We're sharing our favorite business books to read during your holiday travels—the ones that actually changed how we run our photography businesses. Whether you're relocating, restructuring, or ready to scale, these books tackle pricing, marketing, niching, and making money as a photographer.

On this episode:

• Website tools and platforms that make updates easy without hiring a designer
• Five must-read business books every photographer entrepreneur should read
• How to pick just one actionable idea from each book to implement immediately

StoryBrand by Donald Miller Your brand isn't about you—it's about your client as the hero. This book teaches you how to clarify your messaging and why your website copy matters. Both of our websites are built on the StoryBrand framework.

Marketing Made Simple by Donald Miller This is the practical how-to guide. Step-by-step instructions on website structure, lead magnets, email nurture sequences, and sales funnels. We keep this one dog-eared and highlighted.

The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz Helps you identify which niche you love AND which is most profitable. This book helped clarify that extended family sessions are our sweet spot—high energy, high value, high profitability.

You're a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero All about money mindset. If you've struggled with pricing, worth, or believing you deserve to charge premium rates, this book addresses the psychology behind your blocks.

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz A complete system for managing cash flow in your photography business. Especially valuable when relocating or when your tax structure changes. Re-read this as your business grows.

• Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk - Social media strategy and content
• Atomic Habits by James Clear - Building systems and routines
• 100 Million Dollar Offers by Alex Hormozi - Creating irresistible service offers
• The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber - Systems for scaling

Showit makes it easy for photographers to design and update their own websites without needing to hire a web designer. No coding required—it's like Canva for websites. Alison saw her SEO search results triple in six months after switching to Showit.

Pro tip: Start with a template (find them on Etsy for $50 or in Showit's design library) rather than building from scratch. It's much faster and more effective.

If you're feeling overwhelmed about which business areas to focus on first, Melissa has created 35 Blog Post Topics to help you build content and identify what your audience is searching for.

Ready to map out your photography business for a move or restructure? Alison offers a free 15 minute discovery call to discuss your goals and next steps.

About Keep It Moving: A podcast for ambitious female photography business owners who are restructuring, relocating, or scaling their operations while juggling it all. We're here to help you do business better.

We're diving into the technical side of email marketing today because what's the point of crafting the perfect marketing email if it never actually reaches your clients? Let's talk about sender reputation, engagement strategies, and how to make sure your mini session announcements don't end up in digital purgatory.

On this episode:

• Setting up email authentication and building sender reputation

• Warming up your email list with engaged subscribers

• Creating a consistent email schedule year-round

Tired of being invisible on Google? Learn the 5 SEO mistakes keeping photographers from getting found (and how to fix them) in Melissa's free masterclass: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/mistakes

Thinking about a pivot or transition in your photography business? Book a free 15 minute discovery call with Alison to talk through your next move. Ready to streamline your content? Melissa's got you covered with her 35+ Blog Post Topics freebie—grab them here: http://35topics.com Looking for your next clients? Grab Alison's list of 39 FREE ways to get more bookings—no ads required: https://mentor.alisonbellphotographer.com/freebie

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify
• 5 SEO Mistakes Killing Your Photography Business Webinar
• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients
• Get Melissa's Free Blog Post Topics
• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast
• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings
• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

We're back with another quarterly check-in where we're sharing what's working, what we've let go, and how we're pivoting our businesses as we head into the new year. Spoiler: sometimes the best business move is knowing what not to do anymore.

On this episode:

• Hiring support and building systems
• Letting go of offers that no longer serve you
• Shifting focus from revenue goals to profit

Jessica Tutton Podcast - Ready Set Launch on Apple

Wedding Workflows - Use code ALISONBELL to get your first whole week FREE.

Tired of being invisible on Google? Learn the 5 SEO mistakes keeping photographers from getting found (and how to fix them) in Melissa's free masterclass: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/mistakes

Thinking about a pivot or transition in your photography business? Book a free 15 minute discovery call with Alison to talk through your next move. Ready to streamline your content? Melissa's got you covered with her 35+ Blog Post Topics freebie—grab them here: https://35topics.com Looking for your next clients? Grab Alison's list of 39 FREE ways to get more bookings—no ads required: https://mentor.alisonbellphotographer.com/freebie

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify
• 5 SEO Mistakes Killing Your Photography Business Webinar
• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients
• Get Melissa's Free Blog Post Topics
• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast
• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings
• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

We're looking for photographers to be featured on future Mini Mentoring episodes! Click this link to throw your name in the hat!

Mini Mentoring is a series where Alison & Melissa get the low down on a real life business owner in need of more business.

Whether that's because they've relocated, or pivoted niches we're walking through their business can giving them our recommendations to keep it moving.

Mollie Salazar is a wedding and family photographer moving from Texas to Florida and she's got tons of lead time! The stressor is that Mollie is the primary breadwinner for her family of 4 - including some expensive teenagers.

At the time of this recording, she'd already done a scouting trip (episode 10!), started blogging for the new location and already booked her first FL wedding!

So what did she need us for? Not much! She's gotten a massive start as we always preach, but there's a few more things to keep the dominoes tipping her favor:

• Start collaborations with local vendors
• Double her prices
• Get wedding planners on her side

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify

• 5 SEO Mistakes Killing Your Photography Business Webinar

• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients

• Get Melissa's Free Blog Post Topics

• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast

• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings

• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

We're getting real about why knowledge isn't enough and how accountability changes everything. Alison shares her personal experience hiring a nutritional coach—and the powerful parallels it revealed about what we actually need to move our businesses forward.

