If you’ve ever wondered when to hire a VA, what to hand off first, or how to stop “delegating” only to redo the work later, this episode will help you build an outsourcing plan that truly supports your business. I’m joined by Ellie Leonard, Founder and CEO of Virtual Bliss Assisting, to talk about sustainable systems, clear communication, and trust-based partnerships that protect your energy and improve your client experience.

We walk through how to recognize the signs you’re ready for help, what a strong onboarding process looks like, and how to set expectations so tasks get done right the first time. Ellie shares a simple roadmap for choosing your first delegations, creating SOPs without overcomplicating them, and measuring the ROI of admin support versus an online business manager. We also cover how to course-correct if you’ve had a less-than-ideal outsourcing experience, and ways to structure weekly rhythms so you stay in your lane while your VA keeps the back end moving.

If you’re tired of juggling everything yourself and want structure that fits your season, this conversation will give you the language, steps, and confidence to delegate well.

STAY CONNECTED:

• Virtual Bliss Assisting website: https://www.virtualblissassisting.com

• Ellie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualblissassisting

MORE FROM TAKE YOUR SHOT COLLECTIVE

• Free online community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community

• Business resources and tools: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

• 1:1 coaching with Halle: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeyourshotcollective

If this episode helped you rethink how you delegate, follow the show and leave a review so more creatives can find it.

What if your time management wasn’t a rigid system to force yourself into—but a flexible framework that works with your energy, your season, and your actual life? In this episode, I’m joined by time management and productivity coach Lauren Glynn to talk about building sustainable structure as a creative, testing your “ideal week” instead of guessing, and making small shifts that unlock real momentum.

We dig into how to recognize misalignment (busy but not effective), why tracking your time honestly is the first step to change, and how to design your calendar around your energy patterns instead of defaulting to what everyone else does. Lauren shares her BREK Framework (Baseline, Record, Evaluate, Keep practicing), along with her “Hell Yes Task Sorter” approach to clarify what you should keep, automate, delegate, or drop. We also talk about experimenting with meeting days, protecting creative focus time, and adjusting your systems by season so you’re not burning out in the busiest months.

If you’ve tried every planner and still feel behind, this conversation will help you build a simple, repeatable rhythm that actually supports your business and your life.

• Hell Yes Task Sorter (Notion template): https://laurenglynn.com/hellyes

• Connect with Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurengconsulting/

• Free community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community

• Business resources and tools: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

• 1:1 coaching with Halle: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeyourshotcollective

• Content Strategy Boot Camp: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/content

Have you ever looked at someone else's business and wondered how they “made it” so quickly?

In this episode of the Take Your Shot Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on what “overnight success” really looks like—and why it’s almost always anything but overnight. I’m sharing real stories (including one from a YouTuber who worked for 10 years before seeing traction) and my own journey building a business that’s sustainable, fulfilling, and built on systems—not hustle.

If you’ve ever felt behind, burnt out, or unsure whether your hard work is ever going to pay off… this episode is for you.

You'll walk away with:

• Why consistency is your most underrated advantage
• How to build a business that can actually last
• Why comparing your journey to someone else’s middle will always backfire
• And what it takes to create momentum that compounds over time

Whether you're in year one or year ten of your business, this episode is your reminder that your work matters—and it’s working even when it doesn’t feel like it yet.

• Learn more about the Booking breakthrough
• Free Business Resources & Tools
• 1:1 Coaching with Halle
• Follow on Instagram

If you found this episode helpful, leave a review and share it with a friend who needs to hear this today.

Ever finish a consultation call and wonder if you really connected with the couple? In this episode, I’m sharing three intentional things I do in every single inquiry call that consistently lead to more bookings—without feeling salesy or scripted.

If you want to book more weddings, serve your couples better from the very first conversation, and create an experience that makes you the obvious choice—this one’s for you.

We’re talking about the power of asking better questions, making couples feel known, and guiding them in a way that builds trust right from the start.

You’ll walk away with simple changes you can make on your next call that could lead to your next “yes.”

More from Take Your Shot Collective:

Join our free online community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community

Free resources and discounts: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

Coaching opportunities with Halle: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

Connect on Instagram: @takeyourshotcollective

If you’ve ever looked at another entrepreneur and thought, “How is she doing it all?” — this one’s for you.

This week, I’m joined by systems and automation expert Taylor Hedden of Chanel & Lee. She’s a Dubsado specialist, a mom of two, a photographer, a podcast host, and the owner of a thriving consulting business. And somehow? She’s not drowning in her inbox.

In this episode, Taylor walks us through her journey from burned-out VA to building a business designed around her life — not the other way around. You’ll hear her exact process for building workflows, what to automate first, and how to stop spending your best energy on repetitive tasks. If you’re ready to create more space, serve your clients better, and actually enjoy running your business again… this is the episode for you.

What you’ll learn:

• How Taylor got started with systems and automation — and why it changed everything
• What she recommends automating first (and what’s not worth your time)
• Why your brand voice matters more when automating — not less
• The tool she says is the most underrated feature in Dubsado

Links & Resources:

• Taylor’s Free Client Experience Library: https://chanelandlee.com/the-ex-library

• Connect with Taylor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chanelandlee

• Explore her services & shop: https://www.chanelandlee.com

Try Dubsado for free

More from Take Your Shot!

• Follow the podcast: https://www.instagram.com/takeyourshotcollective

• Grab my free business tools: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

• Apply for coaching: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

If there’s something you want — a dream, a vision, or a next step in your business — but you keep hitting a wall, this episode is for you. Because sometimes the thing standing in your way isn’t strategy… it’s fear.

