This Can't Be That Hard

Most photographers build their businesses around one signature offer—and that’s a great place to start. But if that’s the only offer on your menu, your business may be more fragile than you think. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the three types of offers every photography business should have: your core offer (aka your bread and butter), an entry offer (for those not quite ready to go all-in...

Your website might look great—but is it actually doing the work of turning curious browsers into paying clients? In this week’s episode, I’m joined by web designer and strategist Caitlin Teixeira (aka Catie Means Business), the mastermind behind my current website and one of the most insightful, strategic creatives I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Caitlin shares why a website isn’t just a di...

If you’ve ever said yes to a last-minute request you didn’t really have time for, or delivered more than you promised because you were afraid of disappointing someone, this one’s for you. In this short solo episode, I’m talking about boundaries: not just as a form of self-protection, but as a powerful way to communicate your brand, serve your clients well, and build trust in your process. Saying n...

We’re constantly told that blogging is great for SEO, but most photographers still aren’t doing it. Why? Because it feels like a heavy lift for an uncertain payoff (not to mention it's hard to know what to say)! This week, I’m joined by photographer and PR pro Kate Wark, who not only understands the power of blogging from a strategic perspective but actually ghostwrites blogs for other creati...

You’ve done the math. You know what your cost of doing business is. You’ve looked at what other photographers in your market are charging. So why does pricing your work still feel so complicated ? This week I’m getting into the real reasons pricing can feel so hard. I’ll walk you through three key mindset shifts that every photographer needs to make in order to price their work confidently, commun...

We all love the idea of a business that grows effortlessly through word of mouth....but that kind of growth doesn’t come from luck—it comes from delivering a client experience that’s SO good, people can’t stop talking about it. In this episode, I’m joined by photographer and educator Natasha Sewell, who’s built a thriving, referral-based business by getting super intentional about how she connects...

Marketing isn’t just about getting seen—it’s about building trust. And building trust, as it turns out, is a lot like building your credit score.... Clients are constantly (and often unconsciously) evaluating whether they trust you enough to book with you. It’s not exactly a number they can look up, but the signals you’re sending through your website, social media, pricing, and consistency are all...

Some interviews go exactly where you expect… and others take a beautiful turn into even better territory. That’s exactly what happened in this conversation with photographer, systems wizard, and community builder Stacey Rolfe. What started as a conversation about client experience ended up touching on everything from burnout recovery and flexible business models to the power of taking imperfect ac...

When things slow down or feel uncertain in your business, it’s easy to think you need to overhaul everything or spend your time hunting down new leads. But more often than not, the best opportunities are already sitting in front of you—specifically, in the form of your happiest clients. In this episode, I’m sharing four tried-and-true strategies for turning one great client into more. These are si...

If you've ever felt a sinking feeling as you send in your taxes, wondering if you're missing something (or have just signed and avoided the numbers altogether), you're not alone.  That’s why I brought in Danielle Hayden, founder of Kickstart Accounting, to break down exactly what photographers should be doing year-round to stay on top of their numbers, avoid surprises, and maximize...

AI is everywhere right now, but let’s be real—most of us don’t have time to sort through all the noise to figure out which tools actually help photographers run their businesses better. That’s why I called in Colie James. She’s a workflow automation expert, a photographer, and someone who has gone much further with AI than most of us (but in a way that makes running a business easier , not more co...

Photography may seem like a business with low legal risk, but if you don’t cover your bases, one unexpected issue—like a contract dispute, a tax audit, or an independent contractor misclassification—can cause major headaches. Today, I’m talking with Braden Drake, a lawyer and tax expert who specializes in helping creative entrepreneurs actually understand business compliance, contracts, and financ...

Most photographers assume that if they don’t shoot in a studio, they don’t need one. But what if a studio space could be so much more than just a backdrop for sessions? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Michelle McAfee, a photographer who turned her studio into so much more than just a place to shoot. She shares how she transitioned from using her space exclusively for client sessions to creat...

