January can feel like a weird, quiet, and sometimes panic-inducing month for family photographers. In this episode of The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast, I’m breaking down three specific marketing seeds you should be planting in January—so you’re not scrambling later in the spring.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Is January just a dead month?”
• “Should I be pushing people to book right now?”
• “How do I stay visible without feeling salesy or burnt out?”

This episode is for you.

Whether you’re listening on your favorite podcast player or watching this episode on YouTube, you’ll learn how to reframe January as a seed-planting month that sets you up for calmer, more consistent bookings in March, April, and beyond.

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/january-marketing-for-family-photographers/

▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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In this episode of The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast, I’m sitting down (coffee + Christmas décor still up, of course 😉) to reflect on what I’m genuinely looking forward to in 2026. This isn’t a tactical systems or marketing episode — it’s a slower, more personal conversation about growth, faith, business pruning, family rhythms, and giving yourself permission to pause.

If you’re a family photographer or creative business owner who’s craving clarity, encouragement, and space to reflect on where you’re headed this year, this episode is for you.

I'm sharing the top 9 things I'm looking forward to in 2026 (I hope it encourages you!)

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/personal-business-faith-goals-2026/

▸ The Bible Recap: https://www.thebiblerecap.com/

▸ Nourish Move Love: https://www.nourishmovelove.com/

▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society

▸ Duo Collective: https://duocollective.com/

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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As we close out the year, I wanted to pull back the curtain and share exactly how I’m doing my end-of-year business review — and how I’m planning for 2026 without trying to plan an entire year in one weekend.

Whether you’re watching this episode on YouTube or listening on your favorite podcast player, it's designed to give you permission to plan realistically, not romantically.

I’m walking you through how I review my yearly rhythms, lean on data (not feelings), and prepare my backend systems so my marketing, launches, and content feel sustainable — especially as a mom, photographer, and systems educator.

If you’re a family photographer or creative business owner who wants clarity, structure, and less burnout heading into a new year, this episode is for you.

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/how-im-planning-out-my-next-quarter/

▸ Snag The Bookkeeping Template For Creatives Here: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/bookkeeping-template

▸ Get 25% OFF on Flodesk here: https://flodesk.com/c/DOLLYDELONGEDUCATION

▸ Join the Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society

▸ End of year review sheet: https://katschmoyer.com/eoy-gift

▸ Master Business Operations Trello Board (only $7): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/master-business-operations-board

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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If you’re listening to this episode around the holidays (or WHENEVER you are listening in to this), I want to encourage you to do something that will instantly bring more clarity into your business for 2026 (and for ANY YEAR): forecast your business expenses.

In this episode of The Systems and Workflow Magic Podcast (also available as a YouTube video), I’m pulling back the curtain and showing you exactly how I forecast my business expenses for 2026 using my Bookkeeping Template for Creatives. I’m not starting the new year guessing my overhead.

And friend, forecasting is NOT “predicting the future.” It’s taking the best data you already have (like your 2025 expenses + recurring subscriptions) and making an informed plan so you can price confidently, set realistic goals, and run your photography business (or creative business) sustainably.

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/end-of-year-planning-family-photographers/

▸ Snag The Bookkeeping Template For Creatives Here: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/bookkeeping-template

▸ Get 25% OFF on Flodesk here: https://flodesk.com/c/DOLLYDELONGEDUCATION

▸ Join the Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society

▸Need a bookkeeper? Check out my amazing Bookkeeper here: https://www.willabbybookkeeping.com/

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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Big reminder, friend: if I were your marketing advisor for your family photography business, I would absolutely have you working on your February Valentine’s mini sessions in December—yes, while everyone else is still wrapping gifts and closing out their holiday minis.

This episode (originally recorded as a YouTube video and repurposed as a podcast) walks you through how to think like a marketer, map out a simple mini-session offer for couples or kids, and align your systems, content, and email marketing before the new year begins.

Whether you’re a family photographer who loves minis or you’re just curious about adding a seasonal cash-injection to your year, this episode will help you:

• Decide how to position your Valentine’s minis (kids, couples, or both)
• Choose simple, on-brand themes and props your clients can easily say yes to
• Plan locations, timelines, and logistics now so you’re not scrambling in late January
• Use Instagram + your blog as top-of-funnel marketing for your minis
• Set up email segments and nurture using Flodesk (or your ESP of choice)
• Use your CRM (like Dubsado) to automate booking, communication, and reminders
• Turn Valentine’s minis into an annual, repeatable revenue stream

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/valentines-mini-sessions-family-photographers/

▸ Get 25% OFF on Flodesk here: https://flodesk.com/c/DOLLYDELONGEDUCATION

▸ Join the Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society

▸ Get 30% OFF on Dubsado here: https://www.dubsado.com/?c=dollydelongeducation

▸ Free Dubsado Mini Session Roadmap: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-dubsado-mini-session-roadmap-opt-in

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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Big news, friends! We are officially heading into a brand new year of marketing, and if you’re a family photographer still relying only on Instagram (or whatever the next trendy platform is), this episode is your gentle nudge: it’s time to bring email marketing into your 2026 strategy.

