Considering switching to Simples Sales? What's better than a 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:

• Robin turned her part-time pet photography business from a hobby into a profitable venture.
• Christina doubled her profit while setting boundaries and saving time for her family.
• Anne Marie scaled her family and newborn photography business to over $230,000 in revenue this year alone.

These women have been very generous, sharing their financial before 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.

• Learn about Simple Sales 

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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!

New Year, new mindset. 🥂 As we turn the page to 2025, it’s time to take stock of what’s been working in our businesses—and more importantly, what hasn't. In this episode, I’m sharing seven things you can leave behind to build a stronger, more sustainable businesses moving forward.

If you’ve been caught in the cycle of saying “yes” to too much, pricing yourself too low, or running yourself ragged, you’re not alone. We’ll explore how these common patterns take a toll—and, more importantly, how to break free. I’ll share practical tips for setting boundaries, streamlining your processes, and giving your business the respect it deserves. Because sustainability isn’t just about efficient systems—it’s about protecting your mental and emotional well-being too.

Tune in for an honest conversation about what it takes to start the new year on the right foot, and let’s make 2025 the year of a better, more balanced business.

• Ready to figure out how to make your business sustainable in 2025? Binge the Recipe for Success private podcast series.

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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!

Burnout. Overwhelm. Frustration. If you’re feeling the weight of running your photography business, you’re not alone. Lately, I’ve been hearing from so many photographers who are unsure if it’s even possible to keep going.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Dayna—my partner in The Consistency Club and all-around champion of real talk—to tackle those big questions head-on. Where does the photography industry stand right now? Why are so many of us feeling stuck? And the biggest question of all: is quitting the answer?

From inquiries that don’t convert to the myth that no one wants to pay for quality photography anymore, we’re unpacking the challenges that can make running a business feel impossible and sharing strategies for tackling these obstacles, shifting your mindset, and building a business that feels sustainable and rewarding. 

Whether you’re ready to pivot, push through, or pause and regroup, this episode is here to remind you that you’re not in this alone—and that the best days of your business might still be ahead.

• Listen to this episode The Six Levels of Freelance Life 

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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!

It’s New Year’s Eve, and what better time to talk about setting yourself up for a successful (and sustainable!) new year? 🎉 In this final episode of the Sustainability Series (and the year!), I’m giving you a little taste of something I cooked up for you: a private podcast series called Recipe for Success.

Think of your business like a favorite recipe—some ingredients are non-negotiable, but others? You can totally swap, simplify, or even skip altogether. From outsourcing to batching to creating systems, we’re talking about all the ways you can work smarter, not harder.

Ready to dive in? Tune in to this episode, then grab the full private series at thiscantbethathard.com/sustainability to start your year off right. Here’s to less hustle and more joy in the year ahead! 🥂

• Binge Recipe for Success, a short 5 part mini-podcast series to help you start your business off on the right foot in 2025! 

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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!

In this third episode of the Sustainability Series, I’m diving into one of the biggest time and energy drains for photographers: marketing. Let’s face it—hunting for clients can feel like an endless Easter egg hunt. But what if, instead of searching for golden eggs, you focused on finding a golden goose?

In this episode, I share how I created a portrait membership that became my golden goose—a predictable, recurring revenue stream that reduced my marketing workload and made my business more sustainable. Whether it’s memberships, school portraits, or partnerships, the goal is to build systems that decrease your reliance on constant client-hunting and give you more time to focus on what matters most.

If you’re ready to spend less time chasing clients and more time building a business that supports your life, this episode will give you the inspiration and strategies to get started.

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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!

In the second episode of my Sustainability Series, I’m sharing how a major “lifequake” forced me to rethink everything about my business. Back in 2017, I hit a breaking point—I was working 50-60 hours a week, juggling too many types of jobs, and still not making enough to feel secure. I knew something had to change.