If you’ve ever felt like your emails are going out into the void—ignored, unopened, or worse, unsubscribed from—this episode is just for you. Email marketing doesn’t have to feel awkward or forced. In fact, when done right, it’s one of the most powerful ways to turn casual followers into loyal clients. But what actually makes an email engaging? How do you keep people excited to hear from you inste...

Generating leads for your photography business can feel like a full-time job. You put yourself out there, cross your fingers, and hope the inquiries roll in—but what happens when they don’t? That’s where a smart, strategic approach to lead generation makes all the difference. This week, I’m talking with photographer, business coach, and Gold Biz Podcast host Rachel Traxler about how she approaches...

Most photographers spend their time marketing in all the usual (free) ways—posting on social media, tweaking their SEO, and waiting for word-of-mouth referrals to kick in. And while all of those can work, they also take time... often a lot of it! But what if you could get your business in front of people right when they’re searching for a photographer ? That’s exactly what Google Ads do. Unlike so...

It’s easy to lose the creative spark that brought you to photography in the first place. Between running a business, keeping up with clients, and tackling your endless to-do list, the joy of making art can start to feel like a distant memory. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Trish Chong, an incredible family photographer, educator, and all-around thoughtful human being, to talk about the power of...

Considering switching to Simples Sales? What's better than a case study? How about three?  I'm excited to share this in-depth conversation with Robyn, AnneMarie, and Christina: three recent students who've launched Simple Sales in their three very different businesses. We discuss: How and why each of them decided to give Simple Sales a try - what was (and wasn't) working in the...

New Year, new mindset. 🥂 As we turn the page to 2025, it’s time to take stock of what’s been working in our businesses—and more importantly, what hasn't . In this episode, I’m sharing seven things you can leave behind to build a stronger, more sustainable businesses moving forward. If you’ve been caught in the cycle of saying “yes” to too much, pricing yourself too low, or running yourself r...

Burnout. Overwhelm. Frustration. If you’re feeling the weight of running your photography business, you’re not alone. Lately, I’ve been hearing from so many photographers who are unsure if it’s even possible to keep going. In today’s episode, I sit down with Dayna—my partner in The Consistency Club and all-around champion of real talk—to tackle those big questions head-on. Where does the photograp...

It’s New Year’s Eve, and what better time to talk about setting yourself up for a successful (and sustainable!) new year? 🎉 In this final episode of the Sustainability Series (and the year!), I’m giving you a little taste of something I cooked up for you: a private podcast series called Recipe for Success. Think of your business like a favorite recipe—some ingredients are non-negotiable, but othe...

In this third episode of the Sustainability Series, I’m diving into one of the biggest time and energy drains for photographers: marketing. Let’s face it—hunting for clients can feel like an endless Easter egg hunt. But what if, instead of searching for golden eggs, you focused on finding a golden goose? In this episode, I share how I created a portrait membership that became my golden goose—a pre...

In the second episode of my Sustainability Series, I’m sharing how a major “lifequake” forced me to rethink everything about my business. Back in 2017, I hit a breaking point—I was working 50-60 hours a week, juggling too many types of jobs, and still not making enough to feel secure. I knew something had to change. That’s when I created what’s now known as the Simple Sales System. By streamlining...

When life throws you curveballs—a health crisis, a financial downturn, or a global pandemic—how does your business hold up? In this week’s episode of This Can’t Be That Hard, I’m kicking off the Sustainability Series, a four-part exploration of why planning for longevity in your business is so important. I start this series with a story about challenges I've faced in my own life and business...

Ah, the sweet smell of a brand-new planner—there’s just something about it, right? That fresh-start feeling gets me every time, and as it turns out, my guest Brittnie Sturm feels the same way. Brittnie is a family photographer, mom of three, and a fellow systems enthusiast 🤓 who’s learned firsthand how powerful organization can be in running a better business and a smoother life.  In this episode...