about how to optimize your Black Friday sales page using SEO and AI so your offers are searchable, compelling, and ready to convert in 2025. To read the ENTIRE blog post that corresponds with this podcast, just click HERE 🎟️Get your free virtual ticket to the Black Friday 2025 Summit: https://blackfridaysu...

🎟️Get your free virtual ticket to the Black Friday 2025 Summit: https://blackfridaysummit.com/ In this episode, Mara Kucirek shares why putting everything on sale for Black Friday often backfires and reveals her simple, proven strategy to help you sell more without overwhelming your customers. To read the entire blog post with resources & links mentioned, click here Resources & Links 🎟️Get...

🎟️Get your free virtual ticket to the Black Friday 2025 Summit: https://blackfridaysummit.com/ In this episode, copywriter Amy Hanneke shares how to simplify your sales page so it actually converts—just in time for your Black Friday offer. Read the ENTIRE blog post HERE Resources & Links 🎟️Get your free virtual ticket to the Black Friday 2025 Summit: https://blackfridaysummit.com/ 🎉 Emails ne...

🎟️Get your free virtual ticket to the Black Friday 2025 Summit: https://blackfridaysummit.com/ In this episode, I’m joined by Mara Kucirek and Rebekah Read as we chat with Kate Doster about how to use a private audio course to grow your Black Friday waitlist, deepen audience connection, and confidently stand out during a busy launch season. Read the ENTIRE blog post HERE Resources & Links 🎟️Ge...

In this episode, I sit down with Joyce Hamilton of Only Boldly to discuss how busy business owners can utilize AI to prepare for Black Friday with strategy and intention. Joyce shares how she utilizes tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm content, map out her launch plans, and create more efficient systems that actually save her time, both as a mom and a business owner. If you’ve ever felt behind on yo...