The Simple Sales System™️ for Photographers

Most portrait photographers are accidental entrepreneurs - they're talented artists who wake up one day and think, "Hey... maybe I could actually make some money doing this thing I love!"

Fast forward a few years and the vast majority of those artists have closed up shop, not because they didn't have the talent, but because running a business - no matter how small - can be super-challenging.

If any of this resonates, I'm excited you're here. My name is Annemie Tonken, and I've been a portrait photographer in Chapel Hill, NC since 2010. I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to build a profitable, sustainable business in such a competitive field, but it didn't happen by chance.

In 2017, faced with the prospect of having to close the business I loved to go back to my "real job," I created a system that is now used by thousands of photographers worldwide to make more money in less time while still providing an amazing customer service experience.

Welcome to The Simple Sales System for Portrait Photographers - a ten-part mini-series where we'll deep-dive the System, how it works, why it works, and who it works for.

I'm so excited to be able to share this system with you! Plug in your earbuds and get ready to binge the whole series on your favorite podcast platform. 
Ready to join the Simple Sales Blueprint? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to sign up.

Meet Mackenzie. A year ago, she was burning out on the constant hustle treadmill when she found Simple Sales. Less than 8 months after launching, she's hitting 5 figure months... a feat she never dreamed was possible.

Before we dive into the nitty gritty of the system, I wanted to paint a picture of what's possible for you, and Mackenzie's journey is a great example... not of some one-in-a-million "these results are not typical" kind of a way, but of the kinds of results that a majority of my students get when they set Simple Sales up correctly.

Mackenzie is delivering all the juicy details of how she made this transition work for her and her family, so if you're wondering whether considering a whole new way of doing business is worth your time, I highly encourage you to listen in!

Ready to join the Simple Sales Blueprint? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to sign up.

In 2017, I was this close to becoming a statistic. Despite the fact that my per-session average was close to $2K and the seven-year track record of happy clients I had (many of whom came back year after year), I was on the verge of having to close up shop and go back to my job as a nurse.

Why?

Because the photography industry was built on a two-model system that meant you had to choose to either prioritize saving time or making money: you couldn't do both.

In this episode of the Simple Sales System, I'm opening up about the challenging crossroads I came to after my divorce and the question I got asked that made me realize that something had to give.

Ready to join the Simple Sales Blueprint? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to sign up.

Steve Jobs famously said, "It takes a lot of hard work to make something simple, to truly understand the underlying challenges and come up with elegant solutions. To be truly simple, you have to go really deep."

So as we dive into the six steps of the Simple Sales system, I want to warn you: don't let the simplicity of the system fool you! It DOES take a lot of hard work... not only to understand the challenges and come up with elegant solutions, but to set those solutions up properly. 

Listen carefully to this episode - maybe listen twice - and then keep going with the series to learn more about the why and the how of Simple Sales!

Ready to join the Simple Sales Blueprint? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to sign up.

Within just a few months of launching Simple Sales, my entire business had transformed. In this episode, I'm sharing alllllll the details:

• How I increased my income by 30%, crossing the 6-figure mark for the very first time 
• How I cut my work time in half, allowing me to spend much more time with my kids
• How I overcame my mental blocks against automation and making more money in less time
• How the system can work for any portrait photographer, regardless of niche, market, or level of experience

If you're ready to boost your profits, gain more free time, and create a business that runs seamlessly without the constant, crushing admin and handholding, don't miss this powerful case study on the transformative power of Simple Sales System.

Ready to join the Simple Sales Blueprint? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to sign up.

A simple solution with extraordinary results? You wouldn't be the first photographer to be skeptical! So let's break down WHY Simple Sales is so effective... not just for me, but for thousands of photographers around the world.

In this episode, we'll explore the psychology behind the System: five keys to success in sales that often feel counterintuitive.

You'll also hear from Dayna, a woman who has been on the client side of all three models of photography sales: All-Inclusive, In-Person Sales, and Simple Sales. Hear all about her experiences: what she liked, what she didn't, and why.

If you want to set yourself apart from other photographers, add revenue without adding time, and wrap it all up in an amazing client experience, Simple Sales is the solution.

Ready to join the Simple Sales Blueprint? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to sign up.

What's better than one 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 their businesses that gave them the push to seek a better solution
• Their fears and hesitations about the System
• Their experience with the Blueprint and the leadup to launching
• The Big Switch, including the reactions of both returning clients and new clients

And perhaps most importantly... their RESULTS! 
These women have been very generous, sharing their financial befores and afters, as well as their plans going forward. If you're on the fence about whether Simple Sales might work for you, you're sure to see some version of your situation reflected here.
Ready to join the Simple Sales Blueprint? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to sign up.

At this point, you likely have some burning questions... about the pricing, the logistics, the tech, or about how this could impact your bottom line. You're not alone!

In this episode, I address some of the most commonly-asked questions:

• How does the system GUARANTEE profitability?
• What tech do I need (i.e. how much more do I need to learn/spend) to get started?
• What if I like to edit my photos AFTER clients choose from their proofs... Can I use Simple Sales?
• Everyone in my area ______ (includes all the digitals, charges way too little, etc.)... Can Simple Sales work for me? 

Still have questions? Stick around to the end of the episode, where I share how you can get answers to any other questions you may have!

Ready to join the Simple Sales Blueprint? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to sign up.

Hey... guess what? Your business doesn't HAVE to be a source of stress, exhaustion, and frustration!

I'm a firm believer that a profitable, sustainable business based on your values and goals is not only achievable, but necessary!
The Simple Sales System allows you to set up efficient processes so work flows smoothly. You'll feel organized, confident, and able to stand out in a sea of photographers as the #1 choice for your ideal clients.

I now earn a full-time salary with an 85% profit margin working about 8 hours a week (even in the busy season). That freedom is the only way I was able to make the time to start teaching my system. 

For sustainable growth without burnout, Simple Sales is the clear choice.

Ready to join the Simple Sales Blueprint? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to sign up.

You've heard about my successes and the successes of my students, but perhaps you'd prefer the objective data from a larger pool of people using Simple Sales, not just the anecdotes from a few.


For that, I turn to my gallery software provider of choice, Pic-Time. In this final episode, I share the story of how Pic-Time noticed my much-higher-than-usual sales figures and reached out to see if we could partner to help other photographers get similar results.


Recently, after seeing the back-end data of thousands of photographers using Simple Sales, Pic-Time founder Amir Karby said:


"We see the results with photographers using the Simple Sales System and we hear the awe and pure joy from the photographers themselves after experiencing the improvements in their workflow and results. I really think this is a game changer for portrait and family photographers!!”


If you've made it this far in the mini-series, you likely know that Simple Sales is a great option for you. I would love to help you!


Visit thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales to join our growing community of photographers running profitable, sustainable businesses they love through the power of the Simple Sales System!