In this episode of the Take Your Shot Podcast, I’m walking you through three of the most common fears I see over and over again — in my own life, in my students, and in other creatives trying to build something meaningful.

Each one can be sneaky. They show up as procrastination, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and overthinking — and they often disguise themselves as being “realistic.” But when you name them, you can move through them.

We’ll talk about what these fears sound like, how they show up, and practical ways to move forward anyway — because you don’t have to be fearless to take action. You just have to start.

Want support as you grow your business and move past the fear?

→ Apply for coaching: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

Resources + Links:

• Business resources & tools: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

• Follow on Instagram: @takeyourshotcollective

If this episode hit home, send it to a friend or share your favorite takeaway on Instagram and tag me — I love hearing from you!

Curious about landing paid travel partnerships or diving into the world of user-generated content (UGC)? In this episode, I sit down with Mallory Green to talk about how she’s built a thriving content creation business centered around UGC and brand partnerships—especially in the travel and lifestyle space.

Mallory shares how she got started, the mindset shifts she had to make, and her top advice for creatives who want to work with brands—without having a massive audience. We talk about pricing your work confidently, negotiating with brands, and what it takes to build long-term brand relationships rooted in trust.

Whether you're new to content creation or looking to add a revenue stream beyond your service-based business, this episode will help you see what's possible.

Connect with Mallory Green

Website: www.reinsmarketing.com

Instagram: @ouitravelpodcast

More From Take Your Shot Collective

We're all about supporting and elevating creative business owners, and so along with our weekly business podcast, we have so much more to share with you! Get plugged in, take what you need, and let me know how I can continue to support you in your business.

• Join our free online community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community
• Free resources and discounts: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources
• Coaching opportunities with Halle: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching
• Connect on Instagram: @takeyourshotcollective

If you enjoyed this episode of the Take Your Shot Podcast, don’t forget to leave a review and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

In this episode of the Take Your Shot podcast, I’m sharing the full story behind the $8,000 wedding I turned down. Not because it wasn’t good money. Not because I didn’t need the booking. But because it wasn’t aligned—and saying yes would’ve compromised the client’s experience, my values, and the kind of business I want to run.

We talk about how to trust your gut, how to navigate uncomfortable client conversations with kindness and professionalism, and what it looks like to serve with integrity—especially when the stakes are high.

If you’ve ever second-guessed a boundary or wondered how to stay client-first without getting walked over, this episode is for you.

Shop contracts from the Legal Paige https://thelegalpaige.com/?aff=804

• Join our free online community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community

• Download free tools and business resources: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

• Learn more about 1:1 coaching with Halle: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching

• Follow along on Instagram: https://instagram.com/takeyourshotcollective

• Content Strategy Boot Camp: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/content

Are you still relying only on natural light and hoping for the best at every shoot? This week on the Take Your Shot podcast, I’m joined by Eden Strader—wedding photographer turned educator and artificial lighting queen. Eden breaks down why every photographer needs to learn how to use flash and how mastering artificial light can literally change everything for your business and creative confidence.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by flash, unsure where to start, or convinced it’s only for certain styles, Eden is here to reframe it all. We talk about the biggest misconceptions, how to start small (even on a budget), and how learning artificial light can make you a better, more reliable photographer—no matter the situation.

Whether you’re shooting high-end weddings or creative sessions in tough lighting, this is a must-listen for photographers ready to uplevel.

• Why learning artificial light is an investment in your clients and your confidence
• The biggest mental blocks holding photographers back from using flash
• Gear recommendations for every budget (you don’t need to drop $3k to get started!)
• Eden’s favorite flash and softbox setup—and why it matters
• Simple ways to practice flash without using clients as your guinea pigs
• Why mastering lighting leads to more creative freedom (and better client experience)

Connect with Eden Strader:

• Website: https://edenstrader.com
• In-Person Flash Photography Workshop: https://edenstrader.com/in-person-flash-photography-workshop
• “Let’s Get Lit” Free Artificial Light Guide: https://edenstrader.com/let-s-get-lit-or-artificial-light-freebie
• Instagram: @edenstrader
• Podcast: That’s My Personal Business

More from Take Your Shot Collective:

• Free Online Community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community
• 1:1 Coaching with Halle: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/coaching
• Business Resources & Freebies: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources
• Instagram: @takeyourshotcollective

🎙 If you enjoyed this episode of the Take Your Shot Podcast — be sure to follow, leave a review, and share it with a friend who’s ready to step up their game behind the camera. Your support means everything!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become the first vendor couples hire—before the planner, the venue, or even the date itself? In this episode of the Take Your Shot podcast, I’m sharing exactly how we’ve built that kind of trust in our brand and the intentional steps that made it possible.

We’ll talk about what couples are really looking for when they’re choosing who to hire, how to communicate your value clearly and consistently, and why connection always converts better than perfection. This isn’t about being everywhere or going viral—it’s about showing up in a way that makes people feel safe, excited, and ready to work with you.

Whether you’re in a saturated market or just trying to book more aligned clients, this episode will help you rethink how you’re building trust and positioning yourself in your business.

Resources & Links

• Join the Content Strategy Bootcamp: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/content

• Download tools and business resources: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/business-resources

• Join the free online community: https://takeyourshotcollective.com/community

• Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/takeyourshotcollective

• Get the Meta Glasses to record your own BTS: https://amzn.to/4eEzp6o

If this episode resonates with you, make sure you’re subscribed and leave a review. We’d love to hear what connected most and how you're building trust with your people.