If you’ve been following along with our systems theme, you’ve already worked through marketing, sales, and fulfillment, the three core systems that can absolutely run your business. But even with those dialed in, many photographers still feel stuck on the income rollercoaster… great months followed by scary quiet ones.

In this episode, we focus on the final piece of the puzzle: building a repeat and referral system that turns great client experiences into steady, predictable income. Instead of crossing your fingers and hoping happy clients send people your way, we’re talking about how to support referrals intentionally and make repeat bookings feel easy and natural for your clients.

I break down how to ask for referrals in a way that feels aligned with your brand, why reminders matter more than incentives, and how to reduce friction so clients actually follow through. We also dive into repeat clients, why they’re often your most reliable source of revenue, and how to design simple systems that help clients come back without relying on memory or motivation.

Strong systems don’t box you in. They give you freedom. And when referrals and repeat business are supported on purpose, your business starts to grow with far less effort.

LINKS:

• Revenue on Repeat - Step by step course on building a client membership or recurring offer for predictable income
• The Consistency Club - Marketing system for attracting leads consistently without burning out
• The Simple Sales Blueprint - Course covering sales and fulfillment systems that turn inquiries into confident bookings
  
  

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Last week, we talked about building a marketing system that helps you consistently attract new leads without burning out, but great marketing alone isn't enough. If inquiries aren’t converting into bookings, or bookings aren’t turning into great client experiences, your whole business starts to wobble.

That’s why this week I’m zooming in on sales and fulfillment. Instead of chasing yeses or worrying about being pushy, I walk you through how to design a sales process that helps the right clients feel informed, confident, and excited to book. From there, we move into fulfillment… the systems that ensure every client gets a great experience every single time.

Marketing brings people to the door. Sales invites them in. Fulfillment makes them want to stay. When all three of these systems are working together, your business feels more stable, more predictable, and far easier to run. Go listen to this week’s episode, then head into the Darkroom to get your Action Items for the week. I’ve laid out simple next steps to help you strengthen these systems one small improvement at a time.

LINKS:

• Watch the Simple Sales Masterclass to fine-tune your Sales System
• Log in The Darkroom, to get your free weekly action items
  
  

Get weekly action prompts + resources from each episode inside The Darkroom; your free podcast companion space. Get access at: thiscantbethathard.com/darkroom   

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

If there is one thing that burns photographers out faster than almost anything else, it’s marketing. What is supposed to feel like connection often feels more like an endless cycle of posting, scrolling, and second guessing… all while the rules keep changing.

In this episode, I’m kicking off our Systems Theme by talking about how to build a marketing system that actually feels like connection (and supports your business instead of draining it). We look at why chasing trends and algorithms isn’t the answer, and how focusing on trust, local connection, and clear priorities leads to more sustainable growth.

You’ll hear more about

•  why your marketing goals are much more achievable than you’ve been led to believe
•  how real life connection can do more heavy lifting than constant online visibility
•  what a "good enough" marketing system actually looks like when you stop trying to do everything

When you’re done listening, log into the Darkroom to get this week’s To Dos and resources, so you can turn these ideas into action!

LINKS:

• Get weekly action prompts + resources from each episode inside The Darkroom; your free podcast companion space. 

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

We're kicking 2026 off with some big milestones around here! At the time this goes live, we're crossing the six year anniversary of the launch of Simple Sales and the almost six-year anniversary of the podcast. On top of that, we recently crossed half a million downloads AND this is episode 350! With all these stars aligning, it felt like the right time to pause, reflect, and make some intentional decisions about what comes next.

In this special episode, I'm share why the mission behind This Can’t Be That Hard hasn’t changed, even though the industry and the way we consume information absolutely has. Photographers don’t need more ideas or more content… they need clarity, focus, and support turning good information into real action. That realization is shaping a new direction for the podcast, one that treats each episode less like passive listening and more like a weekly business workout.

Tune in to hear more about the changes you’ll be seeing this year, including themed content, a more direct and transparent approach, and the launch of The Darkroom… a brand new, free companion app I designed to help you take action, find exactly what you need inside the podcast archive, and play a more active role in shaping our future episodes.

This isn’t an ending… it’s a new beginning, and I’m excited to build what comes next together!

LINKS:

• Click here to join The Darkroom, our free podcast companion app that gives you searching superpowers, next step guidance, and a direct line to helping us plan future content!

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

If you’ve ever felt stuck between pricing models or frustrated by sales systems that don’t quite fit, this episode will hit home.

For our final episode of the year, I’m resharing a conversation I had with Jill Smith on The Business Focused Photographer Podcast about the story behind Simple Sales, how it came to be, and why it’s still the system that completely changed the way I run my photography business.