In today’s episode—which originated as a YouTube video—you’ll learn why email marketing continues to outperform every other marketing channel, why it future-proofs your family photography business, and how it helps you book more clients with less stress. Plus, at the end of the episode, I’m sharing why Flodesk is my #1 recommendation for photographers who want simple, beautiful, effective email marketing without overwhelm.

Whether you’re brand new to email marketing or you’ve been dragging your feet for years (it’s okay, I see you!), this episode will give you the clarity and motivation you need to start strong in 2026.

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/email-marketing-for-family-photographers/

▸ Watch the YouTube video version of this Podcast: https://youtu.be/5FWPcr3BzAA

▸ Get 25% OFF on Flodesk here: https://flodesk.com/c/DOLLYDELONGEDUCATION

▸ Join the Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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If you’re a family photographer who’s ready to simplify your systems, strengthen your marketing, and finally feel organized heading into a new year, this special Black Friday episode is for you! In this behind-the-scenes catalog-style walkthrough, I’m breaking down every single deal happening November 24–28, 2025, inside Dolly DeLong Education.

Whether you're watching this on YouTube or listening via the podcast, this is your go-to guide to bookmark so you can return to each deal on the exact day it goes live. And yes — even if you’re listening in the future, these resources remain available in my shop year-round! (YAY!)

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/black-friday-deals-family-photographers-2025/

▸ Watch the YouTube video version of this Podcast: HERE

▸ Check out the 5 Days of Deals HERE

▸ Missed the Sale but want to see the shop? Check it out HERE

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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Ever look at another family photographer who’s booked out months in advance and think, “What are they doing that I’m not?” Spoiler: it’s not talent, it’s not the “oversaturated market,” and it is definitely not that you’re not good enough.

This episode (originally recorded as a YouTube video and repurposed into the podcast) breaks down the eight core foundations—or “cogs”—that keep your family photography business consistently booked instead of stuck in that exhausting feast-or-famine cycle.

Whether you’re a few years into business or you’re finally ready to take it seriously as a real, sustainable business, this one’s meant to lovingly call you out and show you exactly where to focus next.

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Read the full blog post that goes with this episode (that way, you get all the links mentioned): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/consistent-bookings-family-photographers/

▸ Watch the YouTube video version of this Podcast: https://youtu.be/FIjZ3Yv1byA

▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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Big news, family photographers.. the holidays are almost here, and now is the perfect time to start planting those SEO seeds for next year! In this episode, I’m sharing four blog post ideas you can start writing right now to help your photography business get discovered on Google (and yes, even in ChatGPT searches!) long after the holiday season.

Whether you’re a family photographer, newborn photographer, or creative business owner who wants to show up more consistently online, you’ll learn how to:

✨ Choose blog post topics that attract your dream clients

✨ Create SEO-friendly posts that perform in both Google and AI search tools

✨ Repurpose your blog content for social media and email marketing

✨ Build long-term visibility for your photography business during slower seasons

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Get all of my Black Friday 2025 Deals (dropping the week of November 24th-November 28th): https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/black-friday-deals-2025

▸ Watch the YouTube video version of this Podcast: https://youtu.be/HE_cDS43HmY

▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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Have you ever visited a business online and couldn’t tell if they were still open—or if they’d shut down years ago? 😅 This episode was inspired by Dolly’s recent family fall break trip to Buffalo and Rochester, New York, where she experienced that very frustration firsthand!

Whether you’re a family photographer, a creative entrepreneur, or a small business owner, you might be unintentionally putting doubt in your potential clients’ minds. Today, Dolly shares three simple, quick updates you can make to your website and marketing to instantly show clients that your business is alive, thriving, and ready to serve them.

These tips are all about keeping your business active and relevant—without adding more overwhelm to your plate. Read the entire blog post that goes with this podcast episode here

Resources & Links Mentioned In This Episode

▸ Watch the YouTube video version of this Podcast https://youtu.be/sZEYB0XBTcM

▸ The Family Photographer's Marketing Society: https://systemsandworkflowmagic.com/the-family-photographers-marketing-society

▸ Get 50% OFF of Flodesk HERE (for email marketing) https://flodesk.com/c/DOLLYDELONGEDUCATION

Connect with Dolly DeLong Education

💻 Website

📱Instagram

🎥 YouTube

Thanks for joining me on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode:

✅ Sign up for weekly reminders + free resources here → Business Tools

🥳 Share a screenshot of this episode on your IG story and tag me @dollydelongeducation so I can cheer you on!

🔗 Affiliate links included. I only recommend products I personally use and love.

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