Building a photography business is in itself a work of art and creativity - no two businesses look exactly the same. What I love about that is that it means we can all build our businesses to fit our lives. On the flip side, not having a clearcut path can make it difficult to strategize and grow. 

Elin Azganun is a new-ish photographer. She's been in business for just over a year now, but her story is somewhat unusual in that she came into the business of photography from a business background and with a ton of research about how she wanted to run her photography business under her belt.

Today she's joining me to talk about how she set her business to be profitable from the start, and how that helped her avoid some of the growing pains new business owners often feel. I love Elin's story because while it's inspirational, it's also incredibly grounded and relatable. If you're in need of a good dose of motivation and encouragement, this episode will be the pixie dust you are looking for.

Links:
Elin's Instagram
Elin's Website

• Monthly Marketing Magic for Photographers: Get your first month of The Consistency Club for just $1

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 time is money (as the saying goes), then automation and outsourcing should be your two best friends. On the other hand, what often sets us apart in our small businesses are our personal touches and customer service, so many photographers (understandably) struggle to find a balance between personalization and profitability.

Longtime listeners know that I'm a big fan of automating my workflow and outsourcing work where possible, but I balance that with personal touches that my ideal customers appreciate. Today I'm taking you behind the scenes of my own photography business to share exactly what I outsource and automate, and why. Then, I'll help you find a formula for figuring out what you can streamline in your business without sacrificing the things that make your business special. 

Links 

• Check out Colie James for all your Dubsado needs

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 most of us think of school portraits we think about those awkwardly-posed artifacts of our youth, complete with plastered-on smiles and fake-laser backgrounds. And as a photographer, those are probably not the kind of photos that inspired you to get into business, right?

Fine art school photography is gaining traction as an alternative to those cheesy school portraits, and Lindsey Turner is one of the lifestyle family photographers who has added it to her repertoire with great success. Today she joins me to talk about how and why she made that decision, the logistics behind it, and how in just 2 years it has grown to account for over 40% of her yearly revenue. 

If you are looking to grow your photography business, this episode just might inspire you to go-back-to-school and do just that. 

Links: 

• Download Lindsey's School Prompt Ideas 
• Follow Lindsey on Instagram

• Monthly Marketing Magic for Photographers: Get your first month of The Consistency Club for just $1

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 I think about what really helped me gain traction and success in my photography business, it wasn't any one program, tool, or even system. At the end of the day, what really helped me go from hobbyist to business owner was the willingness to bet on myself, over and over... even when it felt scary. 

Confidence (not to be confused with arrogance or irresponsible decision-making) is the unsung hero of small businesses, and it's something that a lot of artists - particularly female artists - struggle with. Today I'm chatting with my good friend Sabrina Gebhardt about why confidence is so important and how to cultivate it in your own business. 

Links: 

• Get on the waitlist for Sabrina's next Mastermind Group
• Join The Round Table membership group
• Find Sabrina on Instagram
• Listen to Sabrina's podcast

• Monthly Marketing Magic for Photographers: Get your first month of The Consistency Club for just $1

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!

Welcome to the Consistency Club, a monthly bonus feature of the podcast dedicated entirely to marketing your photography business.

This month Annemie and Dayna dive into the psychology of marketing to talk about the importance of showing vs. telling and how you can utilize your best clients' stories to attract new clients.

Don't forget! These episodes expire, so be sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you never miss an episode.

Links: 

• Purchase access to this month's templates or subscribe to get early access and special savings: www.thiscantbethathard.com/club

• Watch the Simple Sales Masterclass where Annemie teaches the 6 steps to running a profitable, sustainable photography business you love.
• Join the TCBTH Facebook Group - a supportive, business-focused group for photographers.
• Leave a review!

If you've ever heard of the 100 Days of Light Challenge, then you know today's guest, Caro Cuinet Wellings. Caro started this challenge 7 years ago, and in that time, it has become a worldwide phenomenon. 

Caro's a source of constant inspiration to me as both an artist and a businesswoman, and I think the artist in you is going to sincerely enjoy this conversation about photography, art, publishing, and the human connection we find across continents and languages while pursuing similar goals. 

Links: 

• Listen to TCBTH's first episode with Caro  (#27 - Fixed vs. Growth Mindset)
• Follow Caro's on Instagram 
• Buy Caro's book, Voir la lumière: #100daysoflumière
• The PR Book Caro read to pitch her book is "Hype Yourself" by Lucy Werner
• Want to do the 100 Days Challenge? Get on the email list here to be notified when it's starting in April.
• Join the 100 Days of Light Facebook Group for support and guidance

• Monthly Marketing Magic for Photographers: Get your first month of The Consistency Club for just $1

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!

200 episodes of the podcast is a big milestone, so I wanted to do something a bit different! Today I'm answering all kinds of listener-submitted questions on everything from dealing with unhappy photography clients to the ins and outs of the education side of my business, to the scoop on my upcoming nuptials. 

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions - I was truly overwhelmed by the response! - and thank you for being a listener these last 3 years. I (literally) couldn't do it without you. 

A few things I mention in this episode: 

• Follow us on IG: @thiscantbethathard_
• Get on the email list (it's fun!)
• Check out Colie James if you need someone to set up your CRM 
• The Consistency Club for Monthly Marketing Templates 
• The company where I got the jumpsuit is Marine Layer

• Monthly Marketing Magic for Photographers: Get your first month of The Consistency Club for just $1

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 of the time on this podcast, I give you practical, actionable strategies to improve your photography business. Why? Because I know that when your business is succeeding, you are not only reaping the rewards of that success, but you are also (hopefully) feeling the joy that comes with doing something you truly love for a living.

But once in a while, it's important to take a quick break from the nitty-gritty details of running a business to check in with yourself and see if what you are building is actually bringing you the happiness you hoped it would. So today's episode is very heart-focused as we dive into how you make sure you are building a business you L-O-V-E. 

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!

Finding new clients can feel like an uphill battle. You put yourself out there on social media, ask your clients for referrals... and sometimes it's crickets. If only there were a way that people in your area could find you with a simple search.... OH WAIT! 

Today's interview is with Chris Dawkins (aka Meredith's Husband), a decades-long veteran of the SEO business (so he really knows his stuff!) and the host of "Meredith's Husband," a podcast dedicated to SEO for photographers. SEO may not be a quick-fix type of strategy, but it is one of the very few actions you can take that will bring guaranteed eyeballs to your website, which is invaluable to your marketing efforts.

LINKS: 

• The SEO Roadmap Workshop - use code "ANNEMIE" to get 10% off
• Listen to the Meredith's Husband Podcast 

• Monthly Marketing Magic for Photographers: Get your first month of The Consistency Club for just $1

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!

Welcome to the Consistency Club, a monthly bonus feature of the podcast dedicated entirely to marketing your photography business.

This month Dayna and Annemie talk about how adding (ahem) consistent value to your marketing materials is a surefire way to keep your clients coming back for more. 

Don't forget! These episodes expire, so be sure you are subscribed to the podcast so you never miss an episode. 

Links: 

• Get this month's templates at www.thiscantbethathard.com/club

• Watch the Simple Sales Masterclass where Annemie teaches the 6 steps to running a profitable, sustainable photography business you love.
• Join the TCBTH Facebook Group - a supportive, business-focused group for photographers.
• Leave a review!