We talked about bridging the gap between all inclusive and in person sales, how to raise your prices with confidence, and what it looks like to use creativity not just in your art, but in the way you build your business.

I wanted to share this one now because January is such a natural time to revisit your systems and pricing. My hope is that this conversation gives you clarity and confidence to build a business that feels sustainable, balanced, and uniquely yours.

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Marketing can feel like a mystery sometimes… especially when you’re trying to figure out what actually works versus what just burns time.

This week, I’m resharing a conversation I had with Kim Box on The Motherhood Anthology Podcast where we talked about one of my favorite topics… marketing that actually moves the needle.

We got into the difference between marketing tactics and marketing systems, how to balance consistency with creativity, and how to make your marketing feel more like flow and less like force. I also shared a new metaphor for planning your strategy that I call the marketing windmill… a simple framework for building a marketing plan that’s balanced, sustainable, and actually enjoyable.

And because I can’t talk about marketing without bringing up AI, we also explored how photographers can use tools like Custom GPTs to create authentic content faster and easier.

If you’ve been rethinking how to show up in your business and want your marketing to feel lighter, smarter, and a whole lot more sustainable, this one’s for you.

LINKS:

• Learn more about the Consistency Club and our AI powered blog builder.
• Follow along on Instagram: @thiscantbethathard

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

AI is everywhere right now… and whether it excites you or makes you want to pull the covers over your head, it’s here to stay.

This week, I’m resharing a conversation I had with my friend Colie James on her podcast Business First Creatives. Colie is one of those people who always gets my wheels turning, and this episode is a perfect example of that. We talked about how AI is showing up in our businesses, what it’s actually good for, and how photographers can use it to create content faster without losing their voice.

I also shared a behind the scenes look at the AI powered blogging tool we added inside the Consistency Club this year. It’s become a total game changer for our members… saving time, improving SEO, and helping more photographers finally get consistent with their marketing.

If you’ve been curious about how AI could fit into your workflow, or just want to hear a thoughtful, realistic take on what this all means for creative business owners, you’ll love this one.

LINK:

• Try the Consistency Club blog builder for just $9 
• Learn more about the Consistency Club 
• Follow along on Instagram: @thiscantbethathard

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Most photographers know the feast-or-famine feeling all too well… one month you’re booked solid, and the next you’re wondering where the next client will come from.

In this week’s episode, I’m resharing a conversation I had with Kimberly Espinel on her podcast Eat, Capture, Share, where we dig into one of my favorite topics: building recurring revenue through a portrait membership.

We talk about how the idea was born out of an ankle injury (yep, really), why recurring revenue has been the single biggest stabilizer in my business, and how you can apply the same model whether you photograph families, brands, or restaurants. Kimberly and I also talk about sustainability... not just in income, but in the systems and workflows that keep your creative energy from burning out.

If you’re starting to plan for the new year and craving a steadier foundation for your business, this one’s full of practical inspiration to get you thinking about what stability could look like for you.

LINKS:

• Learn more about Revenue on Repeat: The membership model that helps photographers create recurring income
• Explore free resources + tools for photographers

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

When you’ve been in business for a while, it’s easy to fall into the habit of focusing on tactics… what to post, what to charge, what to offer next. But sometimes the real growth happens when you zoom out and look at the bigger picture.

This week, I’m sharing a conversation that originally aired on Leah O’Connell’s podcast Photo Fuel. Leah and I dove into the parts of business that don’t always make it into strategy guides; risk, failure, ego, and what it really means to build something that lasts. We talked about creativity, not just in the work we make, but in how we make decisions, and why “burn it all down” energy isn’t always the answer when things get hard.

If you’re in a season of rethinking what you want your business to look like… or just need a good listen.

LINKS:

• Learn more about Revenue on Repeat: The membership model that helps photographers create recurring income
• Explore free resources + tools for photographers

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Earlier this year, at the Reset Conference, Dayna asked a handful of photographers one simple question: What advice would you give to your past self?

Their answers were honest, funny, and full of hard-won perspective. The exact kind of reminders you need when you’re tired, busy, and maybe in need of a little encouragement. From pricing and boundaries to burnout and balance, these short conversations offer a dose of wisdom from people who’ve been right where you are.

So queue this one up while you’re editing, driving to a session, or cooking Thanksgiving dinner… and let a few fellow photographers remind you that you’re doing just fine.

LINKS:

• The Reset Conference: Join us next year at Reset! Use code ANNEMIE to save
• This Can’t Be That Hard Resources: Explore tools, courses, and systems to help your business run more smoothly year-round.
• The Consistency Club: Monthly marketing content and support to keep your business visible — even during busy season.

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!