That’s when I created what’s now known as the Simple Sales System. By streamlining my workflow and cutting out anything unnecessary, I was able to make more money in less time, all while delivering a better experience for my clients. In this episode, I walk you through how I did it, how Parkinson’s Law (the idea that work expands to fill the time you give it) was holding me back, and why adding creative constraints was the key to my success.

If you’re feeling like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this episode will show you how to take back control, free up your time, and create a more sustainable path forward.

Link:

• Learn more about The Simple Sales System 

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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 life throws you curveballs—a health crisis, a financial downturn, or a global pandemic—how does your business hold up? In this week’s episode of This Can’t Be That Hard, I’m kicking off the Sustainability Series, a four-part exploration of why planning for longevity in your business is so important.

I start this series with a story about challenges I've faced in my own life and business that could have been the end of my photography career, but instead were the catalysts that forced me to build a stronger, more sustainable business.

If you’ve ever wondered how to “disaster-proof” your business or create systems that help you weather life's storms, this series is for you. This episode lays the foundation, reminding us that while we can’t control life’s twists and turns, we can prepare for them—and in doing so, we build businesses that thrive in the long run.

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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!

Ah, the sweet smell of a brand-new planner—there’s just something about it, right? That fresh-start feeling gets me every time, and as it turns out, my guest Brittnie Sturm feels the same way. Brittnie is a family photographer, mom of three, and a fellow systems enthusiast 🤓 who’s learned firsthand how powerful organization can be in running a better business and a smoother life. 

In this episode, she shares her journey from feeling completely overwhelmed to finding clarity through time blocking, routines, and building systems that actually work. She shares how getting organized isn’t just about checking off to-dos—it’s about creating space for the things that matter most, both in your business and your personal life. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in the chaos, this conversation is full of ideas and encouragement to help you regain control and build a business (and life) you truly love.

• Grab your Planner and get organized.
• Download the Free Time Blocking PDF to master your schedule. 
• Visit Brittnie’s website for more resources.

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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’ve all been there: the to-do list feels endless, the deadlines are piling up, and the thought of getting it all done is just... laughable. Maddie Peschong knows the feeling, too. As a brand photographer, educator, and mom, Maddie has weathered her fair share of stressful seasons, and in this episode, she’s sharing how she finds her way back to balance.

Why does overwhelm feel so paralyzing? Maddie explains how naming the real source of your stress is often the first step to tackling it. She also shares the systems and mindset shifts that have helped her reset when life gets hectic. Whether you’re in the thick of it or trying to get ahead of it for next time, this conversation is a reminder that there’s always a way through—and sometimes, it starts with simply slowing down.

• Grab this guide for creative and essential shots to elevate your brand sessions.
•  Take the Brand Photographer Quiz to discover your unique strengths as a brand photographer

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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!

I’ve taken my fair share of personality tests over the years, but none have resonated with me quite like the Enneagram. If you’re an Enneagram enthusiast, you might not be surprised to hear that I’m a Type 3 (The Achiever), and when I first read that description, I felt seen in a way that was almost embarrassing!

In today’s episode, I sit down with wedding photographer and Enneagram expert Ellie McKinney to explore how understanding our Enneagram types can impact not only our personal growth but also our business journeys. One of the reasons the Enneagram resonated so deeply with me is its focus on self-awareness and growth — tools that have been invaluable in building both my photography and education businesses. Together, Ellie & I discuss how the Enneagram can be a guide to playing to your strengths and understanding where you might get tripped up in your photography business. 

If you’ve ever thought of the Enneagram as just another personality test, I encourage you to tune in with an open mind. Ellie provides so many insightful takeaways, whether you’re looking to better understand yourself, deepen your relationships, or improve how you approach your business. 

• Follow Ellie for stunning photography and educational tips!
  •  Instagram: Ellie Photography & Photography Business Education 
• Visit Ellie's website 

• Sign up for The Simple Sales Masterclass 

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!