This Can't Be That Hard

Most portrait photographers are accidental entrepreneurs - they're talented artists who wake up one day and think, "hey... maybe I could actually make some money doing this thing I love!" Fast forward a few years and the vast majority of those artists have closed up shop, not because they didn't have the talent, but because running a business - no matter how small - can be super-challenging.

If any of this resonates, you probably already know you are in the right place. I started this podcast years ago after I created a system that helped me build a profitable, sustainable photography business. That system - The Simple Sales System™️ - is now used by thousands of photographers worldwide to make more money in less time while still providing an amazing customer experience.

Today I'm sharing the first episode of a brand new, ten part podcast mini-series where we'll deep-dive the system, how it works, why it works, and who it works for. 

Whether you're new to the podcast or have been using the Simple Sales System for years, I'm excited to share this new series with you... it's informative, fun, and - dare I say - even a bit entertaining!

Plug in your earbuds and get ready to binge the whole series on your favorite podcast platform!

• https://www.thiscantbethathard.com/simplesales

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!

For a long time in my career, I shied away from the idea of affiliate marketing… and that's a decision I kick myself for now!

Most of us make recommendations every day without even thinking about it (read this book, check out this show, I love this shampoo, etc). Combine that with the fact that in creative businesses, we face inevitable ebbs and flows in revenue, and diversifying your income with affiliate marketing becomes a no-brainer!

Today, Dayna and I are diving into affiliate marketing, both as a broader concept and to introduce the re-launch of our own TCBTH affiliate program. Listen in to learn how making genuine recommendations about products you already know and love can earn you (significant!) passive income without a major time commitment. 

• Sign up to be an affiliate for TCBTH - https://www.thiscantbethathard.com/affiliate

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!

A photography business comes with a lot of flexibility; we can choose the hours or days we want to work, who we want to work with, and when or where we shoot. But one thing that we don't always have control over is change... and when a massive change occurs, it's basically like starting all over again. 

Like it or not, many photographers face some at least one major change in their careers, whether due to change in circumstances, a major shift in the type of work they're doing, or a geographic move. And all of those changes come with some pretty intimidating hurdles. 

Today, Alison Bell is joining me to share her expertise in relocating a photography business. Alison has moved her business 7 times due to her husband's career in the military, so she's become a pro at picking up and restarting her photography business. 

She'll share her checklist for preparing to move as well as strategies for getting started in a new location. If you're planning a geographic move or any other big change, you won't want to miss this episode!

• https://alisonbellphotographer.com/ - Alisons Website
• https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/keep-it-moving/id1717336737 - Keep it moving podcast 
• https://alisonbellphotographer.com/how-to-move-your-business - Alison's Moving Checklist

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!

Raise your hand if you’re the kind of person who agonizes over decisions. If you write long pro/con lists or take months to decide on the next move, I’m looking at you!

While that kind of thoughtful, contemplative approach is to be commended in many areas of life, in others, there's potential for getting stuck in analysis paralysis… and that can be deadly when it comes to business.

Instead, as scary as it sometimes is, I try to live by the philosophy that there are truly no "mistakes" in business… only lessons learned. Within responsible reason (no going broke, please!), as long as you learn and grow, risks lead to progress even when plans don't pan out. Staying stuck and fearing failure helps no one. 

Instead, I want to encourage you to ask yourself "what's the worst that could happen?" when considering opportunities to push your business forward.

Let's get unstuck by abandoning the idea of mistakes and find the freedom that comes from accepting uncertainty and imperfect choices as normal parts of the learning process. 

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!

As wrap up the first month of the new year, it's the perfect time to dream big about our goals and aspirations. But how do we actually achieve those dreams?

Today I'm talking with Kristin Sweeting about her proven process for life and business design that has helped so many creatives go from dreaming to achieving.  If you've ever found yourself saying "must be nice" about someone else's life (or business), then this episode is just for you; Kristin's perspective is going to turn that feeling on its head. 

I hope you gain as much value from our conversation as I did in having Kristin on the show. Enjoy!

• Check out Danger School
•  Catch up with Kristin on her Website!

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 intimidated by (or even mistrustful of) using flash during a portrait session, then this episode is for you.

My guest this week is Kim Hildebrand, a family photographer from Seattle who swears by using flash in her in-home shoots. We dive into the differences between flash and strobes, how to get started with flash on a budget, and how to make your flash photos look natural instead of overly-lit or "flashy". Kim shares great tips on gear, positioning, and practice. If you're interested in weather- and bad light-proofing your portrait offerings, this episode will give you the confidence to get started!

•  Kim Hildebrand's website: www.kimhildebrand.com
• Kim's one light, many looks series: www.kimhildebrand.com/one-light-many-looks 
• Kim's free flash guide: www.kimhildebrand.com/flash
• Information on Kim's upcoming lighting for lifestyle photography course: www.kimhildebrand.com/flash

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 the time of year when we all have stars in our eyes and big visions for the year ahead, but how to we take those visions and make them a reality? 

Today I'm sharing my favorite method for actually achieving goals - first by identifying what you need to do to make daily progress and then by committing to taking small action every day. I know you've probably heard this advice before, but it bears repeating, because small daily habits can make a huge difference over 12 months. Let's all make 2024 the year that our resolutions become reality!

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!

The people you choose to surround yourself with have a profound impact on you - how you think, how you act, and ultimately, the results you get. The same is true in our businesses. Success in business requires not just strength of craft but strength of mind, and if we want to achieve that success, one of the best things we can do is surround ourselves with growth- and abundance-minded people.

As we flip the page into a new year, I want to spend some time talking about mindset... specifically how what and who we choose to surround ourselves with can (significantly) impact your results this year.

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!

Confession time: Do you avoid looking at your business's financial numbers until it's tax season and your accountant MAKES you do it? If you struggle with understanding the financial side of your photography business, you aren't alone. Budgeting and forecasting can be daunting tasks (especially to us creative types)! 

Today I'm bringing you an incredible interview with Fractional CFO Danielle Hendon. Danielle walks us through her 6-part framework for understanding your business numbers. From balancing your books and tracking revenue and expenses, to building accurate budgets and cash flow forecasts, Danielle provides practical strategies to get control of your money. If you're looking to improve your income and grow your financial prowess next year, Danielle's step-by-step process for financial success will be a huge help!

• Grab Danielle's guide to prioritizing your profit and learn more about her services: https://4cornerscfo.com/ 

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!

As the year winds down, you might be looking over your expenses from the year... and I'd be willing to bet there are some pieces of software or tech that you're considering getting rid of.

Now I'm all for keeping an eye on expenses, But before you unsubscribe or cancel that software, I want you to listen to today's episode.

The fact of the matter is that good technology - the kind that make tasks faster, easier, or totally automatic - is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to grow your business... you may just have to change your perspective a bit.

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!