This Can't Be That Hard

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Marc DeCarli & I talk about creating targeted messaging on your website that will attract the right customers. We talk about what needs to go first, video strategy, and the nuances of taglines. What’s the best way to quickly capture the attention of your visitors, then educate them in a way that takes them from wanting to hire A photographer to wanting to hir...

100 whole episodes!!! Whether it’s a celebration of all the inspiration, education, and action-taking for your business or just a cheers to no more zeros in front of the episode number, 100 episodes deserves a bit of celebration, right?!? ! I wanted to figure out a fun way to commemorate the milestone, but before I did, SURPRISE! I was given the gift of a day off. Join me today for a super-fun sur...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Candra Schank & I talk about the nuanced differences between business models, and how to ensure that the model you choose aligns with your unique gifts. 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 love to welcome you into our supportive, business-fo...

Have you ever been told your prices were too high? When you were - because we ALL have been - did it ever make you want to yell “too high compared to WHAT?!?!” Well, here’s the answer: your prices are being compared to price anchors, and if you don’t pay attention to them, those anchors can sink your business. Today on the podcast, I’m teaching you what price anchors are, how they affect buying de...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Klayne Rolader & I talk about the self-doubt that creeps in when you’re not booking as many clients as you’d like to. Is it your work? Your prices? Your clients? 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 love to welcome you into our supportive, bu...

Brand photography is big business… and it’s an amazing opportunity for photographers of all kinds to add a revenue stream that can be managed during the regular work week… the trick is setting yourself up for success by understanding how to market, price, and run brand photography correctly from the start. Vicki Knights and Eddie Judd from the Shoot Edit Chat Repeat podcast join me to talk about t...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Evelynne Gomes-Greenberg & I talk about the head game that happens between the launch of a new business and that time when business really starts rolling in. How is it possible to stay upbeat, positive, and confident while your inbox remains quiet? Resources: New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best fr...

There are some big (and perhaps overdue) changes happening at This Can’t Be That Hard - all exciting and all shared on today’s podcast! I’m introducing the newest (and actually, the first!) official members of Team TCBTH, as well as giving you a sneak preview of what I have in the works for you in the next few months. Listen in to hear all of that… and to learn how you can get access to my newest...

In this episode of Mini Mentoring, Donna Craddock & I talk about strategies for staying consistent in your marketing and messaging, even when life is anything BUT consistent. Juggling chronic illness and a one-woman business? It can be done. 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'...

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...