Organization is not just about what your clients see… it's also about how your business feels to you.

In this episode, we dive deeper on our organization theme by looking at internal systems… the behind the scenes structure that keeps everything running smoothly.

I’m joined by Stacey Rolfe of Tog Hub, who helps photographers build streamlined, sustainable systems inside their CRMs. Stacey shares why burnout isn't usually about talent or motivation; instead, it's about capacity. When your schedule, pricing, and workflows are built around someone else’s life instead of your own, things start to crack.

We talk about

• setting boundaries around your real life first, then building your business around that
• quarterly CEO planning so you are not drifting off course
• creating one single source of truth for inquiries, bookings, and client communication
• using templates and simple pricing structures to dramatically reduce mental load

If your business feels reactive… like you are constantly paddling under the surface just to keep up… this conversation will help you see how a few intentional systems can create more calm, more confidence, and a lot more sustainability.

LINKS:

• Grab the FREE DIY Trap Masterclass and learn what’s really holding your business back.
• Streamline everything behind the scenes

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!

Organization isn’t just about tidy desks and color coded planners… it’s about how your business feels to your clients. This episode is part two of our organization series, and we’re digging into external organization… the systems, workflows, and processes your clients experience from inquiry to delivery.

I’m joined by systems strategist and photography specific VA Erin Wissig, whose work helps photographers take their workflows out of their heads and turn them into clear, repeatable systems. We talk about the difference between being organized behind the scenes and creating a client experience that feels confident, professional, and intentional.

Erin breaks down why friction at any point in the booking process can quietly cost you clients, how to think about your website as the first step in your workflow, and why automation doesn’t have to mean losing the personal touch. We also talk about booking calendars, follow ups, invoices, and the emotional weight photographers carry when systems aren’t doing their job.

If your business feels a little duct taped together, or if admin work is eating up time you’d rather spend shooting or resting, this conversation will help you see where a few strategic changes can make everything feel lighter and more sustainable.

Stick around until the end, because Erin shares a generous free resource that gives you a chance to talk through your own systems and pain points one on one.

LINKS:

• Book your coffee chat with Erin
•  Connect with Erin on Instagram 

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!

What if the secret to a calmer, more creative business isn’t another color-coded planner or a prettier desk, but a system that actually works for you - quirks, chaos, and all? If you’ve ever felt like organization is just another thing on your to-do list (or that you’re “bad” at it), today's guest has a message you're going to want to hear.

Ashley Rose of Systems Over Stress joins us to share her refreshingly real approach to organization - one that supports your creativity instead of adding clutter to it. Ashley’s journey from feeling overwhelmed by the “little things” in business to building sustainable, ADHD-friendly systems is both relatable and inspiring. She’s proof that you don’t have to be naturally organized to run a smooth, thriving business.

Here’s what we’re diving into:

• Ashley’s simple, game-changing tip for spotting friction in your workflow (and why those tiny annoyances are actually goldmines for improvement)
• The difference between “fun” organization (hello, new planners!) and functional systems that actually move your business forward
• Why having a single “source of truth” for your clients and projects can save you hours - and your sanity
• How to stop chasing shiny new tools and start building systems that flex with your business as it grows

Ashley’s perspective is especially valuable if you’ve ever felt scattered, distracted, or like you’re constantly reinventing the wheel. She breaks down how to create organization that fits your real life - not some Instagram-perfect ideal.

Ready to reclaim your time, energy, and peace of mind? This episode is your permission slip to let go of perfection and start building systems that truly support you.

LINKS:

• Connect with Ashley on Instagram
• Check Ashley's Website
• Sign up for Ashley's Free Masterclass and learn the one system you need to double your client roster, work less hours & get better results. 

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 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
  
  

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!