On this episode:

• Why you already know enough (but still aren't getting results)
• The real value of coaching: accountability and application
• Calculating the cost of not investing in yourself

Ready to stop spinning your wheels and start implementing? Melissa has resources to help you create content that attracts your ideal clients—check out her blog post topic guides.

If you're ready for someone to get up in your business and help you apply what you already know, book a free 15 minute discovery call with Alison to see if coaching is your next move.

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify
• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients
• Get Melissa's Free Blog Post Topics
• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast
• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings
• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

We're diving into the art of blogging your photography sessions the right way—because throwing up a photo dump with three sentences and your main keyword isn't cutting it anymore. Today we're showing you how to turn every session blog post into a client-attracting, SEO-boosting, authority-building powerhouse.

On this episode:

• Creating helpful, FAQ-style blog content that Google (and your ideal clients) actually love
• Strategic ways to use blog posts throughout your client workflow and marketing
• Selling yourself with clear calls-to-action in every post

Tired of being invisible on Google? Learn the 5 SEO mistakes keeping photographers from getting found (and how to fix them) in Melissa's free masterclass: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/mistakes

Thinking about a pivot or transition in your photography business? Book a free 15 minute discovery call with Alison to talk through your next move.

Ready to streamline your content? Melissa's got you covered with her 35+ Blog Post Topics freebie—grab them here: https://35topics.com

Looking for your next clients? Grab Alison's list of 39 FREE ways to get more bookings—no ads required: https://mentor.alisonbellphotographer.com/freebie

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify

• 5 SEO Mistakes Killing Your Photography Business Webinar

• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients

• Get Melissa's Free Blog Post Topics

• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast

• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings

• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

We know you've done all the heavy lifting with your SEO after your move, but waiting 6-12 months for Google to catch up feels like watching paint dry. In this episode, we're sharing 10 creative ways to get in front of your ideal clients right now—no waiting required.

On this episode:

• Strategic networking and community involvement

• Creating content and collaborating with complementary businesses

• Getting creative while you wait for SEO to kick in

Tired of being invisible on Google? Learn the 5 SEO mistakes keeping photographers from getting found (and how to fix them) in Melissa's free masterclass: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/mistakes

Thinking about a pivot or transition in your photography business? Book a free 15 minute discovery call with Alison to talk through your next move.

Ready to streamline your content? Melissa's got you covered with her 35+ Blog Post Topics freebie—grab them here: https://35topics.com

Looking for your next clients? Grab Alison's list of 39 FREE ways to get more bookings—no ads required: https://mentor.alisonbellphotographer.com/freebie

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify

• 5 SEO Mistakes Killing Your Photography Business Webinar

• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients

• Get Melissa's Free Blog Post Topics

• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast

• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings

• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

We're talking about every photographer's nightmare scenario—when sweet little angels turn into tiny tornadoes right in the middle of your session. In this episode, we're diving into proactive strategies to protect your business from disaster sessions that could lead to refund requests and unhappy clients.

Key Takeaways:

• Contract language that protects you

• When and how to end a shoot early

• Client communication that saves the day

Ready to level up your client management skills? Melissa has put together essential blog post topics that every photography business owner needs to master for smoother sessions and happier clients.

Struggling with challenging shoots in your own business? Book Alison's free 15 minute discovery call to strategize solutions that work for your unique situation.

Links:

• Braden Drake's Contract Club
• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify
• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients
• Get Melissa's Free Blog Post Topics
• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast
• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings
• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

Mini Mentoring is a series where we get the low down on a real life business owner in need of more something. Whether that's because they've relocated, or pivoted niches we're walking through their business can giving them our recommendations to keep it moving.

We're talking to Melanie of Melanie Foster Photography who as switched this year to IPS model. We're discussing her:

• Follow-up SOP gaps
• Email list nurturing
• Tulsa mom groups

We're looking for another photographer willing to jump on the podcast for another episode Mini Mentoring! Complete this form to apply.

Links:

• Braden Drake's Contract Club
• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify
• Download Move Your Business Checklist
• Download Blog Post Topics
• @‌keep.it.moving.podcast
• @‌pictureperfectrankings
• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

We're spilling the tea on our secret weapon for actually getting sh*t done! You know those massive projects collecting dust while you're playing taxi driver and snack distributor? Time to ditch the chaos and get strategic about your productivity game.

• Escape artist mode activated

• Hotel lobby > home office

• Baby steps, big wins

Tired of being invisible on Google? Learn the 5 SEO mistakes keeping photographers from getting found (and how to fix them) in Melissa's free masterclass: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/mistakes

Thinking about a pivot or transition in your photography business? Book a free 15 minute discovery call with Alison to talk through your next move.

Ready to streamline your content? Melissa's got you covered with her 35+ Blog Post Topics freebie—grab them here: https://35topics.com

Looking for your next clients? Grab Alison's list of 39 FREE ways to get more bookings—no ads required: https://mentor.alisonbellphotographer.com/freebie

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify

• 5 SEO Mistakes Killing Your Photography Business Webinar

• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients

• Get Melissa's Free Blog Post Topics

• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast

• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings

• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!